Release Date: October 27, 2026 (North America)
Developers: Otomate
Publishers: Idea Factory International
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T
DISCLAIMER:
9 R.I.P. Sequel is the sequel/fandisk for the original game, 9 R.I.P. As the stories and events in this game continue the narrative from both the “Heavenly” and “Godly” endings of the previous game, it is generally recommended to play the first installment before diving into this title to better understand the game’s lore and story.
SYNOPSIS
Following the endings of 9 R.I.P., Misa Isshiki finds herself at a crossroads with navigating romantic
life and the consequences of her actions during her second year of high school.
New challenges await depending on the route taken…
Whether it’s grappling with the fallout of her death, or navigating a relationship with a supernatural
being, Misa must come to terms with her decisions to move forward.
Will she continue along the same path, or take another route entirely?
ART AND MUSIC
| Illustrator/Artist: | Yuuya (overall character design), Roku Mitsuki (Chibi) |
| Director: | Amon |
| OST: | Tonari no Sakata (Artist), Nagi Yanagi (Artist), S-CROWN (Artist) |
| OST Composition, Lyrics: | Tota Fujiwara (Compostion), Luna Haruse (Lyrics) |
| BGM: | Tsuzuki, Tota Fujiwara |
The OST for 9 R.I.P. Sequel has one of the best otome opening tracks I’ve listened to this year! (Honestly, the best one IMO. Unless something else tops this by the end of the year, this track is going straight to my upcoming Itabag Awards best OST for 2026!)
“LOVE×MAGiC,” the OP song for 9 R.I.P. Sequel, is performed by the famous utaite, Tonari no Sakata (となりの坂田). And I am literally obsessed with this song (I let it play every time I start a new route, ha!). You can listen to the full track on Spotify, the full song is even more amazing. That post-bridge hook is CRAZY GOOD!
Another thing I love about this sequel’s soundtrack is that it also features a couple of original tracks by the (fictional) idol group S-CROWN. YES, SENA’S IDOL GROUP!! I was so shook when their songs started playing in-game! The tracks are performed by S-CROWN’s respective seiyuus: Tetsuya Kakihara, Yusuke Shirai, Jin Ogasawara, and Yuki Sakakihara.
This is kind of why I wished the English Limited Edition had included the game’s new OST because the soundtrack is just sooo lovely! That said, I understand that securing the necessary IP rights and licenses can be complicated and time-consuming, so I can see why including it might not have been feasible.
SCENARIO WRITERS
No one asked, but allow me to squash some misinformation real quick: just like the original game, 9 R.I.P. Sequel was written by multiple writers, not just one. So before we start pointing fingers and blaming a singular writer for everything we don’t like about an otome game, maybe let’s get our facts straight first. 9 R.I.P. Sequel was, in fact, a collaborative writing effort.
| Kureha (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Yukiminabe, Amon |
| Hibiki (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Yukiminabe, Amon |
| Sena (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Amon |
| Koyo (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Amon |
| Minami (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Salala (Re, AER), Amon |
| Seiya (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Toya Mitsudome (Re, AER), Minami Kita (Re, AER), Amon |
| Yukimaro (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Chiyori Fujikawa (Re, AER). Amon |
| Koharu (Heavenly and Godly) Scenario | Riku Umino (Re, AER), Amon |
| Toka (Godly) Scenario | Minami Kita, Amon |
UNBOXING 9 R.I.P. SEQUEL LIMITED EDITION
Voice Acting
Toshiki Masuda as “Kureha” – Kashuu Kiyomitsu (Touken Ranbu), Mikado (B-PROJECT), Kaguya (Taisho x Alice), Mergo (Period Cube), Ieyasu (IkeSen), Momose Hiroto (Dynamic Chord), Snow (Shiro to Kuro no Alice), Rei (Ensemble Stars), Rover (WuWa), Gen (Please Excuse My Younger Brothers)
Shunichi Toki as “Hibiki” – Sun Maslo (Neon Clash), Dahut (Virche Evermore), Leo (Piofiore), Yakumo (Dairoku), Hibie (Winters Wish), Matsui Go (Touken Ranbu), Mousse Atlas (IkeRev), Yuki Rurikawa (A3!), Oliver (7th Time Loop), Theodore (The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power)
Tetsuya Kakihara as “Sena” – Carmen (BUSTAFELLOWS), Tifalet (Battlefield Waltz), Keith Claes (Hamefura Pirates), Victor Frankenstein (Code Realize), Momotaro Onzai (B-PROJECT), Shin (Amnesia), Kiro (MLQC), Isora (7’Scarlet), Clyde King (Iris School of Wizardry), Ish (Even if Tempest, Sins of Kaleido), Uguisumaru (Touken Ranbu)
Ryota Suzuki as “Koyo” – Noil (OVER REQUIEMZ), Zhang Hiyok (Neon Clash), Lucas (Mistonia’s Hope), Ash (Despera Drops), Ginnosuke (Him, the Smile and bloom), Yona (Tengoku Struggle), Kiito Minorikawa (Jack Jeanne), Trey Clover (TWST), Ink (Gunka Haita Neko), Caster (FGO), Mizuro Tamaki (Tokyo Ghoul)
Shinnosuke Tachibana as “Seiya” – Shao Feng (Neon Clash), Himeutsugi (Hana Awase), Koizumi Yakumo (Meiji Tokyo Renka), Camu (Despera Drops), Xiaolei (Battlefield Waltz), Henri (Piofiore), White Mask (Bad Apple Wars), Kousei (Ayakashi Koi Gikyoku), William Rex (IkeVil), Koryu Kagemitsu (Touken Ranbu), Rafayel (Love and Deepspace)
Nobuhiko Okamoto as “Minami” – Tilkett (Sins of Kaleido), Tobari (Illusion of Itehari), Asher (The Red Bell’s Lament), Radie (Radiant Tale), Hansel (Code Realize), Manabu Souda (Collar x Malice), Taiga (Variable Barricade), Hizamaru (Touken Ranbu), Yang (Piofiore), Hiroya (Period Cube), Peter Flage (Cupid Parasite), Haiji (Charade Maniacs), Iris (Iris School of Wizardry), Bakugo (MHA)
KENN as “Yukimaro” – Limbo (BUSTAFELLOWS), Shelby Snail (Cupid Parasite), Nori Tainaka (Sympathy Kiss), Futo Asahina (Brothers Conflict), Minakawa Asahi (Gakuen Club), Totomaru Minowa (Kenka Banchou Otome), Kei (Ken ga Kimi), Desuhiko Thunderbolt (Rain Code), Fogato (FE Engage)
Yohei Azakami as Koharu” – Kaize (OVER REQUEIMZ), Tsuwabuki (Illusion of Itehari), Ion (Radiant Tale), Rinne Amagi (Ensemble Stars!), Sakyou (Tokyo Onmyouji), Kagesumi (Ayakashi Gohan), Ryo Tominaga (Digimon Survive), Kou Haoren (Money Parasite), Shizukagata Naginata (Touken Ranbu), Noguchi (Demon Slayer), Ryo (The Drops of God), Guanyu (The Apothecary Diaries TFIB)
Kohei Amasaki as “Toka” – Kanoa (Sins of Kaleido), Mathis (Virche), Saburo (Hypnosis Mic), Sylvie Scott (Cupid Parasite), Emilio (Piofiore), Aira Shiratori (Ensemble Stars!!), Tweedle Dum (Spade no Kuni no Alice), Natsuki (Tamon’s B-side)
Shirai Yusuke as “Shuri” – John (Mistonia’s Hope), Scarecrow (BUSTAFELLOWS), Luciole (Genso Manege), Eltcreed Valentine (Steam Prison), Watson (London Detective Mysteria), Amemura Ramuda (Hypnosis Mic), Garu (NU:Carnival), Ars (Period Cube), Usui Masumi (A3!), Miki Hiraizumi (Fashioning Little Miss Lonesome), Tsuzumi (Ken ga Kimi)
Jin Ogasawara as “Susaku” – Taiga Hoshibami (Tokyo Debunker), Renga Nishizono (18TRIP), Rody (Corpse Party II), Solon (Dark Moon: The Blood Altar), Raika Koshiba (CARDFIGHT Vanguard series), Julian (Granblue Fantasy)
Yuki Sakakihara as “Soran” – Hirose (Go For It Nakamura-kun), Jyushi Aimono (Hypnosis Mic), Kanna (Ensemble Stars!), Kyougoku Masamune (Touken Ranbu), Oliver (Path to Nowhere), Toi Shiramitsu (18TRIP), Blintz (Kemono Tea Time)
Shuichiro Umeda as “Koga” – Linus Ward (Mistonia’s Hope), Placido (Always a Catch!), Hikaru (The Summer Hikaru Died), Haiji Yu (Kazura Uta), Akira Tendou (Zoom100), Kanato Kamio (Star Melody), Jougorou Kobato (Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary), Sable (The Dawn of the Witch), Mitsuki Oshino (UN:LOGICAL), Koichi Haimawari (MHA), Kyuushou Ishimochi (Wash it all Away)
CHARACTERS AND ROUTES
In its official press release back in April 2025, Otomate explicitly distinguished between the two parts of 9 R.I.P. sequel:
- The Heavenly Routes – the main sequel, continuing from the original game’s Heavenly Endings and introducing new characters, horror elements, and story developments.
- The Godly Routes – the fandisk portion, continuing from the original game’s Godly Endings and featuring sweet, happy stories about the couples’ lives together.
In other words, 9 R.I.P. Sequel combines a traditional sequel with fandisk content, rather than being exclusively one or the other.
The Heavenly Routes are four chapters long, and they recap the events of the Heavenly Endings from the original 9 R.I.P., before continuing the story with the new chapters. The Godly Routes, on the other hand, are rather short stories that basically veer more into fandisk content. They’re pretty much all about Misa and her LI reminiscing about their lovey-dovey time together as a couple. And yes, they continue from the Godly Endings in the main game.
Since the Heavenly Routes are more full-fledged stories that introduce new characters and plot developments (not to mention spoilers), I think the story flows better if you play these first, followed by the Godly Routes second. In my experience, some events and character introductions in the latter seem to assume you’ve already played the corresponding Heavenly Routes. Because of this, certain characters or scenarios may feel a little abrupt if you haven’t played those routes first, if that makes sense!
As for route orders, there are no locked routes or officially recommended play orders from the devs. In terms of spoilers, I believe the Spirit Routes (Yukimaro, Koharu,Toka) have more reveals than the others, esp. Koharu’s. So, if you’re looking for a recommended play order, my suggestion would be (from least spoilers to most): Kureha/Hibiki → Sena/Koyo → Minami/Seiya → Yukimaro → Koharu → Toka.
Walkthroughs:
Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, 9 R.I.P. Sequel. All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down that you can choose to view at your own discretion. Please also note, that this review also contains spoilers for the first 9 R.I.P. game.
⬇️ Click to view Content Warnings
KUREHA TENDO
- still a himbo 100% 🥹
- so pure, bless him!😭
A ghost known as the murderous Kara Kara. Contrary to the frightful rumors about him, he is sincere and straightforward, yet slightly ditzy.
MY BOY! He is sooooo pure, so sweet, so precious! I love him sm!!😭 Kureha was my fav. LI in the first game, so I basically went and started with him first because I’m obsessed with Massuun characters and, well… I’m just biased like that. (laughs) His Heavenly Route was a mix of fluffy episodes of Misa and Kureha bonding as a ghost couple while dealing with their personal issues and lingering regrets. The route also touches on some darker psychological aspects, so be sure to check out the TWs above! What I think this route did particularly well, though, was how good Kureha and Misa addressed both their regrets while supporting each other as a couple, which I’d say is pretty much at the heart of their dilemma in this story.
On a different note, this route really showed us more of Kureha’s pure himbo side, and it is just the most precious thing in the world! HE IS ADORABLE, I COULD CRY! 😭 I’m also really glad he gets his poster boy rights this time around because WDYM HE GETS THREE KISS CGs?! Heck yeah! I’d take that any day over any angst-filled plot! (cackles)
⬇️ Spoilers
I’m also really glad we finally get to see Hinagiku Tendo (Kureha’s sister) in her true form, and not as a wraith. She was so pretty and so precious. I love them as siblings, and I adore her cute little fluffy moments with Kazuma! I swear, all the couples in this route are just too precious for words. My heart swells with so much cuteness aggression that I just wanna put all of them in my pocket! Aaargh!😩
So, with Misa already in the afterlife after choosing to remain a ghost to be with her ghost bae, her family is left drowning in grief over never getting any closure regarding her disappearance. Their grief becomes so agonizing that her mom is now cuckoo-for-cocopuffs, wanting to KHS (by hanging herself in Misa’s room…Yikes that was so macabre! yeesh!), and even joins a shady occult group to talk to the dead. So Misa finds a way to give her family some closure so she can finally pass on. Meanwhile, Kureha reunites with Hinagiku after she transforms from her wraith form back into her original human ghost form. However, she’s still unstable, so Kureha, with the help of Kazuma (who is absolutely precious, btw) and Seiya, finds a way to keep her from turning back into a wraith and help her pass on to heaven.
I’d say this route was pretty good! Great pacing, the individual conflicts were clear, and the way Misa and Kureha came together to help each other shoulder their burdens was handled pretty well, me thinks. The story was simple and didn’t try overcomplicate things when it came to confronting and working through their regrets. Kureha was also such a darling of a boyfriend to Misa. I was laughing-crying over how precious he is whenever they watch a movie together! He cries when a movie protag cries, cheers them on, and roots for them, like he’s their biggest fan.lolol I mean, he’s just a big ol’ goober with the biggest heart! Srsly, I just want to see him happy. He deserves all the fluffy things in the world and then some, esp considering how young he was when he was robbed of his life.😭
HIBIKI IOTO
- cinnamon roll but yabai
- still an emotionally unstable pookie
A ghost known as the Grasp of the Mirror, one of Narimigahama High School’s Seven Wonders. He used to be afraid of interacting with others, but he overcame that fear. Despite that, he’s still a little mentally unstable.
I had a lot of fun with this route! I enjoyed seeing the duality of Hibiki. I mean, we already got a taste of it in the first game, but I’m glad this sequel gives us even more of it! I love how he can switch from being the softest, most fragile cinnamon roll to his creepy, dark, and demented side in a heartbeat. If anything, it just goes to show that out of all the ghosts at Narimigahama High School, he’s pretty much the most unstable of them all. Although I’d say his unhingedness is a little more subdued this time around, thanks to his love for Misa.
Off-topic, but I read the interview with TokiShun (Hibiki’s VA) about his role in this game, and apparently, he had fun recording Hibiki’s unhinged side more. (laughs) And yep, it defo shows in his performance here!😂
⬇️ Spoilers
Hibiki and Misa face one particular problem in their relationship, as they can’t see each other as human and ghost. Unlike in Kureha’s Godly Route, where Misa can see him and other supernatural beings, here in Hibiki’s Heavenly route, she can’t, so she has to visit the mirror world every day just to see and be with him. The couple is looking for a way to circumvent this, esp. with Misa’s winter break coming up and the question of what’ll happen after she graduates and can no longer be in school no more. So, Koharu offers to help them with a spell that would allow Misa to see all supernatural beings. It’s risky, though, since she’ll be able to see all spirits and ghosts (kinda like Koyo, so it’ll take a hecking lot of getting used to!).
There’s also the problem of Minami the demon, who’s after her soul, and Hibiki isn’t strong enough to protect her yet. So, Hibiki goes to train with Seiya in hell to become stronger. LOL. This was such a silly plot premise, but idk, it kinda works for me! I had fun with it! HAHA.
I also like the new character, Takumi, who is apparently even more unhinged than Hibiki! He’s the boy the cafeteria ghost girl, Kanako, was referring to, y’know, the guy who allegedly choked on his bento? (in the school ghost stories from the first game). The thing is, he didn’t actually choke on it but was poisoned by jealous students who wanted to get Kanako in trouble. What a plot twist. I loved it! Takumi’s regrets ran pretty deep, as he wanted revenge on the students who poisoned him and drove Kanako to commit suicide. I also like how his regrets parallel Hibiki’s. There’s a scene where Hibiki confronts Takumi about whether he really loved Kanako, and his one-line reply is all Hibiki needs to understand just how far gone Takumi already is. Add to that, his almost wraith unstable form was also pretty creepy!Also, WOW, these high school kids sure are crazy evil! But I mean, when I check out the daily news in this country, it’s honestly not that different, TBH… YEESH.
SENA MIKAGAMI
- the glow-up he deserved
- S-CROWN center 🥹
In life, Sena was the front-and-center member of the nationally popular idol group S-CROWN. He is also known as an urban legend, “Boy Gazing at the Stars”. Bright and sociable, he still has the sparkling aura he had in his days as an idol. Koyo is his childhood friend.
Sena was perhaps one of the most memorable routes for me in this sequel! Talk about a proper glow-up from his godawful route in the first game! (laughs) Finally, we get more nuance surrounding Sena’s death, what he was dealt with, and what he went through while he was still alive, all the way to his deathbed. This was something I’ve always griped about in the first game, since it seemed like they just kind of brushed this part aside, so I’m so relieved it was finally addressed here.
We also get to see a lot more S-CROWN lore and learn more about their relationship with Sena back when he was still an idol. I love idol stories, so I was really interested in their narrative here! I also thought his Deep Ending was perhaps the best ending in Sena’s Heavenly Route since it transitioned so well into the amazing credits featuring S-CROWN’s concert! And that final CG was WAYYYYY better than the one in his PURE Ending! Anyway, all in all, this was a really solid route that bumped Sena way up in my route rankings!
⬇️ Spoilers
So, the actual reason Sena can’t pass on despite having already accepted his death is that he still has regrets as an idol, particularly his relationship with S-CROWN. After his death, his group was practically in shambles, and for some reason, Sena feels partly responsible for it. So, Sena and Misa, with the help of Koyo (best boyo who is now back in his human body), find a way to patch things up with S-CROWN and help Sena give his former group members some peace of mind regarding his passing.
This route was pretty good, but it also made me kind of sad because it reminded me of one of my fav kpop group, which went through somewhat similar-ish circumstances to S-CROWN. Losing a member is hard for fans, but I can only imagine how much harder it must be for the remaining members. It’s the kind of grief that’s probably much harder to put into words than we can imagine.😔
KOYO AKIZUKI
- still best boyo
Known as one of Narimigahama’s urban legends, Merry Mary. He comes across as somewhat aloof, rarely showing emotional highs or lows, but the heroine is an exception. He is also known as a streamer, Yozora, and posts videos about the supernatural.
This was one of my most anticipated routes of 2026, (laughs) given Koyo was the only LI whose Heavenly and Godly Endings in the first game both ended on a more *hopeful note*, with neither him nor Misa ending up as a ghost like the others. So, imagine my disappointment when I realized that the main routes in this sequel actually continue from the Heavenly Endings, which, in Koyo’s case, means he and Misa are still living ghosts! Oof. Then again, I do think this was a proper continuation of their story from the first game. So yeah, ignore my griping!😂 (cackles) I’d say the actual “plot” doesn’t really kick off until Chapter 11, but once it does, things pick up immediately!
Romance-wise, I love how Koyo and Misa have their first fight here (Heavenly Route). It’s nice to see this side of their relationship explored, tbh. (Koyo’s musings were the best, I ate it all up! HA!) The romance was extra good in this route, me thinks! Especially in his Godly Route! I just love how healthy their relationship is and how welcoming Misa’s family is toward Koyo.
⬇️ Spoilers
Honestly, plot-wise, this route was kind of a nothing burger. I personally didn’t think it was as memorable as Sena’s route. Although I did love every interaction Koyo had with Misa here (I mean, don’t we all? Lol), I also loved seeing Misa’s sprite actually talk?! HA. I was so surprised when she suddenly started speaking, despite knowing that it wasn’t really her but Minami (controlling her body). Still, it was a surprise treat I wasn’t expecting! Also, KOYO WITH GLASSES???? ANOTHER HECKING SURPRISE TREAT 2x!!
In his Godly Route, Koyo pretty much becomes the Japanese version of Ed and Lorraine Warren, traveling all over Japan to exorcise spirits, ghosts, and wraiths, as well as helping them pass on. I was under the impression that he and Misa would try to live together as soon as she graduated, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. I definitely think this aligns with Koyo’s character, though. Dude needs to get his ducks in a row first before making that commitment so he can properly take care of Misa.
That said, I definitely enjoyed his Godly Route more, and it’s a shame these routes were downright TOO SHORT! Those flashback CGs and past-memory scenarios featuring Sena and Koyo when they were younger were such a highlight!
MINAMI
- ragebaiter # 1
- still an a**hole
Minami is an incubus who haunts human dreams and gives them nightmares. He is prone to intense emotions and often acts impulsively. He deeply despises Seiya.
I think the only way for this relationship to work is for Misa to adjust to Minami’s temperament. I mean, he does a lot of things out of consideration for her, but most of the time, it’s Misa who has to accommodate him and his impulsive demon self. Then again, this is a given considering how conniving and naturally wicked he is. That’s his true nature, after all! With all that said, I still like how this route explored Minami’s different sides, from his playful side to the unexpectedly human side that occasionally slips out at times. Misa is also a little more snarky here; I mean, she has to be, right? Considering her partner is such a loose cannon. (cackles)😂
This is also probably one of the routes where the couple is more openly intimate. While Misa would get flustered around the other LIs in their respective routes, she’s much more receptive to Minami’s sexual advances here. Their dynamic is definitely different compared to the others, for sure… which I’d say is kind of refreshing to see, to say the least!
⬇️ Spoilers
I also wasn’t expecting an entire subplot dedicated to Toka! But now that I’ve finished the game, it kind of makes sense, especially after playing Toka’s route. I think their routes parallel each other in some ways, given that Minami was the main reason Toka spirited Misa away in the first place. Minami was her burden to begin with, and for Misa to actually fall for her burden and choose to be with him instead of growing stronger and overcoming the burden Toka (god version) had given her, Toka’s plan pretty much backfired spectacularly, and it sent him down the path of madness.
Personally, I liked this route because we got a lot of Toka screen time (and Meimei, too!). However, perhaps Minami fans might not appreciate how much this route focused on another LI instead of Minami himself???🤔
His Godly Route, where Misa is pregnant with twins, was so funny tho! Their little offspring (which I instantly imagined as *mini-Minamis*, lol) talking smack inside her had me cackling! 😂
SEIYA ODILO YUKINAGA
- ragebaiter # 2
- still a freak of nature!
Polite and ever the gentleman, Seiya works as a Grand Warder at Hell Organization. He performs his job flawlessly, but he is a hopeless romantic and a self-proclaimed weirdo. He strongly dislikes Minami.
One of my favorite Heavenly Routes in this sequel! Seiya’s route gave me lots of cackles, gasps, giggles, scares, goosebumps, the whole shebang! 😂 While most of the routes in this sequel continued conflicts that were similar to or connected to the ones they’ve endured/struggled with in the first game, Seiya’s route introduced something pretty new, which I thought was a nice change of pace, story-wise.
To add to that, Seiya is still his funny, unhinged, perverted, and possessive self, so I feel like Seiya fans are going to be eating GOOD in this route! The man is just so pathetically hopeless romantic and basically down bad as down bad as one can be!😭 Classic Seiya indeed.
⬇️ Spoilers
I almost lost it when Misa mentioned that Seiya had anniversaries for EVERYTHING. Dude celebrates anniversaries for dinner dates at particular restaurants. Lolol. Anyway, I didn’t expect to enjoy the subplot involving the memory-eating demon possessing Misa as much, but here we are! It felt like an entirely new story and adventure for Misa and Seiya to tackle together as a couple in Hell. I personally loved and really enjoyed everything about it! The exorcism scene, with Seiya reciting all those lines and incantations, gave me goosebumps!
Certainly another masterclass performance from Shinosuke Tachibana, (as always)!
YUKIMARO
- zashiki-warashi
- still loud af
A spirit who finds joy in bringing good fortune to humans. He has a upbeat personality, and his emotions are easy to read. He is a big fan of anime and TV shows, and his favorite is Tonodamaru. He and Koharu go way back.
Yukimaro’s route probably had the lowest stakes in the entire sequel, which says a lot given most of the routes here were already pretty low-stakes to begin with. (laughs) 😆 It was very much in line with his original route in the first game, which probably had the most slice-of-life, laid-back events among all the 9 R.I.P. characters. However, low stakes don’t necessarily mean boring or bad! In fact, to my honest surprise, I actually quite enjoyed this route, which is funny, considering that when I checked my LI and route rankings for the OG 9 R.I.P., I apparently ranked him last!😂 So, I guess his route in the sequel was quite the glow-up, too, huh?
Part of why I enjoyed this route is that Yukimaro has become less whiny and bratty, which, again, I wasn’t expecting! His loud zashiki-warashi shtick is still there, though. I mean, that’s literally part of his nature, but for some reason, I found his loudness much less annoying this time around (Didn’t even have to turn his voice volume down!). The new prominent side character was also REALLY, REALLY good, and I think they were one of the reasons why this route was so enjoyable for me.
⬇️ Spoilers
So, in the previous game, Yukimaro became Misa’s guardian spirit. However, after he’s achieved his goal as her guardian, Misa was supposed to let him go, but because they both fell in love with each other she couldn’t bring herself to do so. Instead, they made it so that Yukimaro would serve as Misa’s exclusive guardian spirit forever, leaving the Guardian Spirit Society behind to stay by her side. The problem is that doing so weakens his powers, thus, he is unable to protect Misa from the demon Minami. Not only that, but Yukimaro will eventually disappear as well, since zashiki-warashi spirits grow weaker and vanish when humans eventually forget about them.
So, Misa finds a way to reverse what they did in the previous game by getting Yukimaro reinstated in the Guardian Spirit Society. Thus, allowing her to form another pact with him as her guardian spirit (again), with all his powers restored and all. This route is general bonkers. I’m laughing at how funny and convoluted the spirit world’s fictional “rules” are.😂😂😂 Ngl tho, I pretty much ate up all of the (unserious) shenanigans here, most especially the ones with Koga! What a precious pookie!
It’s funny because this route basically undoes what happened in the first game’s Heavenly Ending. At one point, I was like, what was even the point of all that, then, if y’all were just going to take it back?! LMAO.😂 On another note, we did get sexy time with Yukimaro as part of their ritual to tie their souls together in the afterlife, and with a CG at that! So, I kind of just considered that the game’s way of compensating things. (cackles)
KOHARU
- objectively, the best boy in the sequel! 😝
A member of the Spirit Board Clan who was assigned to Narimigahama. Despite his rough nature and way of speaking, he’s actually very kind-hearted. After spending more time around humans, he fell in love with cooking. He and Yukimaro go way back.
I LAAAAAAAV HIM SOOO MUCH!! Kicking my feet 100x!!
Just as the legends say… Kitsune (or, in this case, kitsune spirits) are known for being some of the most loyal lovers and partners you could ever find. I mean, it’s no surprise this character archetype is one of the most loved and favored tropes in fiction, popping up in tales from books, movies, dramas, anime… you name it! And basically, that’s what Koharu’s character is all about!
I loved Koharu and Misa’s relationship, I loved how they talked about their dreams, supported each other, and how Koharu is just the kindest, warmest, most loyal, will-do-anything-for-you type of partner there is. The romance and fanservice in this route were pretty up there, too! But just a heads-up! His DEEP ENDING was the way to go, fam! Because holy cow! That Pure Ending SUCKS SO BAD! I was in shell shock when the credits started rolling!
⬇️ Spoilers
I don’t think I’ve ever been this upset over the ending of one of my favorite characters’ routes (I mean, I have, this is just me being dramatic af lol). Their whole story of living together, and the romance were all going so well, too! Only for his Pure Ending to crush all of that like a bug under a boot… WHY?! 😭
All of Koharu’s dreams of becoming a chef and opening a restaurant with Misa, gone! He was also looking forward to it, too! But nope, the Spirit Board Clan had to be all uppity about their rules regarding spirits cohabiting with humans. That Pure Ending was so ass, man! I just could not accept it. 😭 I AM SO GLAD HIS DEEP ENDING LITERALLY GAVE US A HAPPY ENDING, BECAUSE MY GOD I WAS ABOUT TO THROW MY SWITCH AT THE WALL!!!
My only gripe about Koharu’s Deep Ending was that Tsuzura and Konoemaru never got the same closure they did in the Pure Ending. Plus, we didn’t get to see Konoemaru’s transformation! He was such an adorable kitsune!
Last but not the least, his godlly route was totally heartbreaking! I may have cried buckets!
TOKA KUON
- pink yabai pookie
A former tengu god who watched over the heroine. He returned to his true form after getting back his powers from Meimei. Unlike his younger form, he is calm and composed. About 6 months ago, he stepped down from godhood and began life as a human.
This was another route I was looking forward to playing. I loved Toka in the first game and was so excited to finally play a proper route with his adult form in the sequel. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed by how the story rehashed some of the conflicts involving the demon Minami (again).Idk why I expected Toka’s route to be 100% happy, sparkly slice-of-life episodes of him and Misa living their best couple life in the human world (laughs)😂 Instead, I got the complete opposite, with so much angst???
I guess the game still needed to address Toka’s past as a former god. Transitioning from immortality to mortality is no small thing and takes a helluva lot of getting used to. In a sense, I actually found it pretty interesting how this route explored his character and this transition in such an unexpectedly intricate way.
⬇️ Spoilers
Because Toka was a former god who used to be immortal, he had a pretty warped way of viewing life. He saw Misa as the center of his world and wanted to die when she eventually passes away. He was also incredibly stubborn about his views, which actually makes a lot of sense given his past as a tengu. This game’s lore afterall, depicts *tengu* as gods who bestow burdens upon the humans they favor to help them overcome the despair that awaits them in the future, no?
There’s also the fact that Toka’s long-standing hatred for Minami, who’s been going after Misa’s soul for so long, has turned into an obsession. To a point where he clearly wants to destroy Minami once and for all. With him still clinging to his godly way of thinking, this contradicts Misa’s very human perspective, and I think this route is basically about the two of them learning to meet each other halfway.
This route’s conflict makes a lot of sense given what we learned about Toka in the first game. Gods basically think differently from humans, and their way of thinking isn’t something a mere human could easily understand. In fact, it usually contradicts human logic and their instinct for survival. I loved Toka’s character development here, especially the part where his own arrogance contributed to his downfall and how he gradually came to realize it.
As a side note, I thought his Deep Ending was a load of BS and actually pretty OOC for Toka. I just can’t see him not being able to meet Misa halfway, considering she’s literally his whole world and even gave up his godhood just to be with her. You think he couldn’t learn how to compromise with the one he loves?!
Lastly, I firmly believe Toka’s duality (soft Toka vs. dark Toka) is the devs’ way of using as much of Kohei Amasaki’s talent. I mean, this seiyuu is literally the king of duality roles!😂 (cackles)
MISA ISSHIKI (Main Heroine)
I liked Misa in the first game, but I really feel like she’s come into her own in this sequel. She’s definitely shown growth as a character and matured gracefully throughout each of the routes.
After being spirited away, experiencing the otherworldly realm, and bonding with the otherworldly beings who became her dear friends (and lovers), she has learned to become stronger and stand firm in what she believes in while still showing compassion for her loved ones. In a way, this proves that she has overcome the burden Toka placed upon her in the original game.
I also thought she did a pretty good job of matching her LIs’ freak!😂 Especially when it came to the more mature partners, like Minami and Seiya. Girl deserves a medal for putting up with those two! (laughs)
⬇️ Spoilers
My only (and probably biggest) gripe with this game, though, is that Misa, no matter which route, eventually dies young due to the same illness that caused her late father’s death. It was heartbreaking to see her finally get a fulfilling life and choose a career path she’s content and happy with, only for her to eventually meet her untimely demise.
It was quite a frustrating turn of events because, despite the endings in the first game where she survived instead of dying and becoming a ghost to be with her chosen ghost/demon LI, she ends up dying in the long run anyway in the fandisk. I think perhaps the devs are adamant about pushing the theme that “there is happiness in the afterlife” in this game, hence the bittersweet endings. I just felt unsatisfied with how that theme was ultimately handled, but maybe it’s just me!
Even in Koyo’s and Toka’s routes, where everything ended on a “happy” note with the two of them starting their lives together, I just couldn’t help but wonder if Misa would still end up dying in her late 30s, just like she did in the other routes. It’s a crippling thought that continues to haunt me even after finishing the game…😰
SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION
There’s a bonus feature in the main menu called “NINE WONDERS”, which is basically a short, fun story featuring Misa and Sayaka. This short bonus also highlights all of the game’s side characters! Definitely don’t miss out on checking this one!
The locations of each character are as follows:
A) Tsukumo Shrine – Toka
B) Narimigahama Station – Meimei
C) Shopping Mall – Koga
D) Beachfront Park – S-CROWN Members
E) Home – Konoemaru
F) Tsukumo Shrine – Tsuzura
G) Annex Hallway – Takumi
H) Elevator – Kazuma and Hinagiku 🥹🥹🥹
I) Nurse’s Office – Yui
PROS:
- Heroine’s Name Customization
- Love Catch System
- Affection Choices
- Memory – the games “extra section” where you can look up and view your collected CGs, videos, glossary entries, and voice messages.
- Voices – you can read and listen as the characters share fun facts about them as well as special messages.
- Skip to Next Choice Function
- Episode Select Feature
- MAPS
- BONUS: Nine Wonders
- CG Gallery
- Video Gallery
- Music Gallery
- Endings List
- Glossary
CONS:
- No side-image of the heroine in the dialogue boxes.
- Heroine is not voiced.
- No fonts selection.
Localization
The localization was pretty good. It retained the same tone and humor that I personally loved and had fun with in the first game. I did notice a few typos, but not a lot to break immersion. Seiya’s antics were still a joy to experience, and just like in the first game, I was very much having a blast!
TRAILER
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I believe it took me around 50–55 hours to complete the entire game, collect all endings and CGs, and watch all the bonus and extra stories for this title. While most of the main routes (Heavenly Routes) were only four chapters long, having 9 LIs total made the game feel pretty sizable to me. Although if you tend to binge your otome games pretty quickly, I definitely think this sequel is a whole lot shorter than the first game in terms of story content.
A Literal Sequel to 9 R.I.P
It’s no surprise that Otomate titled this game “9 R.I.P. Sequel”, as it literally picks up where the original game’s endings left off. The opening episodes even begin with Chapter 10, since the first game ended at Chapter 9!
With that said, even with this structure, I still feel that it’s necessary to complete the entirety of the first game (meaning all routes) before diving into any routes in this sequel. The events in most of the routes here seem to assume you’ve already finished everything in the prequel, so you might miss out on some context, or not fully understand certain things if you rush into this title without completing the first one. Not to mention you’re also likely going to run into quite a few spoilers along the way!
From Spookies to Pookies!
Just like its predecessor, 9 R.I.P. Sequel continues to be a character-driven game. I didn’t feel like there was a main overarching plot, as each route had its own self-contained story. Plus, Misa’s situation with each of her LIs varies significantly from route to route. What makes this series stand out is how quirky and absolutely enticing the characters are. You just can’t help but love them all. Personally, I did not dislike any of the main characters. They’re all my pookies! 🥹
If you’ve enjoyed the characters’ individual eccentricities and hilarious quips in the first game, expect to get even more of that here, and then some! The new side characters were also such pleasant additions to 9 R.I.P.’s lively cast. They’re all lovely oddballs, and just like me, I think you’ll find yourself growing fond on a couple of them, too!
In terms of the stories presented in this sequel, I’d say the writing quality is pretty much on par with its predecessor. There were routes I was absolutely hooked on, routes that made me cry buckets, and routes that felt like they were repeating conflicts from the first game. I will say, though, that I didn’t dislike any of them, nor did I ever feel like they were a chore to finish. I also felt that some of the routes and characters I was lukewarm about in the first game, got a pretty good glow-up here (Sena and Yukimaro in particular).
On top of that, I think this sequel also blends horror and comedy so well. It knows when to be spoopy and when to tickle your funny bone!
Regarding the “horror” elements in the game, I believe this game might have more scares than the first title. I don’t mean jump scares, though (there are none here), but there were definitely some eerie, uncanny scenes that made me draw a sharp breath (not to mention, gave me goosebumps), particularly in Hibiki’s, Seiya’s, and Koharu’s routes. (As a horrorphile, I loved it, and wish there was more!)😁
❤️ LI Ranking: Kureha > Koharu > Koyo > Toka > Seiya = Sena = Yukimaro > Hibiki > Minami
🟩 Route Ranking: Seiya > Sena = Koharu > Kureha = Koyo > Yukimaro > Hibiki = Toka > Minami
I had a good laugh seeing how much my character and route rankings have changed in this sequel compared to the ones I have in the first game. Though, tbf, 9 R.I.P is one of those installments, where I genuinely found all the LIs likable, so it’s quite hard to rank them and decide which ones I liked more than the others, if that makes sense.
Romance-wise, I feel like this sequel was certainly a step up from the first game. A lot of the time, Misa and her LI were very open about their feelings for each other, and some scenes didn’t shy away from showing the heroine and her partner getting intimate. I’d say the spicier routes are the ones where she’s paired with a more mature partner, like Seiya, Minami, and Koharu. Nonetheless, ALL the LIs get their cake, too, with each of them getting a couple of glowing kiss CGs!
Are the Endings Still Bittersweet Like the First Game?
That’s right! The classic 9 R.I.P. bittersweet endings are back! After finishing the game, I think it’s become even clearer to me that this series heavily explores the theme of “finding happiness in the afterlife” and how death isn’t necessarily the end, but rather the start of a new chapter. The endings range from happy & mellow to melancholic, to downright bittersweet. So, definitely keep your expectations in check, as a couple of them fall into the latter categories!
Do I recommend this game? YES.
This is yet another solid Halloween title that will definitely scratch that spoopy-romance itch you’ve been looking to satisfy this season! 9 R.I.P. Sequel is a real treat for fans of the series. Personally, I adored this sequel! I’m actually already starting to miss the characters now that I’ve finished the game.😭
I believe the 9 R.I.P. installment is perfect for those who love romance with otherworldly beings, as well as those who are suckers for the devoted, incredibly loyal-to-the-bone, & sometimes borderline twisted, possessive, yet quirky love interests. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then 9 R.I.P. and 9 R.I.P Sequel is certainly a match for you!
I’m beyond overjoyed that this sequel was localized! This is, for certain, an easy recommendation from me for both returning fans of the series and new otome game fans looking for a good romance (with a spooky twist) that’s just the thing for this spooky season!
