Pigeon Otome Game
Like with any otome game, the goal is to win the heart of an available bachelor, which in this case is one of numerous birds. Perhaps your heart will be stolen by the hardworking rock dove, Ryouta Kawara, or maybe your heart will start pounding at the sight of the beautiful but snooty fantail pigeon, Sakuya Le. Hatoful Boyfriend is meant to parody many dating sims and otome-style games. And if you want to see what it would be like to date a sentient pigeon, the game itself is.
- Also on Steam is Hatoful Boyfriend AKA the infamous dating pigeons game, which is a parody of the otome genre enjoyable by literally anyone. Plus the secret overarching plot is surprisingly good, both in the original and in the sequel. Then for a very recent release, Nightshade (Hyakka Hyakurou) just came out on Steam like 1.5 weeks ago.
- First of all calm ur tits second the game you played is a dating sim its similar to otome but really different for example:re alistair is a combination of dating sim and otome you have hp and money to play and third:i dont go outside so it doesnt matter.
- Game Pigeon Plus! It’s wayyyyy overpriced. You have to pay $3 for custom skins, accessories, and ad free play? That’s a bit much considering the look of your props and avatar don’t matter to the game. And (most of the time) the ads don’t pop up in the middle of the game.
- Hatoful Boyfriend is set in an alternate version of Earth in which sapient, anthropomorphic birds have seemingly taken the place of humans in society for reasons that are hinted at, but not fully explained in the dating simulation portion of the game. In Bad Boys Love, it is revealed that Hatoful is set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future—in which a pandemic of a deadly, mutated strain.
Otome games, or romance games aimed at a female audience, may have originated in Japan, but their appeal is finally reaching international audiences. In the past few years, more and more games have been released in English, allowing players worldwide to date their share of handsome men. With interest in romance visual novels at an all-time high due to the widespread success of games like Dream Daddy in 2017, I wanted to dispel some misconceptions about the otome game genre and recommend my top 10 favorite titles.
The term “otome” comes from the Japanese word for maiden or young lady, indicating the target audience of the genre. The origins of the genre date back at least to Angelique, which was released for Super Famicom in 1994 and is widely considered the first otome game. Angelique was developed by a team of women at KOEI known as Ruby Party who wanted to make more games that would appeal to girls.
Angelique was slightly different from the “choose-your-own-adventure” visual novel style common to many otome games today. Rather, Angelique leaned heavily on a simulation system that had players raising various stats to appeal to the man of their dreams. Simulation gameplay was common for romance games at the time, such as Konami's Tokimeki Memorial series aimed at male players, which also came out in 1994. These simulation elements lead to the term “dating sim game” (romance simulation game). Many players still refer to romance games as dating sims, despite the fact that many have moved towards a more visual novel-style format.
Today, otome games encompass such a wide range of themes that it's difficult to distill them into a few simple characteristics. You certainly don't have to be a young lady to enjoy what otome games have to offer! However, since the genre originated as romance games for women and took many stylistic queues from shōjo manga, the protagonists are women, and the romance options are nearly always men. (There are some instances of otome games with female romance options, such as the Japan-only Gekka Ryouran Romance, or OZMAFIA!! and Mystic Messenger.)
The single unifying aspect of all otome games is romance. Whether you're racing to stop a coup d'etat in a steampunk version of England or uncovering the mysteries of a bizarre world populated by talking pigeons, all otome games revolve around the protagonist eventually falling in love. For the most part, otome games are intended to be played multiple times, so that over the course of each character's story (or 'route'), you'll see the whole story start to piece together. Often, there are even secret characters who won't unlock until you've played everyone else's route!
There are many otome games that offer intricate storylines in addition to juicy romance, but there's also plenty of silly fluff out there. There's an otome game out there for nearly every interest! Just five years ago, I would've been hard-pressed to come up with 10 otome games available legally in English, but now I can curate a list of only the best to recommend. Here are 10 of my personal favorites to get you started:
Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds
The Hakuōki series gets the award for being the first major Japanese otome game franchise to be localized into English. Hakuōki is wildly popular in Japan for good reason: the historical members of the shinsengumi have been transformed into handsome men and infused with some demonic intrigue for action-packed (albeit tragic) romance. While numerous versions of the game have been localized into English for a plethora of systems, Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds is the most recent iteration for PS Vita and PC. It includes new character routes as well as improved graphics, making it the definitive version of Hakuōki. However, the game has been split into two parts, meaning it ends on a cliffhanger: you'll have to purchase Hakuōki: Edo Blossoms when it comes out this spring to see the complete story. Consider grabbing Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom for PSP or Hakuōki for iOS/Android if you want the full experience right away, minus the new routes.
OZMAFIA!!
It's the ultimate mashup of fairytale and literary characters, from The Wizard of Oz to Puss in Boots. The twist on these classic characters comes from the title – they're all members of warring mafia groups that the protagonist unwittingly finds herself caught between. This game's a roller coaster that goes from not taking itself seriously at all to being surprisingly dark in its many routes. There's even one girl option, though it's light on potential romance. While some routes will definitely not be for everyone (the brothel and love triangle routes in particular), the story is not the strong point of this game, so you won't you'll feel like you're missing out if you don't complete all of them. Even so, it's still worth playing for its gorgeous art, witty English localization, and quirky cast of characters. OZMAFIA!! is available for PC.
Period Cube: Shackles of Amadeus
Period Cube can most easily be described as Sword Art Online: The Otome Game, only this time the protagonist is not a long-time MMO player, but a girl who ventures into an MMO along with her childhood friend when her brother is rumored to have gone missing inside it. As she uncovers the mysteries of the MMO, she comes in contact with a number of different players. Period Cube stands out for not only having very good romance routes, but also a great cast of supporting characters. If you can, go into Period Cube with as little knowledge about the characters as possible – it's even more fun when their real-world personalities are a surprise! Period Cube: Shackles of Amadeus is available for PS Vita.
Mystic Messenger
Out of all the games on this list, Mystic Messenger may be the most widely-known. As the first iOS/Android otome game developed by the Korean studio Cheritz, it utilizes the mobile phone platform to simulate an actual app where you play by interacting with characters in chat rooms and receiving simulated phone calls. Though Cheritz's previous PC-only titles Dandelion and Nameless ~The One Thing You Must Recall~ are both perfectly good otome game recommendations, Mystic Messenger presents an extremely effective immersive experience along with its great cast of characters, including a female romance option.
Hatoful Boyfriend
This is a game where instead of dating human boys, you date pigeons. It starts off with a whole lot of silliness, poking at visual novel conventions, but there are hints of something more sinister under the surface. While OZMAFIA!! is the kind of game where it's no big deal if you skip a few routes, Hatoful Boyfriend absolutely must be played until you get the true ending. Get ready for a game that's a whole lot more than just a few bird puns! Hatoful Boyfriend is available for PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, PS Vita, and iOS/Android. There's also a fan disc (an add-on to the original game that's not quite a full sequel) titled Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star.
Otome games tend to be criticized for having bland protagonists who don't take a active role in their narratives, despite being the central player character. While a less-defined protagonist may be easier for players to imagine themselves as, many players prefer protagonists with their own personalities, motivations, and character growth. Here are a few otome games with standout heroines:
Nightshade
If you liked the historical setting of Hakuōki, Nightshade might also be for you. Like Hakuōki, it features some historical characters and events, but it's centered around two warring ninja clans rather than the shinsengumi. The protagonist Enju is the daughter of the head of one of these clans, and she's determined to become a full-fledged ninja despite her village's insistence against it. With five male romance options, an action-packed plot, and lovely visuals, Nightshade deserves a spot in every otome game fan's library. You can find Nightshade for PC on Steam.
Collar X Malice
In this game, Tokyo is stricken by a terrorist organization called Adonis, who conduct a series of murders related to a countdown to the mysterious X-Day. Protagonist Officer Hoshino is on patrol in Shinjuku when she's attacked and fitted with a locked collar filled with poison around her neck. The suspense-filled plot follows her quest to uncover the truth behind the collar and X-Day, along with the help of five former police officers. Unfortunately, the localization could have used some more editing, but Collar X Malice is still a great otome game choice for PS Vita if you're looking for a darker story and stronger female protagonist.
Pigeon Otome Game Character
Sweet Fuse: At Your Side
You play as Saki, the fictional niece to Megaman creator Keiji Iwafune. (No, really.) Saki finds herself in a sticky situation when she attends the unveiling of Iwafune's brand new amusement park, only to be trapped by a psychotic pig that wants her and the other attendees to participate in a dangerous game. Saki is one of my favorite otome game protagonists because she isn't afraid to speak her mind, even if it means telling her male suitors off! Sweet Fuse also stands out for being hilarious and having a great cast of characters who are more than just the usual clichés. Sweet Fuse is only available for PSP, but the PSN version can be played on a PS Vita. Trust me, it's worth the trouble!
Rose of Winter
Pillowfight is one of many non-Japanese developers dipping their toe in the otome game genre. While Rose of Winter isn't explicitly labeled as an otome game, it ticks all the boxes otome game fans are looking for. The protagonist, Rosemary, is an adorable mercenary who needs to make some dough by escorting one of four princes across a treacherous mountain. Choose a prince and get ready for some super cute interactions between Rose and her suitor in this short but sweet otome game that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
Code:Realize – Guardian of Rebirth
This has all the makings of a great otome game: kickass protagonist, lovable cast of guys to date, intriguing storyline, gorgeous visuals, and memorable music. The heroine Cardia is stricken with a deadly poison that causes anything her skin touches to melt, so she's instructed by her father to stay away from people. While she initially seems like another damsel waiting for man to save her, Cardia takes matters into her own hands and learns to kick butt alongside her male suitors (who are all modeled after famous literary and historical figures). Code:Realize – Guardian of Rebirth is currently only available for PS Vita, but a PS4 port and fan disc will be debuting in English on March 30th.
What are your favorite otome games? Share them with us in the forums!
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satoshi-mochida:
Following the announcement of its English release late last week, publisher PQube has announced it will release the Extend-developed otome visual novel Bustafellows for Switch and PC via Steam in 2021 in the west.
Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:
Story
Arrive in New Sieg, a beautiful fictional town. Step into the shoes of a strong, smart and gifted journalist in this romantic adventure. You play the part of a young woman with the ability to leap in the past for a very short period in the bodies of others, which you use for data collection and helping people. After witnessing the murder of a crooked lawyer—she goes back in time in an attempt to save him. Thus, the journey begins as our protagonist goes back in time in the body of another person and tries to warn Limbo. It’s up to you to figure out how to save him!
Key Features
- Unravel mysteries and solve puzzles.
- Take the lead and choose your destiny.
- Romance five dangerous fellows, each with an unlockable side story.
- Unlock different endings.
- Experience a unique interactive gameplay.
- Meet guests characters from Side Kicks!
- Navigate through gorgeous visuals and polished animations.
- Listen to a complete Japanese voice cast, including KENN, Yoshimasa Hosoya, and more.
Will all routes lead to romance? Which happy ending awaits you? Play to find out!
Characters
Pigeon Otome Game Online
- Teuta (name can be changed) – The protagonist. A 21 years-old freelance journalist working in New Sieg. She witnessed the murder of her brother when she was younger and became a reporter for to serve justice. She has a mysterious ability that allows her to leap in the past for a very short period in the bodies of others and uses it to help people and collect data. She is a bright and cheerful woman with a positive personality. Although she is a reporter, she is not skilled at taking pictures.
- Limbo Fitzgerald – A crooked lawyer. A 27 years-old Lawyer. Limbo is known for advocating in court for even the toughest criminals. Although he is called a crooked lawyer, he is extremely skilled, and he is popular in the city and is seen as a hero. He abides by the law in his own standards and serves justice. Born into an extremely wealthy family, Limbo is soft-hearted.
- Shu – A hitman that silently eliminates hitmen. He is 28 years old. Shu is a heavy smoker who makes a living as a bounty killer by eliminating other hitmen. He is a top-class martial artist and specialized in long-range sniping. Best sniper in town, he has no other goals in life apart from executing those on the list left behind by his foster parents and mentor.
- Helvetica – A specialist at changing his appearance. A 26 years-old plastic surgeon. Popular in New Sieg, he loves beautiful things and constantly rates passer-by women based on their looks. Highly confident in his skills, he believes that people can be reborn by changing their natural features.
- Mozu – An autopsy specialist. At only 25 years old, Mozu is the chief of the autopsy department and work with the police forces. He is often misunderstood as apathetic and indifferent towards others. His way of thinking is usually from a medical point of view, which sometimes creates unexpectedly fun situations. Mozu talks to corpses and it is rumored that he dissects animals as a hobby. He likes riding bicycles.
- Scarecrow – A self-proclaimed underground boss. A 22 years-old cyber-geek and computer hacker who is famous on the internet for hacking, money laundering, stealing, etc. Thanks to his abilities and connections, he is a self-proclaimed underground boss.
Pigeon Otome Games
Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first English screenshots at the gallery. Visit the official website here.