Happy Monday!! What better way to kick of the week than with some game recommendations?!

Despite my aversion to cliffhangers and my love/hate relationship with ongoing series, I’ve really been getting into episodic games lately… There really is something to be said for playing a game at your leisure, with new episodes released every few weeks (or months). It gives you something to do between game releases or while your procrastinating on a project without losing hours of your life… It’s like a gaming snack rather than a whole meal and with my crazy schedule, episodic games offer the perfect fix for when I’m craving some gaming time, without the a long gameplay commitment.

So, I compiled a list of some of my favorite episodic games, from life sims, to puzzle games, to visual novels, and more! These are the 8 episodic otome games and visual novels you should totally be playing!!

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Sweet Elite

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux 

So I actually stumbled on to this one while browsing Tumblr this past weekend and it’s kind of similar to the online life sim/dating sim My Candy Love. In the game you play as a new student at the illustrious Arlington Academy. Drama, Adventure, and Romance await in this create your own story gaming experience. Sweet Elite reads more like a CW high school drama at times, but even I have to admit there is something entertaining about it… and each new episode ups the ante so there is never a dull moment!

One of the best things about the game is the character customization, you can craft your own protagonist (male or female) so that they look like you, which is something that is missing from a lot of the otome games I’ve played in the past. There is even the option of same sex relationships regardless of the gender you choose.

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One Thousand and One Days

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux 

This game seriously rocks! Not only does it have the diversity I crave in my romance games, but it borrows elements from cultures you don’t often see featured in video games. One Thousand and One Days blends together Persian and Islamic lore and influences from Middle Eastern, African, and Mongolian cultures for a richly inventive and uniquely original gaming experience. And don’t get me started on the artwork! One Thousand and One Days is absolutely stunning! Lush, vibrant backgrounds full of fabulous details and characters that leap off the screen… this game is mesmerizing!!

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When the Night Comes

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux 

I’ve talked about this game before, but seriously if you haven’t played this game you are seriously missing out! When the Night Comes is reaching its conclusion very soon, so this is the best time to jump on the WTNC bandwagon, trust me you won’t be disappointed! Action, Adventure, Mystery, Romance, and a Supernatural chaser to make the whole thing worthwhile! I fell in love with this game, downloading each new chapter as soon as it was released, and I am so excited to see how everything turns out! You really fall in love with the characters and the story.

But what really sets the game apart is that in addition to the usual romance options you can also pursue LGBTQ and poly relationships! I didn’t think I would like the poly ships, but they were really well done and the bond between the player character and the two love interests is handled really well. The relationship holds weight and it’s nice to the poly relationship handled in such a wholesome way and not as some gimmick. Also, Lunaris Games is working on a new title, Errant Knight and you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be all over that when it’s released!!

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The Arcana

Where to Play: Google Play | App Store

The Arcana has been around for a bit and developed quite the online following and with good reason! Get drawn in by the beautiful characters and backgrounds but stay for the story! The Arcana weaves a captivating story of mystery and magic that will seriously keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to unravel the secrets of the palace as you interact with the game’s colorful cast of characters. But, there’s more than just the story, The Arcana features several mini games, including a daily Tarot reading where you get special horoscopes from the romanceable characters.

I’m usually not a huge fan of free to play games, but after just a few chapters of The Arcana I was hooked and it definitely didn’t hurt that Asra and Nadia are both complete hotties!!

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The Neptune Diaries

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux 

I just started this one so I’m only going off of what I’ve played so far, but I love this game! It combines two of my loves sci-fi and a detective mystery and I know it sounds like it wouldn’t work but trust me it does! I’m usually more of an instant gratification gamer, I like games with a set beginning, middle, and end that plays out over the course of a single playthrough. However, even I can admit that mystery/detective games like The Neptune Diaries were made for the episodic format, because it allows the story the chance to build up the suspense. Each successive chapter builds on the last, introducing new suspects and clues as the player slowly puts together the pieces of the puzzle.

A detective noir with the trappings of a futuristic sci-fi adventure, The Neptune Diaries does not disappoint!

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Exit/Corners

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux 

So, a few weekends ago I went with a group of friends to an escape room and even though we didn’t manage to escape (we went down with the Titanic) I had a blast. This next game gives you the feel of an escape room challenge from the comfort of your own home! Escape/Corners is a short episodic adventure game, with the story driven narrative of a visual novel and the interactive elements of a puzzle game. Five strangers find themselves trapped in an abandoned hotel set to collapse in just 24 hours, help them escape alive by solving a series of riddles to uncover the mystery behind their captivity.

It’s kind of like The Nonary Game (aka 999: Nine Doors, Nine Persons, Nine Doors), but in a less intense format. Each chapter is about 10-15 minutes long, with 30 chapters total so you could finish the game in about 5 or so hours, which is pretty short for a VN. But don’t let that fool you, there is plenty of content to enjoy in Escape/Corners.

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My Candy Love: High School Life

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux 

My Candy Love has been around for a long time and it’s one of the games I suggest to folks that are looking for a more casual dating sim experience. Like Sweet Elite this game is another web browser dating sim game, but I like to think of it as the OG browser dating sim. You play as Candy a transfer student at Sweet Amoris High, make friends, flirt, and deal with high school bullies in this super fun episodic life sim/dating sim I used to play this game religiously, sucked in by the catty high school drama of Sweet Amoris High and trust me when I say My Candy Love likes to take things to soap opera levels! #TeamCastiel

They’ve recently released a “continuation” of the story titled My Candy Love: University Life that follows some of the characters into their college years. But trust there is just as much drama going on in this new iteration to keep you entertained!

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LongStory

Where to Play: Windows, Mac, Linux | Google Play | App Store | Switch

Ever wanted to relive your middle school glory days? Well LongStory is just the game for you, giving you the chance to step into the shoes of a new transfer student at Weasel Heights Middle School. Fumble your way through awkward firsts as you navigate the excitement and drama of middle school. Make friends, fall in love, avoid your enemies, and maybe solve a mystery or two along the way.

What I love about this game is you get to choose your own pronouns and protagonist and it doesn’t impact which of the five available love interests you can pursue, which opens the possibility for some LGBTQ+ relationships. But, even more than that LongStory is such a wholesome gaming experience giving players the chance to craft their own experience in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re following a set path or script.

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Give an Episodic Game a Try!

So that’s my list! And as someone who hates cliffhangers, there is something to be said for the slow building stories of an episodic game. Sometimes you need to take a break from some of the heavier gaming titles and relax with some episodic stories, whether you’re a fan of suspense filled mysteries or craft your own story games each of these titles has something great to offer.

As always, this is not an end all list, there are plenty of great episodic visual novels and otome games to check out! I just tried to pick games that had a regular update schedule (or were complete), because there is nothing more devastating than getting into something only to discover its been dropped…

I highly recommend playing all of these games if you have the chance, but if you don’t any one of these titles is worth checking out!!

 

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