It’s crazy to think that 2021 is almost over, it kind of feels like this year just started and now 2022 is right around the corner. This year opened up so many amazing opportunities that I never dreamed would be possible when I started this site back in 2015!
So before 2021 kicks the bucket, lets take a look back at 2021 here on Blerdy Otome!
Personal Achievements in 2021
March 2021: 1000 Blog Followers
After 6 years of running this site, I finally made it to 1K blog followers here on WordPress and while numbers are just numbers, this was such a huge milestone!
I remember back when I had 5 dedicated followers, so it’s still wild to know that so many people read my blog!
May 2021: Started Streaming on Twitch
One of my goals for 2021 was to start a Twitch channel and after a co-worker gifted me a gaming PC I was finally able to make good on it! I started BlerdyOtome in May and 7 months later the channel is still going strong!
June 2021: Twitch Affiliate
Just a few weeks after starting my Twitch channel I leveled up to Twitch Affiliate on June 7th, 2021. When I started my channel I didn’t expect much maybe 1 or 2 folks watching me ramble while playing games, but folks came out and I couldn’t be more grateful! I’ve built a nice little community over on Twitch and let’s just see where the future takes the channel in 2022!
July/August 2021: Attended My First Cons as Press
I have had the opportunity to attend cons before as press while freelancing for other sites. But this year I got the opportunity to attend both BlerdCon and Otakon as press on my own merit! It’s such a different experience going to anime conventions representing my own content and now that I know I can, I’ll definitely shoot my shot again in 2022!
September 2021: Created a Discord Server
I will readily admit that I am the worst when it comes to group chats─I am a serial lurker. But, the way Twitter likes to hide people’s tweets and the character limitations makes it hard to really connect with people, so I started a discord server to get a chance to chat with people away from the algorithm… and it has been great! Folks have been super cool and I love being able to really talk with everyone about games and share recommendations…
October 2021: Paid WordPress Hosting Fees
Blerdy Otome is currently hosted on WordPress under their Business plan, which is $300 a year. One of my goals has always been to get to a point where Blerdy Otome funds itself─and since I hate ads I set up a ko-fi page for folks to donate to the site (if they want). This year, with the support of all of you I was able to pay my WP hosting fees solely with those donations and I can’t thank you all enough!
November 2021: Finalist for the*gameHERS Award “Top Journalist of the Year”
One of the biggest things to happen to me this year has to be not just getting nominated for the*gameHERS Award for Top Journalist of the Year, but being one of the five finalists for the award! I’ll be honest this made my whole year, not gonna lie it blew my mind, because I’m just me, I don’t feel like I do anything special, I just write about what I like─and for me and my tiny corner of the internet to be included among so many talented and prolific industry folks is seriously crazy!
Site Stats in 2021
All Time Views
1,907,282
Avg Weekly Views
10,875
Total Posts 2021
190
Total Views 2021
589,678
Avg Monthly Visitors
26.6 K
Countries Reached
221
What I Wrote in 2021
In 2021 I wrote a total of 190 post, of which 67 posts were game reviews. I’m slowly chipping away at ever growing backlog, one game at a time─though I tend to buy games faster than I finish them, so it’s a never ending battle.






















































January 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #74
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #75
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #76
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #77
Game Reviews
- Best Friends Forever Game Review – Love, Laughs, and Cute Doggos
- Melanin Friendly Games – High Elo Girls
- First Impressions – NIGHT/SHADE Demo
- First Impressions – Pale Cachexia Demo
- First Impressions: Pipe Dream Demo
- Melanin Friendly Games: The Space in Between
- When The Past Was Around is a Beautifully Bittersweet Point-and-Click Adventure
- First Impressions: Stand By Me Demo
- Melanin Friendly Games: Battle Royale: For Your Heart! Demo
Essays
- Confessions of an Otome Gamer: How I Got My Hakuoki Kyoto Winds Art Book
- Shut Up and Let Me Enjoy My Otome: Elitism in the Otome Games Community
Lists/Recommendations
- Diverse Games to Keep an Eye Out for in 2021
- What I Look for in an Otome Heroine
- 5 Games I Plan on Finishing in 2021
Otome News
- Code: Realize ~Wintertide Miracles~ to Launch February 25th on Nintendo Switch
- EPHEMERAL- Fantasy on Dark- Scheduled for January 21 Nintendo Switch Release
- Otome Game Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi: Jinchuu Houkoku no Shi announced for Switch and Steam
- Touken Ranbu Online is Making its English Language Debut
- HuneX Drops Demo for Steam Prison Nintendo Switch Port
February 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
Game Reviews
- Melanin Friendly Games: Mercenaries Blaze: Dawn of the Twin Dragons
- Cinderella Phenomenon: Evermore – What Happens After Happily Ever After?
- How To Take Off Your Mask Remastered Nintendo Switch Game Review
- WILL: A Wonderful World Game Review + Giveaway
- Lost in Secular Love Review – Forbidden Romance with Sexy Monks
- My Dangerous Life BL Game Review – F*ckboys in the City
- First Impressions: Made Marion Demo
- Melanin Friendly Games – The Sky Left Us
- Dot Kareshi – We’re 8bit Lovers! II ~The Sky’s Kiss~ Otome Review
Lists/Recommendations
- 5 Games Like 7’scarlet
- Valentine’s Day with Bae – Otome Boys to Spend V-Day With
- Short Otome Games You Can Finish in a Weekend
Other Posts
March 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #79
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #80
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #81
Game Reviews
- Sifting Thyme Otome Review – Stir Up Some Romance
- Loving You Fully Indie Game Review – Self Love is BEST Love
- Men of Yoshiwara Kikuya Otome Review – Finding Love in the Red Light District
- Taisho x Alice Episode 3 Otome Review – Life is but a Fairytale
- First Impressions: EDDA Café Indie Game
- First Impressions – Exclusively Yours: An Office Affair Love 365 Otome Review
- Project: Perfectly Normal BL Game Review
- First Impressions: Doki Doki Dollmaker BL Game Demo Review + KS Campaign
- Root Film Nintendo Switch Game Review
- I Love You! (Suki Da!) Otome Game Review – Cute High School Rom Com
- Heroine for Hire Indie Otome Review – Fai’s Route
Lists/Recommendations
April 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #82
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #83
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #84
Game Reviews
- Sentimental Trickster BL Game Review
- Melanin Friendly Games – Hades
- A Forsaken Place Nanoreno 2021 Game Review
- A Pinch of Magic Nanoreno 2021 Game Review
- Snow Angel Nanoreno 2021 Game Review
- Loveless on Lockdown Nanoreno 2021 Game Review
- Appetite Amor Nanoreno 2021 Game Review
- First Impressions – The Radiants Indie Otome Demo
- Melanin Friendly Games – Spirit Swap
- War of Roses Indie Otome Review
Lists/Recommendations
Game News and Releases
May 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #85
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #86
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #87
Game Reviews
- The Monster of Memory: Destiny BL Game Review
- First Impressions: No Honour Among Thieves Demo Review
- Perfect Gold: The Alchemy of Happiness Yuri Game Review
Manga Reviews
Lists/Recommendations
- Indie Boys Love Games You Should Be Playing
- Indie Games to Get You Through MerMay
- Shy Cuties Need Love Too: 5 Dandere Otome Guys
Fangirl Friday
June 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
Game Reviews
- Melanin Friendly Games – ValiDate: Struggling Singles in Your Area
- Indie Spotlight: Peachleaf Valley Seeds Of Love
- MARS RED: Edge of the Nightmare Game Review
Upcoming Releases
- Moonchime Studios to Release BL Game Tokyo Onmyoji in English
- Tears of Themis Pre-Registration Open for Summer 2021 Release
Lists/Recommendations
- [Pride Month 2021] Loads More LGBTQ Positive Visual Novels
- Games I’m Most Excited About From Wholesome Games Direct 2021
- Games That Give Off Summer Vibes
- Blerdy Otome’s Steam Summer Sale 2021 Must Buys!
Features
July 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #89
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #90
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #91
Game Reviews
- Celestia Indie Otome Review
- Melanin Friendly Games – Alkahest
- Nekopara – Catboys Paradise Review
- Bustafellows Otome Review – Romance with a Bit of Danger
Lists/Recommendations
Features
August 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #92
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #93
Game Reviews
- Indie Spotlight: Salty Hounds
- Fashioning Little Miss Lonesome (18+) Otome Review
- Melanin Friendly Games – Imperial Grace
- Melanin Friendly Games – Boyfriend Dungeon
Lists/Recommendations
Features
- Is This Otome? – Inclusivity in the Otome Games Fandom
- Aksys Games Reveals Four New Otome Games Coming to the West
Walkthroughs
September 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #94
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #95
- Thrifty Gaming: Games That Won’t Blow Your Budget #96
Game Reviews
- Olympia Soiree Otome Review – Kiss the Rainbow
- First Impressions – Gilded Shadows Demo Review
- My Dear Frankenstein Game Review
Lists/Recommendations
Features
Blog Updates
Press Releases
October 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
Game Reviews
- FIRST IMPRESSIONS: ARCADE SPIRITS THE NEW CHALLENGERS
- KOHANA INDIE GAME REVIEW
- FIRST IMPRESSIONS: THE INN BETWEEN BL DEMO REVIEW
- A YEAR OF SPRINGS GAME REVIEW
Lists/Recommendations
Features
Blog Updates
Press Releases
November 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
Thrifty Gaming
Game Reviews
- FIRST IMPRESSIONS: ARCADE SPIRITS THE NEW CHALLENGERS
- KOHANA INDIE GAME REVIEW
- FIRST IMPRESSIONS: THE INN BETWEEN BL DEMO REVIEW
- A YEAR OF SPRINGS GAME REVIEW
Lists/Recommendations
Features
Blog Updates
Press Releases
December 2021 Blog Posts (Click to Reveal)
What’s Next In 2021?
I am terrible at keeping my new year’s resolutions, so rather than listing out specifics, I’ll keep things pretty “general”:
- I am terrible at time management, so I’d like to get better at balancing my time between work, Twitch and blogging.
- I’d like to do more community “stuff” like the poll I did for Best Otome of 2021 and the Polling the #OtomeArmada
- Maybe movie nights in the discord, because far too many folks have not seen MHA and I need to correct that ASAP.
- Special Twitch collabs/streams and maybe some Just Chatting Streams
- More non-otome game reviews and content (because I do play games other than otome games)
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!
And, before I close things out I want to give a huge thank you to all of you for sticking with me throughout the year! You guys have been so amazing and wonderful and supportive─Blerdy Otome is what it is because of you! I can get really caught up in my own head sometimes and reading your comments and chatting with you all really does put a smile on my face.
Big thanks to the following Ko-fi Supporters
Sam
Riley
Carrie M
Po
Anonymous Ko-fi Supporters (x5)
Strom
Netflix Anime
green-glasses
DEBULA
Lanah
AenneSchumann
Sky
Sweet & Spicy Otome Game Reviews
AuthorCarola
COUPERVILLE
Megan
Kayleigh Venckus
Vki from OtomeShimai
tofu
That’s it for me! I’ll catch you all again in 2022!