A Dash of Black Girl Magic in Every Review
Games
A modern Japanese-style fantasy story involving Yue, a young boy born and raised at a shrine, and his friendship with the “Ayakashi” spirits. Of the Red, the Light, and the Ayakashi Tsuzuri (Akaya Akashiya Ayakashino) is a fantasy visual novel, that was released on PC in Japan in 2011 by…
My Next Life As A Villainess All Roads Lead to Doom – Pirates of the Disturbance – or Hamefura Pirates (because that name is a mouthful) has finally made its way to the West! Based on the popular light novel, manga, and anime series, My Next Life as a Villainess: All…
Groundhog Day meets Doki Doki Literature Club in the Replay Boys, a visual novel from indie studio, Split Narrative where you have to wrangle the members of an up and coming boy band. I went in expecting to navigate boy band blow outs over music and crazed fangirls vying for…
The PS Vita reigned supreme as the go to otome console, but after years on top, Sony finally pulled the plug on the much beloved handheld. Sure, the Nintendo Switch has picked up the slack, supplying us with a flood of new otome games. Publishers like Aksys Games and Idea…
An Otome romance game where you pursue love with Japanese animal gods. Exciting news from the indie games space, Loca Games announced a month ago that their fantasy otome, Yukar of the Abyss would be coming to the Nintendo Switch. Early this morning the team announced that Yukar of the…
Indie studio Nochi Studios launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for a planned PC update for Sifting Thyme. Originally released in 2020 for mobile, Sifting Thyme was the studio’s first release–check out the full review for more details. Take on the role of the newest transfer student at…
Virche Evermore: Error Salvation is a dark fantasy otome game developed by Otomate and published in English by Aksys Games for the Nintendo Switch. Dive into the depths of despair and embrace the pain in this dark and angsty story about a young woman’s fight against her own tragic fate!…
Even if Tempest Dawning Connections, the follow up to 2022’s dark fantasy otome game, Even if Tempest is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Voltage Inc. really went above and beyond with their first console exclusive title, and the fandom is chomping at the bit to see…
Your choices and behaviors will lead you down very different paths in this twisty social thriller If you love Danganronpa and the Zero Escape series, you’re gonna love Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue! Aksys Games and Dreamloop Games announced today that the narrative adventure Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue is…
At long last, Brittany based indie studio, Träumendes Mädchen released their fairytale inspired visual novel, Chronotopia: Second Skin. The project was crowdfunded on Kickstarter in 2016, but due to various circumstances spent years in development limbo. But, the developer has been working on the game and now it is finally…
Grow from childhood to adulthood with your two neighbors and experience a one of a kind life in this customizable, choice-heavy story🍂 At long last indie studio, GB Patch launched the Kickstarter campaign for the much anticipated second installment to the nostalgic, Our Life series—Our Life Now and Forever. Grow…
Indie game developer, GSE Studios just launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming dark fantasy amare visual novel, Keepers of Astraela. The team debuted with the game Heart & Soul, a Greek mythology otome visual novel that follows the myth of Psyche and Eros. Their latest project Keepers of Astraela…
Like a coin, TAISHO x ALICE has two sides: the real world and the Looking-Glass World. Without darkness, there can be no light… It’s time to take a peek behind the curtain in TAISHO x ALICE: HEADS & TAILS! The Taisho x Alice fandisc, Heads & Tails is now available…
Hong Kong based indie developer, Ricelovecoffee just launched the Kickstarter for their upcoming yandere otome mystery game, Heart Cage. The team originally released a fully voiced demo for Heart Cage as part of Otome Jam 2023. Yandere x Otome x Mystery A mystery Otome game with all yandere love interest,…
Update 9/12: Indie studio, Harlevin has relaunched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming 18+ amare visual novel, Celestial Crowns. The team launched their first crowd funding campaign in May 2023, however, they failed to make their initial campaign goal. They have relaunched with a new goal of $10,000 USD which they hope to meet…
Steam is a treasure trove of hidden gems, but their search feature is absolute trash, so finding anything new can be impossible on the platform. While browsing the Steam Visual Novel Fest listings I discovered the Korean boys love game, Hard to Make a Romantic Cartoon! (순정만화가 너무 어려워) and…
Indie studio, Galen Games recently launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming fantasy otome/RPG Dual Chroma and with it a demo! So of course I had to check it out! Journey alongside the Second Prince of the Galens Empire to unlock ancient secrets in this romantic fantasy adventure with a…
Happy Monday! What better way to kick off the week than with a melanin friendly game! While (slowly) making my way through all of this year’s Otome Jam submissions I stumbled across Chattercap’s yandere ex-boyfriend themed romance horror, Karamu and let’s just say I was not prepared for this ride!…
Happy Yaoi Day! That’s right, it’s August 1st, a day of celebration for boys’ love fans, but what makes this day special. Well, August 1st is celebrated as Yaoi Day because when you write “801“ in Japanese, it can be read as “yaoi”. The 8 can be read as “ya”…
Radiant Tale is a fantasy adventure otome game developed by Otomate and published in English by Aksys Games for the Nintendo Switch. Tifalia’s quiet life is turned upside down when she is invited to join CIRCUS, a ragtag group of performers. But when her companions are an excitable dragon, a…
Charade Maniacs is a mystery otome game developed by Idea Factory for the Nintendo Switch and published in English by Idea Factory International. Can you trust someone who might be a traitor? A mysterious figure abducts Hiyori Sena, transporting her to a strange world with nine other abductees and welcomes…
Indie Studio, Open Late Games recently launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming 18+ romance visual novel, Speakeasy. This steamy 1920’s romp takes players on a whirlwind of forbidden, decadent romances in the depths of an exclusive jazz club. Game Details
The Western otome fandom is currently in the middle of an otome boom! Since February, we’ve seen at least one otome game release a month. Now otome lovers are finding their backlogs filled to the brim with a variety of new game… June has been especially tough, with otome localization…
Female founded and run indie studio Nochi Studios is working on their latest project, Sweetcore Brews! This is the team’s fourth game, coming on the heels of their exploration adventure romance, Untold Atlas. Sweetcore Brews is an otome about a tea-brewing witch called “Milly”, whose dream is to open her…
It’s been a week since the Wholesome Direct 2023 showcase blessed us with almost 80 cozy indie games! Like last year I participated as one of the showcases content creator partners, co-streaming the event on my Twitch channel, BlerdyOtome. There were so many amazing games shown during the presentation, but…
Jack Jeanne is a high school romance otome and rhythm game developed by Broccoli with direction and art design by famed mangaka Sui Ishida, and published in English by Aksys Game. Show off your performance skills in singing and dancing and help Kisa Tachibana rise through the ranks at the…
Indie studio, Man Eater Games recently launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming 18+ BL visual novel, The Frozen Kingdom. This will be a commercial release ($9.99USD). Join the barbarian Einar in his quest for revenge! The Frozen Kingdom is inspired by the sword & sorcery fantasy films of the 80s such…
I’m excited to report that indie studio Lunaris Games has finally given us an update on their queer, noir visual novel, Call Me Under. The team has been quiet about the project since it was successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter back in 2020, but they’ve just announced that the first full…
Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo is a supernatural historical otome game developed by Otomate and published by Aksys Games for the Nintendo Switch. A secret organization recruits a young woman. Her ability to sense oncoming disasters could save the country from demonic forces. Or destroy it… Game Details
Indie studio, Harlevin recently launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming 18+ romance visual novel, Celestial Crowns. This will be a commercial release ($24.99 USD) Customize your Monarch and romance 3 love interests in this fantasy tale about powerful kingdoms and ancient magic. How will you rule? Game Details
