Melanin Friendly Games – Karamu

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! This is a yandere romance that will subvert all your expectations—I went through the full gambit of emotions and I still haven’t recovered.

Continue reading “Melanin Friendly Games – Karamu”

Belle Automata: Chronicle I – Indie Otome Review

Belle Automata is a sci-fi fantasy romance visual novel developed by Jellyfish Parade. Inspired by lore from the likes of Cupid and Psyche, The Wizard of Oz, Pinocchio and other beloved tales, Belle Automata is the journey of an android reinventing herself. Join Aureve and the others as they forge their own paths dealing with love, self-acceptance, and grief for a life left behind.

Game Details

  • Genre: Sci-fi | Romance | Fantasy
  • Rating: Teen
  • Price: $19.99 USD
  • Developer: Jellyfish Parade (Owl)
  • Where to Get the Game: PC (Windows and Mac) | Steam
Continue reading “Belle Automata: Chronicle I – Indie Otome Review”

Infinite Blue Demo – First Impressions

Indie studio Velvet Fox Games just dropped the demo for their instant messenger otome game, Infinite Blue. In the game, you as the player, along with six strangers, have a messenger app mysteriously downloaded onto your phones. In the course of 10 real-time days, you will have the opportunity to grow close to these strangers, chat with them on the messenger, and learn why the app was installed. The lovely Velvet Fox team was kind enough to give me an early look at the demo before the official release and I am excited to share my thoughts!

Game Details

Continue reading “Infinite Blue Demo – First Impressions”

Validate: Struggling Singles in Your Area – First Impressions

ValiDate: Struggling Singles in Your Area is a romantic visual novel about 13 adults in Jercy City navigating new relationships and the harsh realities that come alongside them. I’ve talked about this game a few times; Veritable Joy’s dedication to including authentic BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation in Validate definitely caught my attention. So, I am super happy that the team gave me a sneak peek at the demo before its public debut!

Game Details

  • Genre: Slice-of-Life | LGBTQ+ | Modern Romance
  • Platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Xbox, Itch.io
  • Projected Release Date: August 2022
Continue reading “Validate: Struggling Singles in Your Area – First Impressions”

Melanin Friendly Games – Dot’s Home

Hey  Blerdy Tribe!! It’s Monday once again and I want to kick off the week with some melanin friendly games! If this is your first time here at Blerdy Otome, welcome! 

Every Monday I spotlight video games that focus on stories surrounding more diverse casts of characters—for folks like me looking for a bit more representation in their games. Video games are for everyone, so shouldn’t their stories and characters be just as diverse as the people that play them? So I created this series to celebrate games that strive to tell much more diverse stories centering on Black and Brown individuals. But, I welcome all diversity and the series has expanded to include games featuring LGBTQIA rep and characters from other underrepresented groups.

So, if you’re interested in seeing previous Melanin Friendly Games posts, click HEREThis week I’m spotlighting the 2D single-player game, Dot’s Home, a collaboration between Rise-Home Stories project and indie teams, Ariel Knights and Weathered Sweater.

Continue reading “Melanin Friendly Games – Dot’s Home”

Somnium Eleven First Impressions Review

Somnium Eleven is a magitech, isekai visual novel adventure game developed by Nochi Studios, the folks behind the cooking visual novel Sifting Thyme. Follow Aria as she competes for a chance to win the title of Sun of the Empire, along the way learn about a rich magitech world and befriend/romance your fellow competitors. Thanks to the lovely folks at Nochi Studios I had the opportunity to play the game early during the early closed beta and y’all I am blown away by this game!!

Game Details

  • Genre: Cyber-punk | Sci-Fi | Stats-Raising | Romance
  • Length: 15+ hours of gameplay
  • Where to Play: Google Play | App Store
Continue reading “Somnium Eleven First Impressions Review”

Indie Spotlight – First Bite

Looking for something with a bit more bite? Check out First Bite the upcoming 18+ LGBTQ+ dark comedy visual novel from First Bite Games–a small indie team made up writers from some of my fave indie projects (When the Night Comes, High Elo Girls, Akash: Path of Five, and Arcade Spirits). In First Bite, you play as Noe, a human fascinated by all things supernatural who ends up in the hands of three centuries-old vampires. What would you do if you had the chance at a second life, after death? 

Pre-order the game now, before the November 17th, release date!

Continue reading “Indie Spotlight – First Bite”

Indie Spotlight – Belle Automata

Hey  Blerdy Tribe!! There’s a brand new Kickstarter campaign for the Jellyfish Parade’s latest title, Belle Automata that needs our support! Belle Automata is an upcoming sci-fi fantasy visual novel developed by Jellyfish Parade. This is the team’s most ambitious project to date following Aureve an android who finds her life turned upside-down when she is sold to a mysterious benefactor.

Continue reading “Indie Spotlight – Belle Automata”

First Impressions: Arcade Spirits The New Challengers

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is the follow-up to 2019’s Arcade Spirits, a visual novel of love and pixels, in which you seek friendship and romance while working in an arcade. Now the tables are turned, as you seek friendship and romance while PLAYING in an arcade!

Game Details

Continue reading “First Impressions: Arcade Spirits The New Challengers”

Melanin Friendly Games – Boyfriend Dungeon

Hey  Blerdy Tribe!! It’s Monday once again and I want to kick off the week with some melanin friendly games! If this is your first time here at Blerdy Otome, welcome! 

Every Monday I spotlight video games that focus on stories surrounding more diverse casts of characters—for folks like me looking for a bit more representation in their games. Video games are for everyone, so shouldn’t their stories and characters be just as diverse as the people that play them? So I created this series to celebrate games that strive to tell much more diverse stories centering on Black and Brown individuals. But, I welcome all diversity and the series has expanded to include games featuring LGBTQIA rep and characters from other underrepresented groups.

So, if you’re interested in seeing previous Melanin Friendly Games posts, click HEREThis week, I’m spotlighting the upcoming resource management indie otome game, Boyfriend Dungeon, from Kitfox Games.

Continue reading “Melanin Friendly Games – Boyfriend Dungeon”