review | Blerdy Otome

Is the My Next Life as a Villainess Otome Worth Playing?

Published on November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 by Blerdy5 Comments

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 Routes Lead to Doom! – Pirates of the Disturbance – has been hotly anticipated by the fandom! This otome adaptation features an original storyline and gives us two new romanceable characters: hot engineer, Rozy Lind and sexy pirate captain, Silva!

But, coming on the heels of Virche Evermore and Hana Awase New Moon, some otome gamers may be wondering, “Is My Next Life as a Villainess worth getting on release?” Well, thanks to the awesome folks at Idea Factory International, I was able to check out the game early and I have some thoughts!

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Is Taisho x Alice Heads & Tails Worth Playing?

Published on September 21, 2023November 29, 2023 by BlerdyLeave a comment

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 in English on the Nintendo Switch console! But, is it worth playing?

Game Details

Genre: Fantasy | Otome | Fandisc
Developer & Publisher: Primula & Pencil
Rating: T for Teen
Where to Play: Steam | Nintendo Switch

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Hard to Make a Romantic Cartoon (순정만화가 너무 어려워) BL Game Review

Published on August 20, 2023August 20, 2023 by Blerdy9 Comments

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 this game is everything!

College student Yunjae is transported into the body of a side character in a romantic webcomic and forced to fulfill his intended role in the story. But when Yunjae inadvertently changes the story, he must deal with some unexpected consequences… an isekai adventure with a boys love twist~

Game Details

Genre: Boys Love | Isekai | Drama | Comedy
Developer & Publisher: Indigo & AK Communications
Rating: Safe for Work (16+)
Where to Play: Steam

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The Summer Hikaru Died Volume 1 Manga Review

Published on July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 by Blerdy5 Comments

The Summer Hikaru Died is a psychological horror seinen manga series by Mokumokuren and published in English by Yen Press. Two boys lived in a village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. The two did everything together…until the day Hikaru was encompassed by a mysterious light. That was when everything changed—Hikaru most of all. Yoshiki still wishes from the bottom of his heart to always stay by his side…but is there even a Hikaru left to be with?

It has Hikaru’s face. It has Hikaru’s voice. It even has Hikaru’s memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn’t Yoshiki’s best friend. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed―as if Hikaru isn’t gone―would be crazy…but when it looks so very like Hikaru…and acts so very like Hikaru…

Manga Details

Genre: Horror | Drama | Mystery
Author: Mokumokuren
Publisher: Yen Press
Price: $15.00 USD
Length: 1 Volume (Ongoing)

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Disney Twisted Wonderland The Manga – Book of Heartslabyul Volume 1 Review

Published on July 14, 2023July 14, 2023 by Blerdy1 Comment

Based on the popular mobile game from Aniplex and Disney, this manga adaptation gives fans of the game a new way to experience the wonder and magic of the Twisted Wonderland series! Stranded in the world of Twisted Wonderland, Yu must brave a magical school filled with ghosts, monsters, and uncooperative students!

Yu is whisked away to Night Raven College, an arcane academy in the world of Twisted Wonderland. Stranded until he can find a way home, Yu is allowed to stay on campus despite having no magic of his own. But when his new friends land him in trouble with the headmage, his future at the school looks bleak. Now Yu’s fate hinges on bringing together a pair of argumentative first-years and a fire-breathing monster cat…

Manga Details

Genre: Fantasy | Adventure
Original Concept: Yana Toboso | Storyboards: Wakana Hazuki | Art: Sumire Kowono
Publisher: VIZ Media
Price: $12.99 USD
Length: 1 Volume (Ongoing)

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Jack Jeanne Otome Review

Published on June 13, 2023June 14, 2023 by Blerdy6 Comments

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 elite drama school Univeil. There’s just one catch she can’t let anyone know that she’s a girl!

Game Details

Genre: Slice-of-Life | Stats Raising | Rhythm Games | School Romance
Rating: ESRB T
Developer & Publisher: Broccoli & Aksys Games
Where to Get the Game: Aksys Games | Amazon | Nintendo eShop
Similar Games: Storm Lover Kai | Backstage Pass

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Twittering Birds Never Fly Volume 1 Manga Review

Published on May 20, 2023May 20, 2023 by Blerdy2 Comments

Depraved souls trapped by their own desires, Kou Yoneda’s Twittering Birds Never Fly offers a unique look at the relationship between a masochistic yakuza boss and his stoic bodyguard. In a world where dark deals and violence reign, can they find solace in each other or is their relationship just another twisted liaison between two lonely men?

Yashiro is the young leader of Shinseikai and the president of the Shinseikai Enterprise, but like so many powerful men, he leads a double life as a deviant and a masochist. Chikara Doumeki comes to work as a bodyguard for him and, although Yashiro had decided that he would never lay a hand on his own men, he finds there’s something about Doumeki that he can’t resist. Yashiro makes advances toward Doumeki, but Doumeki has mysterious reasons for denying. Yashiro, who abuses his power just to abuse himself, and Doumeki, who faithfully obeys his every command, begin the tumultuous affair of two men with songs in their hearts and no wings to fly.

Manga Details

Genre: Yakuza | Boys Love | Drama
Author: Kou Yoneda
Publisher: June Manga
Price: $14.95 USD (Physical) | $7.95 (Digital)
Length: 7 volumes (Ongoing)

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Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo Otome Review

Published on May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 by BlerdyLeave a comment

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

Genre: Historical | Supernatural | Romance
Rating: ESRB T
Developer & Publisher: Otomate & Aksys Games
Where to Get the Game: Aksys Games | Amazon | Nintendo eShop
Similar Games: Hakuoki series | Olympia Soiree | Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei

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Touchstarved (Early Access) Demo Review

Published on March 13, 2023March 28, 2023 by Blerdy2 Comments

TOUCHSTARVED is a gothic horror romance visual novel and debut game from Red Spring Studio: a small indie team made up of veteran game developers from Riot Games, Nix Hydra, Bungie, and more. The game will be crowdfunded via Kickstarter on March 21, 2023 for release on PC and Mac.

Game Details

Fantasy | Romance | Horror
Demo: 1st chapter of the full game + 7 unlockable CGs
Rating: Mature (Dark themes)
Where to Play: PC (Window and Mac)

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Grandmaster of the Demonic Cultivation The Comic Vol. 1 Review

Published on March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 by Blerdy3 Comments

Grandmaster of the Demonic Cultivation The Comic is the manhua adaptation of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s popular historical fantasy danmei novel series. Often referred to as MDZS by the fandom, the series is a HIT in China (and abroad), spawning a popular animated series as well as a live-action series, The Untamed (which is not as widely loved). The story follows the story of two powerful men who find each other through life and death—and has zombies… I wasn’t expecting the zombies.

Feared and hated for his sinister abilities, Wei Wuxian–the grandmaster of demonic cultivation–was driven to his death when the most powerful clans united to destroy him.

Thirteen years later, Wei Wuxian is reborn. Summoned by a young man who sacrificed his soul in a forbidden ritual, Wei Wuxian is now bound to seek vengeance on the stranger’s behalf or risk the destruction of his own soul. But when an evil entity emerges, a familiar face from Wei Wuxian’s past suddenly appears amidst the chaos–a powerful cultivator who will help shine a light on the dark truths that surround them.