This past Sunday, yuri game development team, Studio Élan announced some exciting upcoming Sapphic visual novels during Élan Festival 2023 hosted by their adorable mascot, Melanie (voiced by Madeline Dorroh)! This is an annual showcase current and upcoming projects from Élan and their publishing wing Bellhouse and trust there is a lot to talk about! So, let’s check out all the announcements from Élan Festival 2023!
Indie dev, Aikasa Collective recently launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming girls love visual novel, Red Rebellion.
Red Rebellion is a historical fantasy romance set in late medieval England in the 1450s. In this fairy tale mashup Robin Hood teams up with Red Riding Hood to save their town fueling the sparks of rebellion.
Hey Hey, Blerdy Tribe! If there was a genre of games that I’m not as well versed in it would have to be Yuri/Girls’ Love. I’ve just never been especially drawn to the genre and growing up in a more traditional Southern Baptist household didn’t lend itself to exploring more niche genres—I’m a grown adult living on my own and my mom still isn’t “aware” of my love of BL media, which is a wonder seeing as it’s all over my Insta account.
It’s only been in recent years that I’ve started to seek out more GL series, particularly games and I’ve had the opportunity to play some really good ones! So I’ve compiled a list of some of the indie otome games I think you should add to your gaming library!
Continue reading “Indie Girls Love Games You Should Be Playing”
Hey Hey Blerdy Tribe, it’s LGBT Pride Month, the annual celebration dedicated to the richly diverse LGBT+ community!! Now more than ever, representation matters, especially in the wake of the recent string of injustices carried out here in the United States and abroad.
These past few years I celebrated Pride Month with lists of 10 LGBTQ positive visual novels—2018’s List , 2019’s List, and 2020’s List—and I highly recommend giving those a read, there are some seriously great titles there that definitely warrant a look. Because it’s June once again, I have compiled another list with loads more LGBTQ+ positive Visual Novels!
I tried my best to choose games that presented members of the LGBTQ+ community in a positive light, focusing less on sexual orientation or gender identity and more on telling meaningful stories that focus on the human experience. As in previous years, I have include links to each of the games, a synopsis of the story, and a short summary of the types of representation you’ll find in the game. So, without further ado, here are Loads More LGBTQ Positive Visual Novels that you should totally check out this Pride Month (and beyond)!
Continue reading “[Pride Month 2021] Loads More LGBTQ Positive Visual Novels”
Perfect Gold: The Alchemy of Happiness is a short slice-of-life yuri visual novel developed by Yangyang Mobile, an indie game studio based in the Philippines. This isn’t my first title by the studio—their horror visual novel The Letter had me afraid to sleep with the lights off for weeks after I finished it—but, their newest release offers a much more lighthearted experience. Follow estranged friends Marion LaRue and Audrey Clary as they explore the magical city of Castlecoast and get a second chance at love and friendship.
Continue reading “Perfect Gold: The Alchemy of Happiness Yuri Game Review”
Heart of the Woods is a fantasy romance yuri visual novel developed by Studio Élan. The game follows Tara and Maddie, a pair of paranormal investigation vloggers as they embark on a journey to the isolated snowbound village of Eysenfeld in hopes of unlocking its many secrets. They soon discover that they may have found more than they bargained for in the sleepy town as the pair stumble upon an ancient curse that will change their lives forever. Ancient mysteries, adventure, and romance await…
I have said on more than one occasion that I’m not really much of a yuri fan, and yet Aikasa Collective, still saw fit to send me a review copy of their debut visual novel—and I’m glad they did! Mizuchi 白蛇心傳 is an emotionally compelling story loosely based on the Chinese folk tale, Legend of the White Snake. Unlike most games that seem to rush towards their romantic resolution, Mizuchi takes its time building up the relationships between its female leads, and it is this slow burn approach that I find most appealing, as it allows for more natural story.
But, what is perhaps most intriguing about this game is how it weaves together the stories of three very different women while also delivering a rather thoughtful criticism of restrictive social norms of the time. I’m not going to lie, Mizuchi is a dense story that doesn’t lend itself to quick playthroughs… this is a game that is meant to be savored.
Game Details
A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986 is the debut LGBTQ positive yuri visual novel developed by indie game studio Oracle and Bone. Follow the story of Michelle and Sam, and how their chance meeting evolves into a deeper relationship. Taking us through the various stages of their relationship—from their first fateful encounter to the confusion and joy of falling in love. Set in vibrant Hong Kong in the year 1986, it is an original story about love, family, and culture. Inspired by Hong Kong cinema and 80’s anime, A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986 is loving homage to one of the most memorable periods of time.
Game Details
Without a Voice is a dark fantasy yuri visual novel developed by L3 for Yuri Game Jam 2016. The game borrows elements from fairy tales with some subtle nods to Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, but with a darker twist. Without a Voice follows Cassidy, an exhiled princess living alone in a small cottage in the woods. It’s a far cry from her comfortable life in the palace in the kingdom of Veromere, but she has made the best of her circumstances spending her days exploring the forest and reading. One day, while out on a walk she encounters a mysterious woman resting in the shade of an ancient wisteria tree. Captivated by the beautiful woman, Cassidy spends her days getting to know Elowen–but, unbeknownst to her, the wheels of fate have already begun to turn, and the pair will have to fight for their happily ever after.
Without a Voice takes anywhere from 2-3 hours to get through and there are 8 unique endings to unlock. It’s available for PC either through itch.io or via the Steam platform. Like most of the older fairy tales, Without a Voice does get pretty dark in some of the bad end which can be triggering to folks sensitive to blood and/or death.
Game Details
Continue reading “Without a Voice Yuri Game Review – A Melancholy Fairytale”
Hey Hey Blerdy Tribe, it’s LGBT Pride Month, the annual celebration dedicated to the richly diverse LGBT+ community!! Now more than ever, representation matters, especially in the wake of the recent string of injustices carried out here in the United States and abroad.
These past few years I celebrated Pride Month with lists of 10 LGBTQ positive visual novels–2018’s List and 2019’s List–and I highly recommend giving those a read, there are some seriously great titles there that definitely warrant a look. Because it’s June once again, I have compiled another list with even more LGBTQ+ positive Visual Novels!
I tried my best to choose games that presented members of the LGBTQ+ community in a positive light, focusing less on sexual orientation or gender identity and more on telling meaningful stories that focus on the human experience. As in previous years, I have include links to each of the games, a synopsis of the story, and a short summary of the types of representation you’ll find in the game. So, without further ado, here are Even More LGBTQ Positive Visual Novels that you should totally check out this Pride Month!
Continue reading “[Pride Month 2020] Even More LGBTQ Positive Visual Novels”
