t1z4l

I love when we get otome games with a heroine who isn’t a blank slate. Just because a company may want to make it possible to self-insert, doesn’t mean the lead needs to be a weakling in need of constant saving. Battlefield Waltz is a new otome from Idea Factory International that switches that up by making the lead a bearer of the legendary Cursed Sword who even had aspirations of protecting those important to her before that, and she’s surrounded by love interests who both can handle themselves in a fight and seem to respect her abilities too. 

In the midst of learning the sword skills necessary to help her father defend their village, tragedy strikes Lan’s life. Enemy forces invade, claiming to be searching for some legendary sword. When the lives of her mother and a neighbor child are threatened and she sees she doesn’t have the immediate strength to fight back when outnumbered, she calls for help. Said Cursed Sword responds and becomes bonded to her soul. She awakes at Nirvana Academy, a school for future warriors in the kingdom geared to hopefully train those who will protect the peace, and it’s heavily implied that agreeing to attend is her only option. However, it means becoming a strong warrior, protecting the people she has left who matter to her, solving mysteries, and doing good, all with falling in love as a bonus, so she agrees.

Battlefield Waltz is a fairly typical Idea Factory International and Otomate otome visual novel for the Switch. We’ll go about Lan’s day, try to learn more about her situation, and adjust to her life as being bearer of the Cursed Sword in different ways. This is all while getting caught up in different situations as a result, and falling in love with whoever’s route we end up on. 

A few things do help set it apart from others from the company, which I appreciated. One is that Battlefield Waltz is as realistic as an otome game about a girl whose soul is tied to a Cursed Sword with an entity in it can be. Nirvana is a military academy. She and her classmates are going into battles and getting caught up in political intrigue. There can be bad endings or unpleasant situations. However, it isn’t overwhelmingly dark, which I appreciate.

It also offers a chance to get to know more than just the love interests. These guys are great. Make no mistake. The only one I didn’t really care for is Tifalet. I even enjoyed Pash’s tale, and usually I that “type” of character is one I don’t pursue. As you go about Lan’s story, you’ll eventually be able to explore the town or school and talk to people on the map. If the romance option you’re trying to get closed to isn’t around, you can spend time with ing cast , and it’s really fun! I’m a big fan of Yuriana, and Mephisto and Ignis are great too.

I mean, there are really only two potential flaws I could possibly point to in Battlefield Waltz, and neither one is all that damning when it comes to how otome games work. One issueis that the pacing isn’t always perfect in some routes. However, there’s only one character whose story suffers from this! I feel like it happened because he isn’t really a Nirvana, while most of the other love interests are tied to our academy life there, and maybe Otomate just couldn’t reconcile that timing with the others’ routes? I don’t know. It’s one character and in general it’s interesting since it offers more insight into a certain NPC and other elements, so it still works out to a pretty good tale. 

The other issue is that you get all of the answers regarding the Cursed Sword in one character’s route… which only unlocks after all of the other ones. Again, this isn’t deal breaker or a big deal in general in Battlefield Waltz, as this is pretty common for otome games. I think it’s more that I just wanted more background hints on the other storylines as well, but all of the biggest reveals for Lan are locked away behind this one romance option who ends up feeling like the other main character as a result. 

Like I said, the two issues I had are barely issues at all.

Especially since Battlefield Waltz is also such a gorgeous game. The character designs are fantastic for everyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re a love interest. There’s clear attention paid to each person. It’s one of the situations that meant getting to visit the secret shop area to see concept art actually ended up being of interest to me. 

Battlefield Waltz is one of those Switch otome games that I feel is a good option for folks who want a strong protagonist, fun love interests with fascinating backstories, great art, and an opportunity to get to know ing characters. There’s so much to this game. Plus, it includes some mature elements and topics and tends to handle them pretty well, all without being depressing. I’m a fan, and I think it’ll end up being one of the strongest Switch otome games in 2025.

Battlefield Waltz will come to the Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2025. 

The post Review: Battlefield Waltz Is a Switch Otome With Strong Characters appeared first on Siliconera.

The place for all of the best visual novels and dating sims used to be the PlayStation Vita, but following its tragic demise the Nintendo Switch has more than stepped up to the plate. Of all the modern consoles, the Switch is the place to go to play games with romance options, meaning that players are spoiled for choice. If you’ve been browsing the Switch’s library looking for your next dating sim visual novel to play, we have ten of our favorites that we want to recommend.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! 336h46

The original Doki Doki Literature Club launched in 2017, so it’s likely that you know the twist by now. Aside from being a romance visual novel, it’s also a horror game with plenty of meta, and fourth-wall breaking techniques that work to make you feel uneasy, and chill your bones. However, the horror elements of Doki Doki Literature Club make for a more touching and overall more emotional story and game.

The original was free-to-play, but the Switch version Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! adds so many more touching moments. There are a number of additional episodes that show our four main characters interacting with each other outside of the titular literature club. You get to learn more about their backstories, as well as their relationships to each other. Doki Doki is so much more than a visual novel, and for those who love puzzles and easter eggs, you’ll find a lot more by exploring the in-game PC.

Collar X Malice 64652j

On the surface Collar X Malice is your standard otome visual novel, but the themes are intriguing enough to carry the story by itself even if you aren’t into dudes. Collar X Malice is set in a time where mass police and government incompetence has led to the rise of a vigilante group, Adonis, which has pledged to sort out the crime and inequality that is rampant throughout the city. The group holds an eye-for-an-eye mentality, and Collar X Malice brings up the moral dilemma of how to get justice when the system doesn’t work.

Our protagonist is a cop living at a time when confidence in the police is almost zero. She approaches a private agency and asks them for help getting to the bottom of the current vigilantism crisis. What’s interesting is that the game doesn’t tell you what to believe, instead it is portrayed as the morally gray topic it truly is. Each route leads to the true ending, giving you a sense of accomplishment as you make your way through the story. One of the best overarching stories in any romance game.

Chaos;Child 6s263k

Chaos;Child is part of what I like to call the semicolon series that includes the hugely popular Steins;Gate. Just like Steins;Gate it has an intriguing story you can enjoy without the romance, but there are also romantic undertones between our protagonist, and the many women in his life. In Japan they released a side story that is exclusively a dating sim to tie in with the game called Chaos;Child Love Chu Chu. However, you can experience romance without learning another language.

Chaos;Child is set in a world where several people have awoken to their psychic abilities. While these superhuman talents should be seen as a benefit, a serial killer is on the loose targeting those who have these powers. Knowing several people with these special abilities, our protagonist is desperate to solve the murders before everyone he loves is gone. Just like Steins;Gate it has multiple endings, and you’ll want to play through several times to see all of the positive and negative outcomes.

Nurse Love Addiction 1sf6a

There are two games in this series available on Nintendo Switch, but they are both stand alone tales, and Nurse Love Addiction is our favorite of the two. The Nurse Love stories are yuri dating sims, meaning that they are based on the relationships between two women, and they play very differently to your standard heterosexual romance. Each route and romance shows a deep tenderness, and is (mostly) cemented in reality rather than an emotional rollercoaster.

Our protagonist Asuka is floating aimlessly through life like a jellyfish on the waves. She decides to the nursing school where her younger sister studies. She even moves into the same dorm as her sister as she feels like she can’t manage on her own. It’s not just about the romantic partnerships that she forges along the way, but Asuka’s personal growth as she tries to stand on her own for the first time.

The House in Fata Morgana 4473w

The House in Fata Morgana is very strict on the meaning of visual novel. There is almost no player interaction with the game, but the story is so intricately woven, and expansive that you don’t need to have an impact on it to improve the experience. The master of the house wakes up with no knowledge of their past, and the manor’s maid by their side. She guides you through the doors of the titular house telling various stories from throughout the domicile’s history.

The thread between the stories is a young person with albinism who appears in every tale no matter the time period. You have to figure out how your past ties to the house’s other residents, and why history has repeated itself time after time. It is both one of the longest and highest-rated visual novels of all time, and once you have played it for yourself, you’ll see why it is worth every word.

Muv-Luv 3c5p41

People say that the Muv-Luv trilogy reaches its stride with the second game Muv-Luv Unlimited, however, we recommend that players start where it all begins with Muv-Luv. The first game in the series is a simple slice-of-life adventure where our protagonist Takeru can choose between the many women in his life. The main two love interests are Takeru’s childhood best friend, and a rich but sheltered girl who is new to town, but there are other girls in his class he can date too.

This simple setup is vital for fully understanding and enjoying the next two entries, Muv-Luv Unlimited and Muv-Luv Alternative. It introduces you to most of the characters to the story, and lets you see Takeru’s normal life before things go off the deep end. Without spoiling what is in store, it’s an epic adventure dating sim that is worth sinking a hundred hours or so into.

Gnosia 3u4o2q

If you’ve ever played Among Us you know the basic plot of Gnosia. You are out on a space station with various others, and some of them are infected with Gnosia, which turns them against their crewmates. You use social deduction to figure out who has the disease and put them in cryogenic stasis before they wreak havoc on the ship. The twist here is that you will be reliving the experience over and over with increasingly more complicated mechanics.

Not everything continues between loops, but your knowledge of each crewmate, the things they like and the things they do will expand each time you meet them. This means that every loop your deductions – in theory – become more accurate as you get to know how people work, and how they would act in certain situations. Once you have met all the characters Gnosia opens up, and you can control different factors in each loop and get closer to certain cohabitees.

Jack Jeanne 213c38

One of our favorite recent otome games, we almost considered putting it on the list of dating sims that aren’t visual novels. Unlike many of the other games on this list, Jack Jeanne has a number of gameplay modes that don’t surround player choice, most notably the numerous rhythm sections. You play a promicoming actor, but the best acting school where you live only accepts men, and you’re a woman. However, amazed by your talent the director approaches you and asks you to enroll while disguising your gender.

In an all boys acting school, males have to take on the female roles in the performances. This is why students are split into the mascs, the Jacks, and the femmes, the Jeannes. Because of this the characters of Jack Jeanne are used to people challenging the typical gender norms, and a new normal emerges in this enclosed society. The play on gender, and inclusion of rhythm game elements leads to a truly unique otome experience.

Slay the Princess 432h

Unlike Jack Jeanne the gameplay in Slay the Princess focuses heavily on the choices you make. That being said, it gives you seemingly endless options to choose from. Each fork in the road has literally dozens of options you can choose from, making you feel more in charge of where the story goes than most other games. Each decision you make has a drastic outcome on the story in a way that feels refreshing when compared to the majority of dating sims.

There are only three characters in Slay the Princess: the Princess, the Narrator, and you. The Princess changes based on things you say, how you treat her, and how you react to her. Sometimes you go past the point of no return, and there is no way to undo the things you have done, but that is the point. While the Princess and you wrestle over and over in ways that can range from sweet, to slaughterous, to sad, it truly is a love story.

VA-11 HALL-A g5f1o

VA-11 HALL-A’s catchphrase is “It’s time to mix drinks and change lives” and that describes the game precisely. You play Jill, a bartender in a futuristic saloon, whose job is to make drinks and talk to customers. Players can influence the story by giving the customers the drinks they want, rather than the ones they ask for, because in the world of VA-11 HALL-A the customer isn’t always right.

It’s a deep character study surrounding not just Jill, and the affection she holds for her boss, but each person that comes to the bar, and the effect that just having someone to talk to has on their lives. Outside of the story, you can use the wages from the bar to design your room and make things feel more homey, making Jill just a little more upbeat. It’s a story about caring for others, but also taking care of yourself.

What are some of your favorite visual novels? Or which visual novels are you looking forward to getting your hands on? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Best Switch Dating Sim Visual Novels appeared first on Siliconera.

We’re going to see another one of the more unconventional Idea Factory International and Otomate otome games outside Japan soon, as 9 RIP makes its debut in October 2024. In this entry, there are multiple storylines with different love interests who are more otherworldly and even potentially dangerous than usual. As we go through it, it’s even divided into groups of stories telling different tales. To learn more about what makes this Switch otome stand out, Siliconera got a chance to speak with 9 RIP Director Amon and Artist Yuuya about the adventure. 

Jenni Lada: When did development on 9 RIP begin?

Amon: We started planning the project in 2021, and it officially began development in early 2022.

Yuuya: I believe the actual work began in 2022. I being very excited about working on the project from the beginning.

What design decisions did you make to ensure 9 RIP felt different from other Otomate otome games?

Amon: We were focused on the horror theme at first, but we realized that we wanted more than a simple dark and grim design for this otome game. So we used brightly colored, otherworldly flowers as motifs and incorporated glitchy art to create a mysterious and strange world in both design and presentation.

Yuuya: I think a horror-themed otome game is still quite rare.

Rather than just going for a dark and scary atmosphere, we focused on incorporating stylish colors and designs. In doing this, we hoped to create something that stands out and leaves a strong first impression. We kept that goal in mind as we continued our design work.

When drawing from urban legends, mythology, and the supernatural for 9 RIP’s characters and designs, which concepts did you prioritize? How did you pick what you'd include?

Amon: From the early stages of the project, we envisioned a game centered on traditional Japanese urban legends, ghost stories, and supernatural phenomena. We understand that not everyone enjoys the horror genre, so we tried to attract more players by incorporating well-known ghost stories and supernatural phenomena.

When it came to the artistic direction for 9 RIP, how did you approach characters based on supernatural entities and make them appealing otome love interests?

Yuuya: While visual appeal was certainly important, we began by incorporating elements from the stories into each character's design. For example, in School Ghost Stories, we included the sword that inspired Kara Kara's name and the rope around the boy in the mirror's neck, which plays a key role in the story.

In Other Realm, we made the characters' professions and roles immediately recognizable by using designs reminiscent of priest robes for one character, and clothes that reflected the chaotic nature of the other.

We also incorporated traditional cultural elements and various kimono styles for the costumes of characters in the Spirit World route, and ensured the characters' outfits were both distinct and visually striking.

As for the Urban Legendscharacters, we prioritized modernity over representing supernatural phenomena, so the characters don't look like ghosts.

I think that approach made the hidden things in everyday life more believable.

Given you already had experience with otome game character designs for supernatural or otherworldly beings in Café Enchante and Cupid Parasite, how did that affect art and decisions for 9 RIP?

Yuuya: From my experience in various great projects, I've come to realize that each character has their own life and story. I always feel that you can't, and shouldn't, ignore this when deg characters. It's not just about creating visually appealing designs. By properly reflecting each character's background, I believe we can create more convincing, compelling, and lively characters.

What did you get to achieve in 9 RIP that you haven't been able to do in past Otomate otome games?

Amon: I'm not familiar with all Otomate titles, but I believe structuring the game as an omnibus with four chapters—School Ghost Stories, Urban Legends, Other Realm, and Spirit World—was a very unique approach. I don't think I've seen it in other titles.

Yuuya: Maybe getting the chance to feature some pretty frightening-looking characters. Personally, I'd love to create even scarier ones!

Is there anything you would like to say to overseas fans of otome games and those who are anticipating the release of 9 RIP?

Amon: You can experience strange and somewhat peculiar love stories in this game. While various ghosts appear, I hope you will embrace them rather than be afraid of them. Also, if this game sparks any interest in traditional Japanese ghost stories and spirits, I'd personally be very happy. I hope you continue to enjoy and love 9 RIP.

Yuuya: Thank you for your constant of 9 RIP. I'm very  happy to bring this work to you in English. Every country has its own ghost stories, urban legends, and folklore, but I hope this game gives you a chance to experience and take an interest in Japan's. I look forward to your continued .

9 RIP will come to the Nintendo Switch on October 15, 2024. 

The post Interview: 9 RIP Director and Artist Discuss the Otome appeared first on Siliconera.

Otomate isn’t shy about making otome games that are outside the range of normal expectations, with some some being dark like Virche Evermore or silly like Cupid Parasite. What we can count on is the developer going all-in on a theme. 9 RIP, the latest Switch otome that involves dating characters inspired by urban legends, ghosts, and supernatural entities, fully commits to the bit. In so doing, it also tells multiple stories of otherworldly encounters that feel like their own (romantic) urban legends.

Part of what makes 9 RIP such a unique otome game is its execution. While all three of the storylines begin on a common route, they diverge based on a choice made early on. So at the outset, we’re presented with a young woman about to graduate high school, but preparing to declare what she’d like to do next and if she’ll attend the college her mother desperately wants her to attend. Making one of three decisions while considering how to handle the problem causes the story to branch off into three main tales. Each one has at least two potential love interests tied to otherworldly elements. (If you’ve cleared other routes, this goes up to three on one path.) It’s really fascinating, as we get to see how her destiny splits and multiple encounters and results based on her decision.

It also means that the ensuing romantic storylines on each path get to more heavily feature the selected characters tied to it. They’re better integrated to the story, which means both their love stories and the overall arc feels stronger. This doesn’t mean you won’t encounter some of these other leads in the arcs that don’t feature them as a candidate to chase. As an example, when you first meeting Koyo in that storyline branch, you’ll also encounter Kureha and Yui. However, Kureha and Yui are ing cast there, and play larger parts in another branch. It means everything ties together in a more tidy manner, which I appreciated and felt enhanced the overall experience. 

As does the insanity system. While there are the typical choices that can increase affection with particular love interests, there are others that affect the heroine’s mental state. In each of the routes, our avatar ends up in varying predicaments. The sanity gauge comes into play based on the sorts of reactions we can select for certain situations and predicaments. These can, in turn, affect our fate. It’s an interesting element, especially since it does tie in with the horror and supernatural themes at play. After all, the character does end up in some dire predicaments, and some of the love interests are intimidating or unsettling individuals. 

Speaking of which, I genuinely love the range of love interests available in 9 RIP, as it really feels more varied than most otome games. There are so many romance options, and they really fit the theme of the game well. In fact, I think the selection means it’d be even easier for a player to find at least one that appeals to them. They’re all pretty well written, with distinct personalities that come through and are appealing for various reasons. Also, while there are occasionally “scary” moments, there’s a good sense of balance between drama, comedy, romance, and supernatural segments. The only suggestion I have is that since the characters are tied to different storylines, it’s valuable to make a few saves on one of the save file pages so you can jump back to get on the route where you can pursue your favorites. 

What’s also great about 9 RIP is how well this otome game nails the general aesthetic and ambiance. Otomate understood the assignment. The UI, color schemes, and details all perfectly capture the mood. The CGs range from typical ones you’d see with love interests, in addition to some in which you can see the nature of these otherworldly companions and perhaps even darker tendencies. It is good at establishing and maintaining a mood, which really suits the theme well. 

The only thing that really got to me is a stylistic choice regarding perspectives. In other Otomate otome games, there would occasionally be options to see parts of the stories from other characters’ perspectives. So maybe we’d see what the love interest was thinking. In 9 RIP, you don’t get that choice. As part of the normal progression down a path, it will suddenly cut from the heroine’s viewpoint to that of one of the guys we can pursue in that route or an NPC. Occasionally, it is interesting or helpful. However, sometimes it really took me out of the moment — especially if it didn’t add anything valuable to the moment and was just the guy thinking how he’s instantly drawn to her or wants to be with her — and I’d have preferred if that was optional.

9 RIP is another one of those Otomate otome games that experiments with what we expect from these sorts of dating sims, and it’s a great success as a result. The chance the developer took on storytelling means the love interests get more moments with the heroine and also feel like stars of their storylines. It involving urban legends and some horror staples mean we get some unexpected and fun romance options. Plus, the aesthetic is great. There are a few elements that might not be as appreciated people, but I feel like that comes down to personal tastes rather than actual failings on the part of the developer or game itself. 

9 RIP will come to the Nintendo Switch on October 15, 2024. 

The post Review: Otome 9 RIP Plays With Urban Legends, Insanity  appeared first on Siliconera.

With two otome visual novels to read through and a veritable army of potential boyfriends to romance, Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom feels like it’s worth every penny. Despite its age, Otomate's consistent art style (for better or for worse) and the relatively sharp visuals keep this historical tale modern.

When I was a kid, I knew about Hakuoki in ing. My friend played it and came to school crying about Okita. Another friend watched the show and came out of it talking about how Okita is pretty great. So all I knew about Hakuouki prior to playing this on the Switch was that apparently, Okita is popular (hardly a surprise). So you can imagine my surprise when I learned that not only is Hijikata the actual canon love interest, but the story features vampires?! It was a huge shock to me, and I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. I’d spent sixteen years of my life thinking Hakuoki is a normal piece of historical fiction, only for it to be a historical fantasy otome instead.

Hakuoki covers the tale of Chizuru Yukimura, who's looking for her father, who is a missing doctor. (As a note, you can change her name if you want, but I recommend just keeping it so voiced lines don’t cut off.) Chizuru is a normal girl, outside of the fact that she can heal abnormally fast. She visits Kyoto while disguising herself as a male. However, she ends up getting into trouble with the notorious Shinsengumi when she sees something she shouldn’t have: Shinsengumi warriors losing control at the sight of blood and going berserk. In order to make sure she doesn’t blab about this to people, they force her to live with them. In time, they accept her as one of their own.

If you’re familiar with even a little bit of 18th to 19th century Japan and its politics, then you’ll be able to recognize a lot of the story beats when it focuses on the social and political climate surrounding the Shinsengumi. At times, the sheer level of detail the game gives about the group's history can clash with the more fantastical elements. The priorities just felt unbalanced. It started getting better later, but in the earlier chapters of the first game it almost felt like they were two separate stories that became one during development even originally. Some of the characters are new additions added in the Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms releases. Not everyone meshed well together at first. It’s very obvious who’s new and who isn’t, because new characters just seem to randomly appear before disappearing for large stretches of the story. 

As a whole, the localization is good. But when there were errors, they were usually ones that really stuck out. Iba’s introduction scene, for example, made a deep impression on me for reasons other than Mamoru Miyano. I had to re-read lines so many times to make sure my eyes and brain were working alright, especially since playing the game was the first thing I did that morning. When explaining the Water of Life (the serum that turns people into Furies), the doctor notes that the Chinese call it “xindn.” There is no such word. Most likely, they meant “xiandan,” if we’re using the Mandarin pronunciation.

I know that there is a lot of text to go through. I can’t even count how many times I thought to myself that I don’t envy the localizers for the workload and large amount of historical . But it’s precisely because the rest of the game reads well that these slip-ups become a lot more jarring.

The prevalence of specific to Japanese history can be confusing if you're not paying attention or if you're unfamiliar with the subject. I found myself going through the glossary multiple times because I couldn't certain allegiances. The story goes through the Shinsengumi history quite quickly, so sometimes it can be hard to follow. It definitely feels like Otomate aimed it at Japanese people who already learned about all of this in school.

Something about Hakuoki that I liked was that the story and characters took center stage in this otome game, rather than the romance. It’s hard for me to self-insert myself in the protagonist a lot of times in these otome games. I couldn’t connect with Chizuru at all and because she's a self-insert, she wasn't always the most interesting character to observe from an outsider's perspective. Maybe at the time of the game's original release, she was a breath of fresh air. Despite her overly considerate personality and her attempts to help even in situations where she can't help at all, she does take a proactive stance in the story. However, you could say that about tons of other otome game protagonists too. When I translated Winter's Wish: Spirits of Edo, I had a positive opinion of Suzuno precisely because of this personality type.

Despite Chizuru becoming the blueprint, rather than the exception, I enjoyed the plot and the characters nonetheless. I genuinely wanted characters like Harada, Heisuke, and Iba to get a happy ending. For the sheer amount of boys there are, the writing does a good job of giving them plenty of characterization and development beyond their basic tropes or shticks. To be frank, I didn’t finish all the routes in the game yet, but I'm excited to go back in and see what other interesting stories I still have to discover.

For both positive and negative reasons, Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom is a classic otome. The quality of the story and the characters are really good, and I can understand why people loved it. But playing it in 2024 after so many other otome games (and from Otomate to boot), it’s hard for me to see what made Hakuoki the special juggernaut it was at the time. Is it good? Oh yeah, if you’re big into otome or historical fantasy games. It’s great that you get both the Edo and Kyoto arcs in one convenient package without having to pay for two games like in certain releases. This is a game that stands very well on its own. But those curious about the legendary reputation of Hakuoki may come out of it scratching their head.

Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom is readily available on the Nintendo Switch.

The post Review: Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom Stands Tall appeared first on Siliconera.

Idea Factory International shared a release date for its next Switch otome game 9 RIP. It will debut on October 15, 2024. As a reminder, the game launched in Japan on the system on June 29, 2023.

In addition to the 9 RIP release date, product pages for the limited edition of the Switch otome are now live on all of the Idea Factory International storefronts. Prices aren’t set for it yet in the US, the UK, or the European storefront. However, the contents are the same in each region. People get a copy of the game, the hardcover art book, a C with the audio dramas “Various Worlds, Various Emotions” and “Gift from a God,” a magatama necklace like the heroine wears, and Yukimaro’s fan. As with all Idea Factory International Store releases, it also comes with a trading card. 

Here’s how that version of the game looks: 

As a reminder, 9 RIP is an otome game that involves ghosts and the supernatural. Its School Ghost Stories route actually involves being trapped in a school. In addition, someone isn’t just trying to find love while dealing with otherworldly beings. Your choices you make in the visual novel will also affect your avatar’s sanity levels. 

To help get a better idea of what to expect, here’s one of the Japanese trailers looking at the characters we’ll romance:

The 9 RIP worldwide release date is October 15, 2024, and it will appear on the Nintendo Switch. The Idea Factory and Otomate otome is already available on the Switch in Japan. 

The post 9 RIP Switch Otome Debuts in October appeared first on Siliconera.

At Anime Expo 2024, Idea Factory International announced five games, with two being new otome titles and another being the latest Hyperdimension Neptunia spin-off. All of the games that appeared are heading to consoles.

There are two otome games among the Idea Factory International Anime Expo 2024 games. These are Battlefield Waltz and Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights. Both will head to the Nintendo Switch.  In Battlefield Waltz, we follow a warrior-in-training named Ran and the five young men she meets at an academy for those who could become the best and strongest. Meanwhile, Temirana involves players helping the “Lucky Princess” as she finds love with one of the “Tragic Knights.”  

Here is the Vita trailer for Battlefield Waltz, as that’s where the game first appeared:

Meanwhile, here’s a Temirana trailer:

The new entries in Idea Factory International staples are Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos and Death end re;Quest: Code Z. The newest Hyperdimension Neptunia spin-off will show up on the Switch, PS4, and PS5 outside Japan. It involves racing motorcycles and the series’ classic Dogoos slime dog enemies. Death end re;Quest: Code Z is the third entry in the now trilogy, and it will also be on the Switch, PS4, and PS5. 

Here’s a Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos Japanese trailer:

You can see the Japanese Death end re;Quest: Code Z trailer below:

Finally, Touhou Spell Carnival will be on the Switch, PS4, and PS5 worldwide. It is a strategy game that still involves the bullet hell elements, as you’ll deploy and move the series’ classic characters on a grid, then use their bullets to attack. 

Here’s a Japanese trailer showing how it works:

The post Idea Factory International Anime Expo 2024 Games Include Otome, Neptunia appeared first on Siliconera.

At the Aksys Anime Expo 2024 , the company revealed it will be releasing five more Switch otome games in 2024 and 2025. Among the announcements were more details about known games like Despera Drops, new announcements for titles like Utakata no Uchronia, and a new platform for existing game 7’scarlet. 

First, two Aksys otomes we already knew about ended up with updated release windows revealed at the event. The first is the Virche Evermore Epic: Lycoris fan disc. That will launch on November 7, 2024. Despera Drops will follow, but that won’t appear until Spring 2025. 

The other three were all new announcements, though one is a game we’ve seen before. 7’scarlet, which Aksys previously handled the Vita release for, is among the new Switch otome games coming in 2025. That involves a woman looking for her missing brother and uncovering even more unexpected events and people. That will launch in Spring 2025. The other two are so early in development, they don’t have English titles yet. One is Mistonia no Kibou: The Lost Delight, which involves a maid named Applause in the fairy-adjacent kingdom called Grand Alvion. She’s going undercover to get revenge, but may also find love along the way. Meanwhile, Utakata no Uchronia sees a young woman named Hinagiku meet an amnesiac and, in so doing, get a chance to leave the flying city she calls home.

For a reminder of what 7’scarlet is like, here’s Aksys’ trailer from the Vita version of the game that appeared in 2018:

This is the trailer for Mistonia no Kibou: The Lost Delight from Japan:

Here’s the Utakata no Uchronia Japanese trailer, which highlights all of the love interests:

Aksys also made a number of announcements not related to its otome titles. Here are the other games it is working on:

• Blazing Strike PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC release: October 17, 2024
• Ed-0: Zombie Uprising PS5 physical release: October 10, 2024
• Fitness Boxing feat Hatsune Miku Switch DLC bundles will appear after the September 5, 2024 launch.
• Raging Bytes Switch and PS5 physical release: December 12, 2024
• Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch Switch and PS5 release: August 22, 2024
• Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Switch release: July 25, 2024
• Zero to Dance Hero Switch release: November 2024

The post 5 Aksys Switch Otome Games Appear at Anime Expo 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

Sometimes, an Idea Factory and Otomate’s fan disc follow-up for an otome game does something more than just offer epilogues and side-stories for major characters. There are times when there will be entirely new routes. Radiant Tale: Fanfare is a perfect example, and it means the game is more solid because it adds additional love interests alongside the returning crew.

There are essentially three parts to the Radiant Tale: Fanfare otome game, but the bulk (and best) of it is split between epilogues with Ion, Paschalia, Radie, Vilio, and Zafora and an entirely new epilogue story that involves actual dedicated routes for Jinnia and Liyan. Alest and Colivus have some moments in the new storyline that takes place after a common route where Tifalia doesn’t end up with anyone as well, but Jinnia and Liyan’s stories are much more extensive. Which is a bit of a shame when it comes to Alest, because he’s quite fun!

Anyways, in the case of the returning bachelors, we’re getting a chance to follow up with Tifalia after she’s already (mostly) established with the five romance options from the original Radiant Tale otome game. Generally, I feel like they’re mostly solid. Everyone tends to stay in-character, and the stories end up being a bit varied. I didn’t expect Tifalia and Radie to be as committed as they are already by the time their extra story rolled around, but I guess it makes sense given their closeness in the original title. In fact, I generally liked all the storylines, and the fan disc made me appreciate Paschalia a bit more than I did in the original.

However, I truly feel like the highlight of Radiant Tale: Fanfare is the additional storyline that gives Jinnia and Liyan full storylines with Tifalia. Liyan’s is absolutely fantastic and there’s some great pay-off here, especially given all the teasing and moments in the original otome game. It is handled very well here, especially given the new plotline and role Tifalia plays once CIRCUS is done. The execution honestly makes me question even further why he wasn’t a part of the primary cast to begin with. As for Jinnia, I didn’t honestly expect to want to romance him, but his storyline is just as strong as Liyan’s. He’s hilarious and there are wonderful moments between him and Tifalia. In fact, I felt like Jinnia and Liyan’s routes in the fan disc might have felt stronger and more well-thought out than Paschalia’s, Ion’s, and Zafora’s in the base game, and I really liked Ion as a character.

All of the stories are really quite fun to read and go through. The localization is great. I’d say it’s especially fun in the new storyline with Jinnia and Liyan, as both characters are such strong personalities and really steal the spotlight. However, the other side stories are fun too. I wouldn’t say I’m as big of a fan of the interludes, which feature characters discussing amongst themselves briefly, but they’re okay. Also, as you’d expect from a follow-up to Radiant Tale, the CGs are bright, vibrant, and often rely upon fairy tale ambiance. They look quite good.

Really, the only downside is that the original otome game is required reading for Radiant Tale: Fanfare. There is no way you can go into this without having experienced the original adventure. The new epilogues for the main bachelors rely upon the past experiences with Tifalia. The new storyline picks up after the end of that and with her working on a new task for the royal family, so you will be lost if you don’t know why the event she’s working on is even happening. Still, the first game is very good and worth playing, so get to it?

Radiant Tale: Fanfare is a delightful follow-up to the original otome game and really relies on you loving the characters. The entirely new epilogue storyline with Jinnia and Liyan as the main love interests feels like one of the best and most refreshing parts of this new adventure. However, the additional stories with Tifalia in established relationships with the original five characters also does well with building up on those stories. If you enjoyed the original, it’s worth returning for this sequel.

Radiant Tale: Fanfare will come to the Nintendo Switch on June 27, 2024. 

The post Review: Radiant Tale: Fanfare Does Its Characters Justice  appeared first on Siliconera.

Eastasiasoft confirmed people will be playing Hakuoki on the Switch this summer, as the release date is set for August 1, 2024. That’s when the digital version will appear and physical copies will start appearing.

Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom is based on the Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms releases. Those appeared outside Japan in 2017 and 2018 and split up the story of Chizuru and her possible romances with the supernatural Furies of the Shinsengumi into two parts based on the time spent in Kyoto and Edo. It also included additional love interests, such as  Keisuke Sanan and Susumu Yamazaki. This version also includes an adjusted localization.

Here’s the latest Hakuoki gameplay and release date trailer:

The physical copies of the game, which are only available through Play-Asia, will ship the same week as the digital copies debut. There’s a $49.99 standard version and $59.99 limited edition. The collector’s edition comes with an art book, CD soundtrack, and stickers.

The Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom Nintendo Switch release date is August 1, 2024. It is also available on the PSP, 3DS, PS3, Vita, PC, and mobile devices worldwide and PS2 in Japan. The physical copies will begin to appear that same week. The anime adaptation is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Hakuoki Switch Version Release Date Falls in August appeared first on Siliconera.

When Cupid Parasite launched on the Switch, it didn’t hold back and told over-the-top, often goofy love stories. Now Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is here to continue the routes from the original otome game and add two others, and it is just as silly and stylish. 

The meat of Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is that there are new After Drama and Bonus Episodes for Allan Melville, Gill Lovecraft, Peter Flage, Raul Aconite, Ryuki Keisaiin, and Shelby Snail. After Drama stories all pick up after the good endings in the Cupid Parasite otome game, with Lynette in committed relationships with the other characters. You choose responses that are “sweet” or “spicy” in response to them, netting different situations that can be cute or sexy. So there typically aren’t so much “bad” endings and you mainly experience different types of romance, though there are some exceptions to that. Getting to the end of a story can then unlock the subsequent Bonus Episodes for the love interests. 

All of these routes are generally pretty fun, and they’re often well-thought out. I was amazed how much I enjoyed Raul and Ryuki’s stories, because I they weren’t my favorites in the original games. Some of them feel like perhaps they take directions that don’t always take into plot points or character development in the original, such as Shelby’s. I also appreciated that some of the out-there elements from the original showed up in the plots for Allan and Peter. I also didn’t mind the fact that the Bonus Episodes are locked behind After Drama, because it does feel like it makes sense in this situation.

There is also the matter of Merenice Levin. While 90% of Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling involves new moments with existing characters, his story is entirely new. It’s a case for Lynette that immediately falls after the common route in the first Cupid Parasite otome game, making you pretend any character development or other romantic developments ever existed. He does have his own “gimmick” like the other guys that gives him trouble, in this case using a doughnut like a crystal ball to see the future. I felt it has its moments and could be funny sometimes, but the pacing felt a bit rushed compared to the original routes. That, paired with the way Merenice pursues Lynette, made it a difficult to see that romance as being as genuine as some of the others.

I will say that even if one of the additional original stories don’t go exactly like you’d want or expect and Merenice doesn’t click with you, Idea Factory International and Otomate did not miss when it came to appearances. Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is as poppy and gorgeous as the original. I love the UI elements. The use of color is fantastic throughout. Plus there are some absolutely fantastic CGs here. I think I’d even say I liked the event images better in this follow-up than I did in the original otome game.

The main downsides, aside from some narrative choices in the main After Drama routes and Merenice perhaps not being everyone’s cup of tea, is that Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling has more of a limited audience than some otome games. If you didn’t play the first game, you need to play that first. There’s no possible way to jump into this and still have a good time, because they are too tightly bound together. I also ended up getting one of the apparently few “bad” endings when I went through one of my past favorite’s routes, and it sort of soured my whole experience with that love interest in this entry.

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling is a clear situation of more of a good thing, and people who enjoyed the original Switch otome game will be pleased. The new routes build on existing characters in typically entertaining ways. I will say that someone’s opinions of Merenice may vary, as it may come across a bit forced compared to the goofiness from the first game. Still, there’s a lot here for people who loved Shelby, Peter, Allan, Ryuki, Raul, and Gill. 

Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling will come to the Nintendo Switch on May 28, 2024, and the original otome game is immediately available on the platform. 

The post Review: Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling Is Delicious appeared first on Siliconera.

Idea Factory International announced its next new otome game, and it is going to be 9 RIP for the Nintendo Switch. There’s no exact release window yet, but it will appear digitally and physically in 2024. 

Misa Isshiki lives in a town where people get spirited away and supernatural things seem to happen. She isn’t quite sure if she believes it, until she has her own otherworldly experiences. As a result, she’ll get to get close to otherworldly love interests like Hibiki, Kureha, Koyo, and Sena.

Here’s the first trailer for the English version of 9 RIP. Basically, it sets the stage for the spirited-away otome and the otherworldly love interests players will meet.

As usual, there will be an Idea Factory International Store Limited Edition for this new otome game. However, there are only placeholder pages for them on the North American, European, and UK storefronts right now. This means we don’t know yet what additional items come with it. However, both the LE and standard physical copies from IFI include a trading card.

9 RIP will be available digitally and physically on the Nintendo Switch outside Japan in 2024. It came out on the system in Japan in June 2023. 

The post Next Idea Factory International Otome Game Is 9 RIP appeared first on Siliconera.

I love it when Idea Factory and Otomate create an otome game with a strong heroine, a strong cast of characters who all interact well with each other, and that can also mix in some humor or great lore building. Tengoku Struggle: Strayside is much like Variable Barricadein that respect, and as a result it is one of the better and stronger games Aksys has localized.

In the world of Tengoku Struggle: Strayside, there’s a complex system of reincarnation and redemption that ties the human realm, heaven, and various levels of hell to ensure people move on and become the best versions of themselves. Rin Enma is a transient soul, one with no memories that would have disappeared, but she was adopted by the King of Hell as his daughter. She’s dedicated herself to making a place for herself and making him proud, even becoming a Hell Guardian, to ensure she wouldn’t disappear. 

However, immediately after graduation, some notorious figures managed to actually escape hell after a special thread of redemption was dropped from heaven. As such, King Enma sends Rin to the human realm, as part of the normal exchange program, to have her work alongside criminals Goemon Ishikawa, Kikunosuke Uga, Sharaku Toushuusai, and Yona Murakami. However, while these men are willing to work for her father, they have no such loyalty to her. It's up to them to somehow all work together, figure out what Shinobikuni and her escapee minions' plans are, and send the prisoners back.

That said, Tengoku Struggle: Strayside is one of those fantastic otome games where the whole cast is incredible. Not only does Rin have fantastic chemistry with all of the bachelor options, but they all get along well with each other. As such, we’re getting to see all of them play off of each other and their relationships develop from a group of people who just wanted to get out of hell for a while to actually being friends who care about each other and maybe even love Rin. The fact that they come from different time period and have different “sins” that landed them in various hells also make them fascinating, since we can eventually identify with why they did what they did and see how they interact based on their backgrounds.

Because Rin is both living and working alongside of these new allies, we’re seeing relationships develop naturally between them in this otome visual novel. They come to see how strong and dedicated she is, as well as appreciate how seriously she takes her role as a Hell Guardian to rehabilitate and prove herself. Likewise, she sees the good sides of them and understands that just because they wound up in hell doesn’t mean they’re evil. This means there are a lot of moments that are dramatic, insightful, touching, and even just plain funny. 

I also absolutely adored how the villains here are handled. Once Rin and her crew es through the Hell Gate to the human world, they relatively quickly encounter Shinobikuni and the other prisoners she “saved.” While Shinobikuni unquestionably comes across as villainous, some of the others fall into a more grey area. Azami, Okuni, and Sansaburo all seem like relatively decent people who happened to go through some unfortunate things that left them in hell, just like the prisoners Rin is working alongside. I loved the roles they ended up playing and how Tengoku Struggle: Strayside also took the time to tell their stories too.

Some minor things do come up that may keep Tengoku Struggle: Strayside from becoming someone’s next favorite otome game. The more minor ones are some issues that came up likely during the editing and localization process, and I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe a patch fixes up a few of those errors. Another issue is that this is absolutely a visual novel that feels like one route is the “right” and canon one. You won’t see some of these loose threads tie up until that storyline, which is unfortunate. Especially since it is the last one you get to. However, because you do have to go through the others first, at least that offers some resolution for the other enemy and ally backstories. 

On the plus side, even though there is so much going on in Tengoku Struggle: Strayside, it never feels like the romance is an afterthought. It’s very well integrated into the story. We’re really seeing Rin grow closer to the men she’s working with, and we get these pay-off scenes in the end as a reward for it. Even some of the “bad” endings are interesting when we get to see what happens to Rin and the individuals as a result of things not going as planned.

Tengoku Struggle: Strayside is a delightful otome game. This is the one you pick up and play if you like a well-rounded world, a heroine who stands up for herself and has a personality, and a cast of heroes and villains who all feel interesting. It’s easy to get invested in its story. 

Tengoku Struggle: Strayside comes to the Nintendo Switch on April 4, 2024. 

The post Review: Tengoku Struggle: Strayside Is a Heavenly Otome With Devilish Suitors appeared first on Siliconera.

You tend to expect console otome games to feel a bit different and distinct from mobile ones. With Sympathy Kiss, I sort of feel like the lines blur a bit. I appreciate the setting and execution, not to mention the art direction is often amazing, but the absence of a present protagonist, decision to go with a blank face avatar in CGs, and other elements keep me from truly falling in love with it.

Sympathy Kiss has an amazing, identifiable concept. You’re one of the newer employees at a company that works on apps, and you’re not quite sure of your place there. You’re content, but not really happy. After a performance review, you find yourself moved to a project to potentially revive the flagship news app Estarci. But there are also concerns that news media is dying, the app is unpopular, there’s not much drive to invest in its proper revival, and a concern that failure means layoffs. Along with a small team of eligible men, you get a chance to take actions that either will potentially revive the app or provide a chance at love with a coworker.

While there are some different elements in Sympathy Kiss to shake things up, it really feels like a traditional visual novel. At certain points, you’re asked to make choices that influence your personal or professional relationship with someone. This leads you to a “work” or “love” ending. For most replies, there are two “work” and two “love” answers, indicated by blue or pink “love catch” icons. Sometimes you’ll respond to a text message, at which point there will be about one or two brief responses. The emotion system is also mentioned as being a new element, but really you select one or two emotions and it affects the guy’s reply, but not the work or love gauges. So it feels like many other Idea Factory International Otomate titles.

Unlike the majority of Idea Factory International Otomate games, Sympathy Kiss is a Switch otome in which the main character isn't really a character. Instead of seeing a portrait and spoken lines attributed to your avatar, there is a lot of description saying "I did this" or "I explained that." It really detracted from the experience for me. The lack of actual dialogue on "our" part made things feel really flat to me, and it was as though the love interests were speaking at me instead of to me. As a result, I didn't really feel like the romance developed in the same way as it does in the company's other titles, as there's this disconnect. Part of what gets me invested in love interests is the banter and conversations between the avatar and them, and that's completely absent here. It’s also a trait I tend to identify with mobile otome games, rather than console ones, so it caught me off-guard.

It also kept me from completely adoring the Sympathy Kiss art. Which is a shame, because this is an absolutely gorgeous game. The love interests look fantastic both in their standard portraits and CGs. There’s extra attention and detail to them, so if there are certain movements dictated by actions in the story or you’re seeing them outside of work, they will have different outfits. The ideas and settings for the different CGs are great. In theory, I love them. But again, it pulls the same sort of thing mobile otome games (and older titles like Vampire Knight DS) do and makes the heroine this faceless, eyeless being. It distracts me from otherwise great scenes when there’s suddenly somehow an excuse for her head to be down, her back to be turned, or even worse her face is just erased. 

I kind of feel like the length of Sympathy Kiss also ends up making it feel like a mobile otome game, as it’s more similar in length to Paradigm Paradox than Lover Pretend. However, this is mostly because of the whole concept, which I genuinely enjoyed. So I honestly think the length is absolutely fine. You’re picking between your personal or professional life with your responses, so since the route you’re on for a love interest is going to be divided by the choices you make as a result, there’s going to be that happening. There’s also story justification for that, given there’s a limited time frame for Estarci’s possible revival. 

Finally, the level of maturity and progression of the relationship also made me think of mobile otome games. Again, this is more of a good comparison. Though there are some console otome games that pursue darker themes, we don’t always see things like characters knockin’ boots in non-explicit or adult ways. You know, implying things happen. There are ones from Idea Factory International and Aksys that bring it up, but it isn’t always that often, but it does happen in Sympathy Kiss. The only element of this inclusion that gave be pause is that in one route I felt like the guy’s was completely behaving out of character compared to how he did in the rest of the story, and then he immediately went back to his normal personality when they were out of bed.  

I really think if Sympathy Kiss had given us an actual protagonist, instead of a blank slate (literally) with no lines (or face), we’d be kicking off 2024 with possibly my pick for Best Otome Game of the Year. I really like the premise. The characters are good and look amazing. The idea of picking between love or your job is novel as well. But I had trouble connecting with it, and I suspect others might too.

Sympathy Kiss will come to the Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2024.

The post Review: Sympathy Kiss Reminds Me of Mobile Otome Games appeared first on Siliconera.

Idea Factory International’s next Switch otome Switch game is going to be Sympathy Kiss, a title that looks at love in the workplace. At the same time, it features more mature elements and fears, such as things like dealing with the looming concerns about layoffs, getting along with coworkers, and furthering your career. To help learn more, Siliconera spoke with Director Hiroe Aoki about the game and its themes.

Jenni Lada: How did real apps and software developers influence the development of Sympathy Kiss?

Hiroe Aoki: The release ofLover Pretend, a game I previously created, significantly influenced Sympathy Kiss, as I discovered that there are players who enjoy stories set in the modern real world. I decided to be bold and dive deeper into a story that explored that setting.

Sympathy Kiss is a workplace romance otome game that features more mature themes, so how did actual office life influence the tone, storylines, and love interests?

Aoki: I have worked at several companies until now and have experienced things like bankruptcies and the closure of game apps. I believe those experiences helped me shape the story. On the other hand, I created the characters with the hope that office life would have been more enjoyable if there were people like them.

Sympathy Kiss has system called RiNG to love interests via calls and text messages. What led to its implementation, and how did other games with similar systems influence Sympathy Kiss?

Aoki: As long as the story is set in the real world, I felt that communication via smartphones is essential. The world is set a few years later than Lover Pretend, so I adopted the same texting system with RiNG.

The Emotion Select system means that instead of picking a written response, a player chooses emotions to "reply." How did this system come into play? During development, how did you ensure that the options would be clear enough for players to select exactly what they mean?

Aoki: This time, the main character is meant to be you, the player. Therefore, I thought it would be great to not only have dialogue choices during conversations, but to also be able to express emotions in a way that reflects how real romantic interactions would play out.

Many people from the Sympathy Kiss team also worked on the Switch otome game Lover Pretend. How did the experiences from one influence the other?

Aoki: I incorporated elements from the Lover Pretend system that fit well with the concept and story of Sympathy Kiss. I also consciously aimed to sur Lover Pretend with the artwork and romantic scenes.

Among the Sympathy Kiss characters, which workplace love interest was the most challenging to create?

Aoki: Each character presented its own challenges, but the most difficult was perhaps Rokuro Yoshioka. Because he's extremely wealthy, handsome, and possesses a unique personality, he was quite a demanding character. He seemed almost unreal, like a type of person you would never encounter in real life, so his character development and storyline were the aspects I struggled with the most.

Now that many Idea Factory and Otomate Switch otome games are being localized and released worldwide, does that affect the development process? How early in the process does the team know that, for example, Idea Factory International will also release it worldwide?

Aoki: At the development stage, there were no plans to release the game worldwide, so we created it without considering a global audience. Our primary focus was creating an experience that Japanese players would enjoy. It's essential to first make a game that resonates with the local audience before thinking about expanding its reach.

Both Lover Pretend and Sympathy Kiss are visual novel otome games that include features like the Pretend Time and emotion systems, going beyond typical gameplay. What features would you like to incorporate into a future game in the genre?

Aoki: While I believe that systems like this should be designed with the world and story of the game in mind, I think it would be interesting to create a game that primarily revolves around the RiNG system. The dynamic of progressing through the game via text messages could be engaging.

Do you have any final comments about the game?

Aoki: Our team would be thrilled if everyone around the world could enjoy Sympathy Kiss. Thank you!

Sympathy Kiss will come to the Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2024.

The post Interview: Preparing for Love in the Workplace with Sympathy Kiss appeared first on Siliconera.