There are few developers who are as consistent as Otomate when it comes to thoughtfully pushing the boundaries of the stories videogames can tell. The framework of an otome game is perfect for exploring the depths of the human soul at its best and worst, and Otomate has long made …
Unrequited love is one of those universal things that everyone struggles with at some point in life. It’s something that everyone handles it differently, but few handle well—a broken heart is a painful thing, after all. But it can also have surprising consequences, and even bring people together in a …
Haven is something truly special. Videogames seem to struggle with meaningful depictions of romance anywhere outside of the otome and dating sim niche—and as much as I love otome games, romance is something that should be far more universal, and there’s a lot of untapped potential in approaching romance through …
Eku Takeshima’s Whisper Me a Love Song gets off to a great start in its first volume, laying the groundwork for a super-cute yuri romantic comedy about the comical misunderstandings and awkward moments that the word “love” can bring. Is there any word in the world more complicated than “love”? …
The Clannad anime, based on Key’s acclaimed visual novel of the same name, is now available to stream on AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand. Clannad tells the story of Tomoya Okazaki, a third-year high school student with a reputation for being a delinquent, stemming from his troubled life at …
Haruka Mishima’s life changes forever when she inherits a book store from her late grandmother—not just any bookstore, but an erotic bookstore in the heart of her hometown’s red light district. And with this newfound career comes a chance to mix and mingle with all the sexy, cute, quirky women …
Many will come to Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds for the beautiful boys, but what struck me most about the game is its attention to detail and historical accuracy. Note: There are some minor spoilers in this review. It’s bizarre to me that video games haven’t really tapped into the potential of …
Rose of Winter is one of the cutest games I’ve played. It’s a simple, short, no-frills otome visual novel, but with its lovely art style, fantastic writing, and absolutely frickin’ adorable characters, it filled me with a giddy joyfulness to a degree that’s rare, even within the realm of dating …
After falling in love with the digital monthlies, I was quick to throw money at a Kickstarter campaign for a print version of Fresh Romance earlier this year. That campaign was a success, and my copy of the Fresh Romance: Volume 1 paperback arrived last month, which I wrote a review for over at …
