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For the next few days, phone based freemium dating sim The Arcana allows you to read an arbitrary number of scenes a day for free (normally it's limited unless you pay money)

iOS Android

So I checked it out! And...by the time I got to the end of the prologue decided I didn't like it. But it's not inherently bad, just not my sort of thing.

It's set in a vaguely renaissance Europe-ish fantasy city. It's ethnically diverse with a lot of unremarked queerness. It takes itself pretty seriously and feels like it's trying a bit too hard to be Lush and Evocative without the depth to quite carry it off, but I have a low tolerance for that sort of fantasy. I hate to say "it's very American" like that's an inherent flaw but it's certainly not to my tastes.

Anyway. The protagonist is an apprentice fortune teller and magician, name and pronouns customisable, who finds themselves drawn into a messy situation involving death, romantic angst, political conspiracy etc. The prologue introduces you to six important characters of various genders, and gives some idea of how they're all connected to each other, and then the player chooses whose path to pursue. There's three men, two women, and one he/him using non binary person (who I only found out isn't a cis man from the wiki, which would be fine if he wasn't the only non binary character I've met all game but as it is feels a little lazy)

I had an intense gut feeling that I wouldn't enjoy any of these paths, and looking up spoilers made me go "That's a really interesting and evocative story I have zero interest in reading for some reason". I can't articulate why, unfortunately, but other people seem to enjoy them.

One objective flaw is the payment structure: the story keeps offering interesting/shippy sounding choices that cost "coins" to see, and afaict the only way to get coins is to pay money or do a huge amount of grinding. Note that the sale this weekend does not include coins. I ignored all of the paid choices and the story worked fine, but it was still annoying.

Otherwise the art is nice (including sprites, backgrounds and CGs), the worldbuilding seems mildly interesting, the writing is ok and the music is unobjectionable.

Anyway! This is at best a very qualified rec, but if you want to check it out, now is a good time.

So I have like 3 otome games waiting for me to finish them, and I thought maybe I was just going off the genre. But then I thought maybe I just need a game with no tragedy or consent issues, and looks like I was right! Because this has been a lot of fun.

(I absolutely intend to finish the other games eventually, I just needed a break)

So! XOXO Droplets is a humourous game about dating The Douchiest Guys In School. The premise put me off for a long time, since I wasn't sure if it would take the romances seriously, and it isn't as feels heavy as my favourite otome games. But under the humour are some genuine characters and sincere feelings, I spend a lot of time thinking "Haha, aww, you assholes really do deserve each other <3". Also, unlike most "humourous" VNs, it's actually funny.

Here's the itchio page, the trailer gives a run down of all the dudes, I'll also describe them under the cut. I started with the free/demo version then switched to the paid one, and kind of wish I'd done it earlier, since I missed some early content for my chosen boy ;_;

I just finished the path for Shiloh, a boyishly charming manipulator, and it was great. The MC pegs him as a liar right off the bat, which creates a fascinating dynamic: he swoons and blushes about how amazing she is and she wallows in the attention then laughs at what a skeeze he is, and they both know it's mostly an act but they're also both having fun. He's one of the free love interests, but definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

Under the cut is just a bunch more rambling about the game. It's hard to spoil: so far there's little plot, and the characters are basically who they appear to be on the surface. They're just not only that. EDIT: I've now finished the full game, and mostly still agree with this review, but have added a few extra remarks.
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While I intend on playing some more Demon's Bond at some point, each route costs SEVEN WHOLE AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS (and 20c!) ands my ridiculous backlog of games I already paid for is staring at me judgementally, while shiny new games I haven't tried yet wave seductively from the distance.

So! Help me choose what ridiculous romantic game to try next!



You absolutely do NOT need to know who these people are, or have any intention of reading whatever posts I might write about them. Just follow your heart. But if you feel like making a more informed vote, there's some context below. And if you want to comment with arguments for your fave (including those I haven't listed) go ahead!
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Since dreamwidth support STILL hasn't gotten back to me about the mod of the previous community vanishing, I decided it was easier to just make a new community. So I did!

And thus: otome_games !

I'm going to try and post semi-regularly, and thankfully someone with actual design skills volunteered to help out with the layout and as another mod. *waves to chrry*

The community are pretty chill, so hopefully moderating should be chill too.

Also, total side note, but I'm trying out a new dreamwidth feature that lets you link to other dreamwidth accounts by just typing a @ and then their username. It looks ok in the preview, sweet.

Mystic Messenger is a phone based dating and management sim that plays out in real time.
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Just installed Bluestacks, an android emulator that seems to run ok on my Mac and will let me play phone games from the google play store :D :D My phone crashes if I play most games, and squinting at the tiny screen hurts my eyes anyway. So I am QUITE EXCITED for the vistas opening up before me.

I want to finish up Ozmafia before starting any more dating sims, but am planning on checking out:
Mystic Messenger, Helix Waltz, the Arcana, and Lovestruck
EDIT: also Ikemen Sengoku, Love & Legends, Castaway! Love's Adventure, My Sweet Bodyguard, Rose in the Embers

I'm also pondering reinstalling pokemon Go though it's a little pointless when I won't be taking it anywhere (I could theoretically sit my laptop on my lap when I go out in my wheelchair but ehhh)

Sadly my favourite clicker game, Charming Keep, doesn't seem to be available.

I currently have Neko Atsume, Bonza, Alphabear and puzzlecraft 2 installed on my phone since they don't crash too much and are fun to play in little bursts when I'm waiting for a train or whatever.

Anyone have any other recs?

EDIT: recs I have encountered:
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2019/05/discussion-question-whats-your-favorite-game-on-your-phone-or-tablet/
https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/360006.html?thread=2096027718#cmt2096027718
https://otome-games.dreamwidth.org/5040.html?thread=16816#cmt16816

Including Fury!Chizuru, and other art for Hakuoki, Nameless, and Dragon Age. Because Dragon Age is totally a dating sim :D

Content Note: A little blood
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Dandelion: Wishes Brought to You is a dating sim about a depressed, lonely young woman who encounters five mysterious animals and gets to know them as pets...only for them to become human!

This is the first game made by Cheritz (Nameless, Mystic Messenger) and is a bit rough around the edges but still overall very enjoyable. The protagonist is a realistically drawn college student with anxiety caused by an abusive mother, and her arc of self discovery and healing is really well done. There's a lot of stats raising, which is sometimes cleverly integrated with the story and sometimes irritating. The love interests are varied and interesting as characters, and the romances vary from "good" to "I respect what they were going for but it didn't quite work for me". It's not full on furry but it probably helps if you think catboys and rabbitboys are cute ;)
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