乙女ゲームotome gemu
Quick definition:An otome game is a story game aimed mainly at female players, in which the heroine builds relationships with a cast of male characters through choices that lead to different endings.
Meaning
Otome game, often shortened to otome, means maiden game, and it describes a romance-focused story game in which the player takes the role of a heroine. She meets several male characters, each with a personality and route, and the choices made in conversations decide whom she grows close to. Most otome games are a type of visual novel.
Stories are set in many worlds, from schools and royal courts to fantasy realms and historical periods. Gameplay often includes statistics, events and multiple endings, and players may replay the game several times to see every route. Anime, manga and stage productions have been made from popular titles.
Otome games have a dedicated audience in Japan and increasingly overseas, thanks to translations and mobile releases. Developers often release extras, such as art books, drama CDs and concerts featuring the voice actors, and fans value the games for their emotional stories, strong artwork and the chance to explore different relationships.
Origin:Otome is a Japanese word meaning young maiden, an old word for an unmarried girl, and it was applied to games aimed at girls and women in the 1990s. Sources differ on which title counts as the first otome game. The term became standard in English fandom alongside the genre, and it is often shortened to otome.
Example:A heroine arrives at a new school and meets a rival student, a gentle teacher and a mysterious transfer student. By choosing to help one at the festival or ignore another's remark, the player steers the story towards one of several possible endings. On a second playthrough, the player chooses differently and sees a completely new story.
Did you know?Many otome games have a voiced cast of well-known voice actors, and fans often buy a game as much for the performances as for the story. Some also release drama CDs, extra stories told in audio form, as companion products.
