An intro to Otome games, courtesy of Aksys

As the Golden Age of streaming has made anime so accessible that even your mom is humming themes from My Hero Academia and manga can be found at Wal-Mart, Japanese games are also enjoying a boom in popularity around the globe. Among the epic fantasy RPGs and story-driven fighting games that top the charts is a lesser-known genre with a devoted following that is steadily gaining fans: otome.

Literally translated as “maiden,” otome games are interactive fiction, sometimes incorporating puzzles or other mini games, in which a young woman finds herself in the midst of an intriguing adventure and pursued by several male suitors. Choices made by the player will alter the story dramatically, offering agonizing options and inviting repeat playthroughs to experience every possible plot development. Should you confide in that prickly but cute police officer, or will staying silent result in your death?
While romance is a common element of otome, it is the plot and characters that drive the story and keep the player clicking. With gorgeous art, captivating music and absorbing storylines, plenty of men find otome games as addictive as the female audience for which they were originally developed.

But where should the otome-curious start? With storylines from every conceivable genre, from suspense thriller to horror to whimsical fantasy, there is something out there for every palate. The titles described below are just some of the English-language otome available now or coming soon to the Nintendo Switch.

The critically acclaimed Code: Realize games feature Cardia and her adventures in a steampunk version of Victorian England. Isolated in a mansion under heavy guard, Cardia grew up being called a “monster” due to her poisonous touch and knows nothing of the world around her. Now her father has vanished, and Cardia, along with a cast of intriguing gentlemen based on characters from history and literature, embarks on a quest to find him. Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~ and the follow up ~Future Blessings~ launched earlier this year.

For pulse-pounding suspense and intrigue, check out the Collar X Malice series in which a rookie police officer investigates a dangerous terrorist organization in a desperate countdown to the next X-Day Incident. A sinister attack left Ichika with a collar that could end her life at any moment. Five strangers offer their help, but with time running out, who can she trust? Coming June 25th, Collar X Malice will be followed on August 6th by Collar X Malice -Unlimited-, a sequel never available before outside of Japan.

Coming this fall are two new titles exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. Piofiore: Fated Memories is set in the sun-drenched yet ruthless world of early 1900’s Italy where three criminal organizations fight for control of Burlone City, and Lily discovers she is at the center of their brutal turf wars. Her encounters with the leaders of the mafia families lead to danger and distraction, and now that she’s become entangled in this shadowy world, there is no going back.

In Café Enchante, Kotone inherits her grandfather’s Tokyo café, only to discover that it’s a meeting spot for beings from various fantastical worlds, including the king of demons and a fallen angel. When government agents come knocking at the door, things might get a little out of hand.

With its choice of portable, tabletop and tv modes, the Nintendo Switch offers an ideal platform for this genre of game, and many more titles are expected to make their way to the English-speaking world. No matter what your cup of tea, otome offers a fun and immersive way to become a part of the story, letting the user explore characters and plot twists according to their whim, so curl up with your Nintendo Switch and get lost in one today!