Curator Top Picks of 2024!
31/12/2024
It's the end of the year of 2024 and our Otome Lover curators have chosen their top picks of their favorite games that they played this year.
Abubis
- With the combination of its 18+ DLC, it is undoubtedly my top Otome/BL of the year. It's fun, interesting, and every single love interest was fantastic. Sided with a fantastic art style, Miss Xero has shown her dev skills have increased greatly.
- Especially if you like 18+ content, this game is a hard recommendation from me. No other VN beat it for me this year.
- Especially not when it includes Thane, my beloved!
2. Obscura
- It's hard not to put both this and BS at number one. Obscura is a fantastic Otome by a new dev studio. And let me tell you, they have absolutely smashed with Obscura, a VN I would highly recommend despite its early access status.
- The emotional impact that I felt just a few hours into a route immediately had me hooked, desperate and anticipating the next update. With such unique and compelling characters, I believe the full product could compete for one of my favourite Otome of all time.
- The wait is hard, but totally worth it. P.s. Let me fix Keir's heart, I beg!
3. CABALL
- This one I did not expect to be in my list at first thought. However, the short story had me absolutely hooked - I could tell as soon as I saw CABALL had a sequel in the works. This twisted yet unique VN is certainly worth the experience, especially at the low sale price.
- While it certainly has good and bad parts, I think it is a worthy experience - especially when you get to the third route, truly outshining the others.
Francisca
- My game of the year for its perfect mix of storytelling, emotional music, and meaningful choices. Its stunning visuals and unforgettable atmosphere make it an experience that stayed with me long after the final note.
2. DREAMIO: AI-Powered Adventures
- My second favorite game for how it uses AI to create unique, personal stories, even romantic ones. It's beautiful, creative, and full of endless adventures.
- Even though I only played the demo for Threads of You: Beyond the Bay, it's already my third pick for game of the year. The story, visuals, and beautiful sprites have me eagerly awaiting the full release. I can't wait to see where this game goes!
Foxxelle
- I had very little opportunity during 2024 to play many games, but there were still some standout moments. My top pick for the year goes to Love & Country, a wonderfully period-accurate wartime story of an American woman spying for France in Germany, and finding potential love on both sides of the conflict.
- The absence of a truly happy ending primarily serves to honour the gritty realism portrayed, and with potential for future missions for the MC Lilian, this should be a must buy for all fans of a good female lead story.
- Coming in with a very late gallop for runner-up this year is Arts & Hearts Academy, where an architecture student finds love after getting into a team vying for a place at a prestigious academy, and uses her limited spare time to investigate a cold-case murder. This game exceeded my expectations by some distance and is well worthy of your time.
3. Heromantic
- For a complete change of scene, I'm awarding my third place to the lighthearted superhero romp Heromantic, where the reader gets to play separately as either of two lead characters, both of whom have romantic interests in one of 3 superhero characters who are clearly based on well known fictional heros, which gives a comforting familiarity to the supporting cast.
- This game is unchallenging and a lot of good humoured fun.
- Bubbling just under my top 3, I'd like to give an honorary mention to a detective investigation novel, Alibi: The Dinner Partt. Sadly I did not get the time to review this game when it was still fresh in mind, but it provided a good deal of enjoyment in the mystery and slow revealing of who the murderer was.
- A solid all-round recommendation.
Amjara
- A treat to experience. A story rich game with memorable characters, each with heartfelt stories. Flavourful and full of soul.
A beautifully illustrated, well-crafted dark fantasy story. A story that takes shape around the choices you make, for light or dark.
3. Still Joking
- A high quality visual novel mixed with interactive gameplay and a well-written narrative that is worth reflecting on.
Honorable Mention:
Path of Exile 2 has gorgeous environments, combat feels good and the animations and magic effects are beautiful to look at.