Otome Gaming 101: When Non-Digital Romance is Not Enough

I don’t think anyone ever means to start playing otome dating games so much as life circumstances happen (read: soul-crushing loneliness and post-break up boredom), but I figure in a world where one app swipe can leave you at the mercy of a complete stranger, nobody really has room to judge fictional love interests. And let’s be honest: who doesn’t like the idea of a sparkly person giving you endless compliments on your terms with no expectations? This brings us to our first step in otome gaming: finding a game that’s right for you. Are you a middle-aged woman whose parents won’t stop nagging her to just go get married already? Perhaps try one of the office life otome games wherein your friends are much nicer, your coworkers are all in love with you, and your handsome but strict boss may or may not be your new roommate. Or maybe you’re a student or recent grad who’s tired of the “real world” with all these monotonously non-super powered dates. Why not try your hand at being captured by demons who are now in possession of your soul for all eternity and use this power to turn you into their maid/prisoner/slave? Seeking some less fantastical elements? You can be the president’s daughter protected by the world’s most gorgeous bodyguards, return to your fictional hometown to discover your childhood friends have all grown into hunks, or live as just a regular student at a high school more or less for models. The possibilities are endless, my friend. I personally find shopping aroun…