Top 7 Best Free Otome Games
By: KaylaTheRivera
You know what's awesome? Otome games—otome games are awesome, because let's be honest, what girl doesn't want to fall in love with an imaginary, beautifully-drawn man? Of course, nowadays the problem with beautifully-drawn men is how expensive they are, so I've collected a list of seven quality otome games where you can fall in love with a beautiful men for the low, low price of free!
I’m putting this pretty low on the list because yes, it is free, but in the way free-to-play mobile games are “free.” If you want to get anything done in this game, you either have to be patient or—inevitably—fork over some of your money for action points. This game is more focused on getting you to spend action points than progressing you through the story, but when you are in the storyline, it’s actually extremely fun. The CGs are beautiful and top quality, the plot is usually a fun romp through the romantic or ridiculous (sometimes both) and the guys are actually varied and, yes, always attractive. There are two main guys, one bad boy and one responsible type, and some that come and go, but your main character's accessories and wardrobe are always there to stay—if you don’t delete your account, of course.
My advice? Just don’t get addicted to My Candy Love, or you’ll be tempted to buy those action points. Don’t do it, my friends.
Created by Deviantart member Pacthesis, this game stars you as the Alice that tumbles down into a wacky, whimsical Wonderland. Once there, you’re stuck for thirty days. Whoops! With all the handsome men around, though, you have an entertaining outlet, so the toughest choice you’ll have to make is which one you want to keep. The madhatter? The cheshire cat? The white rabbit—or maybe the secret character waiting inside the maze of the castle? It’s up to you.
Another of Pacthesis’ creations, Chrono Days is probably the best of her otome game series. You can find love in either a steampunk past or a technologically diverse future, where handsome men and secret characters make the slim storyline much more interesting. Choose from the best friend type, the older brother type, a robot, a kid with no hands, a clock maker, an adorkable clumsy man from the past, and many more. Just make sure you have an updated flashplayer, and you’re ready to dive in to thirty simulated days of romance.
Keep in mind Chrono Days doesn’t have the most gorgeous art style in the otome world, and the storyline is fairly short and confined to each route, but it’s the most robust of Pacthesis’ games with cut scenes, hidden characters, ending CGs, and everything. Definitely enjoyable, and as with all Pacthesis games, the characters are each unique and interesting.
Now I’ll admit, I haven’t played this baby yet, but I’ve heard an amazing thing or two about it, so I couldn't resist placing it higher on the list. Autumn’s Journey gives you two routes with a shouta type character and a jerk type, and most importantly, an amazing, quality game to experience them through. With an entire magic system in place, this game’s storyline has received nothing but praise from everyone I’ve talked to—and all for free! The visuals I can certainly attest to being strong, warm, and of excellent quality, so give it a download and let me know your first hand experience!
Straight from the hands of creator Michaela Laws, this is definitely one of my favorite games. With a main character that's processing the loss of a loved one, five potential demon boys with their own character progression exhibited throughout the storyline,and three girl routes if you're looking for an alternative, this game has an experience every girl will love. The voice acting gave me chills, the story arcs are interesting with very believable motivation and stakes. More of the writing is recycled for each route than I'd like, but it doesn't distract too much because the characters themselves are unique and interesting personalities to uncover. For the record, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with Matthew forever. So cute!
Potential players should be aware that it can get a little steamy in the end—if you choose that option. One of the best things about this game is that it, and its characters, never push the main character into choosing a sexy ending, something I and I'm sure many girls will greatly appreciate. There are no negative consequences for wanting to stay virginal, and both endings are romantic and visually stunning, so there’s no downside. And it’s all free—can you believe it?
While I'm talking about it, I should mention Seduce Me now has a sequel! Seduce Me 2: The Demon War is available now on Steam. Now, the sequel does cost actual money in the amount of $10.00, so do keep that in mind. Still, if it improves on the already delightful first one like everyone says, it may be worth the money.
I debated putting this higher or lower than Seduce Me because it had less routes and it is shorter, but I'll argue that the writing and visuals are higher quality. A Troll's Fairytale may only have 2 routes instead of six, but my goodness, the characterization for everyone involved is too amazing to pass up. Acacia, our main character and classic grumpy troll, dreams of marrying for love instead of money, and of course, that kind of fairytale won’t come easy. Acacia is probably the most interesting and wild main character its been my pleasure to play, and I love how she grows throughout the story as well to realize her happy endings.While both guys are multi-faceted and interesting characters, I suggest Edovine’s route as a must-do. His and Acacia's connection was something very special and well-developed, as it explored deeper themes of what it means to be yourself, the need for forgiveness, the pain of moving past old hurts, and what love really looks like between two people.
For fans of the Normal Boots team on youtube, here is a dating simulator where you can finally act out your love for the adorkable crew! Though it is for fans of these youtubers, the love stories and characters are still more than delightful for regular otome fans, and luckily, even its referential jokes won't alleviate out-of-the-loop players.
This game has it all. It’s free, the story is long and multi-faceted, there are several character routes and even hidden characters to unlock, the CGs are lovely and colorful, and there’s an emotional punch to every route that’s just to—die—for. I’ve never experienced an otome game that felt so authentic and the characters so real, each with their flaws and strengths, and annoying tropes avoided without loss of interest in the story. The main character Hana has an amazing and painful story of her own that doesn't come off heavy handed, just close to home, and each of the possible routes you take helps her overcome it in a way unique to her relationship with the guy. And again—all of this is free! Now, with that in mind, I do suggest using the donate option on the website to reward the creators for their hard work, even if all you can spare is a couple dollars. This game's quality is too wonderful not encourage. I certainly hope the creators keep writing and keep drawing because the world needs more otome games like this.
Bonus: Dark Nights
Though this beauty is not yet available, the creator, Pinlin, is hard at work and is looking to announce a playable demo soon. I’m excited; if the story holds up to the quality of the art already pictures, the entire otome world is in for a big treat. Keep your eye on it with me, and let’s cheer the creator on!