橙光: Chinese Visual Novel Games (mostly otome style!)
I haven't seen any English blog posts on this so I thought I'd make one on my latest obsession: Chinese visual novel games!
Possibly you might have experienced visual novel games in the past, and for female readership, particular "otome" type games such as Hakuoki and Dandelion, etc. If you don't know what these are then they're basically games in which you take control of a main character as she moves through a story and in the process meet usually a couple (or a lot!) of potential romantic partners and choose actions/responses to events in the story which will usually either lead to a Happy Ending or Bad Ending with the romantic partner of your choosing!
Having played these games in the past, it struck me one day to search if there were any Chinese ones, particularly any set in an ancient historical or fantasy setting that I loved to watch in dramas. And boy did I find a treasure trove!
It all started when I downloaded this Chinese app called 橙光 (Pinyin: Cheng Guang) which is available on the Google Play Store or Apple Store (available worldwide I believe but only in Chinese language). I believe you can also play on computer via Javascript. I've provided links for my favorites below.
Within this app were hundreds (yes, hundreds!!) of otome style games (as well as others, there are some targeted to a male audience with a female harem) with ancient historical, fantasy (or xianxia), as well as modern setting.
It's a app where the user generates content so the quality is varied, but it's very easy to find the "top" listings with the most popular and well designed games, and boy are they easy to get hooked on! Some have plots so well done they reduced me to tears or howling laughter, and I've spent hours at home and on public transport tapping away.
The following are some quick summaries and reviews of my favorite games on 橙光 (in no particular order). Most of them do require a small payment to unlock the full game (around $3-$5US) but you can play most for a while to experience first. But unfortunately they are only in Chinese as far as I can see.
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1) 好色千金：https://www.66rpg.com/game/83480
The story centers around a girl who travels to an alternate universe (a very common theme called 穿越 which is in lots of light novels and games) into the body of a wealthy young noblewoman, and gets embroiled in a political as well as a fantasy plot (depending on which male you chose to romance!).
This story starts off quite hilarious and funny where the girl pretty much fangirls over all the handsome guys she meets, but quickly takes a turn for the serious as she realizes what a dangerous predicament she is in. The plot is very exciting and the romances are very well done with twists and turns. Some of the potential sad endings are truly heartbreaking and stayed with me for ages after.
Some screenshots:
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2) 君心我心：https://www.66rpg.com/game/167836
I believe this was for a long and may still be the top game on the app and it's not hard to see why.
It's another 穿越 body swap/alternate universe plot where a girl from our world gets swapped into the body of a concubine in this alternate universe. I believe there's a palace intrigue plotline but I'm sorry I never pursued it (and doubt many others did either) because I went straight for the most popular male lead (龙尧离) and he has a jianghu or wuxia plotline.
This is by the most exciting game I've played, where the characters really felt so real and I was so invested in the storyline. The main male lead is a cold hearted assassin with a tragic past which may sound cliche, but the execution of the romance is excellent. Also I have to say this game has the best music I've seen in any of of the other games which accompanies the storyline and mood perfectly.
Please check it out!
Screenshots:
3) 狐妖之凤唳九霄: https://www.66rpg.com/game/495223
The king of palace intrigue games, this game reduced me to a puddle of tears so many times I couldn't believe it!
The story is about a unfavored concubine who was cruelly murdered in court, she is reborn in the body of another girl and decides to head back to the palace for her revenge.
This game was at times so, so sad and it was not afraid to go to dark places. However the ending with the characters is rewarding and worth all the emotional turmoil it took to go there (as long as you didn't get the BE: Bad Ending that is...). Highly recommend this game but have tissues handy! Was an emotional rollercoaster.
Screenshots:
4) 初年传：https://www.66rpg.com/game/512700
Highly addictive, only play if you're willing to sink a lot of time into the game!!
Screenshots:
5) 月出处天子: https://www.66rpg.com/game/256888
You play as a young man who is body swapped into someone in the ancient world who looks exactly the same and has the same name as you and quickly gets embroiled in political intrigue and dangerous situations. The (also male) romantic partners are very interesting and some of the plotlines get very dark towards the end! So you are warned. Game is very large with multiple plotlines and arcs with different characters, and unlike the other games I've listed it's incomplete. It is quickly approaching completion I believe and the first HE with one of the romantic options has just come out.
Screenshots:
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Happy playing!! Let me know if there's any other recs or questions you have. I've played a LOT more than just these but don't have time to write them all.
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