We have an exciting new addition to the lineup of 2024 localised otome games! It’s also been a while since my last news post, so now is the perfect time to provide you with a round-up of some key otome updates. Keep reading to stay in the loop!
Jump to:
Cupid Parasite | Tengoku Struggle | Yukar from the Abyss | Sympathy Kiss | Metro PD | Getsuei no Kusari | Hakuouki | Kurenai no Homura | Miscellaneous
Cupid Parasite -Sweet & Spicy Darling- gets an English release!
Cupid Parasite -Sweet & Spicy Darling- is set to receive an English localisation, with a planned release in 2024! The game will also have a Limited Edition and Day One Edition versions.
The prompt localisation of CupiPara’s FD follows the recent announcement of its Chinese localisation, scheduled for release on February 14, 2024. The game also officially launches today in Japan! To those diving right in or eagerly awaiting their copies, I wish you all a wonderful time.
I’ve shared my endless excitement for this game in lots of previous news posts—but my spotlight article is a good one-stop-shop if you want to read more about it.
IFI has also teased that 2024 will be an exciting year for otome, hinting at more localisation news to come!
Don’t forget to check out the game’s official English website. Watch the teaser trailer below!
Pre-order Cupid Parasite -Sweet & Spicy Darling-
IFI Online Shop (wishlist)
Localised games release date updates
Here’s a round-up of updates on release dates for upcoming English-localised otome games.
✤ Tengoku Struggle
Aksys recently announced the upcoming release of Tengoku Struggle -strayside- for Nintendo Switch in April 2024, with the exact date yet to be specified.
The original Japanese version, released in 2022, was crafted by the same team behind Olympia Soiree.
Check out the official English synopsis of the game.
It is year XX of the Reiwa era. Through an agreement between the Human Realm and the Hell Realm, Asakusa was transformed into a tourist attraction where the living can meet the dead. One day, the Spider’s Thread was dropped from Heaven down into Hell, allowing many of Hell’s prisoners to escape.
King Enma thus orders his novice Hell Guardian daughter, Rin, to capture the escapees along with Goemon Ishikawa and a few other trustworthy prisoners. When they descend to the Human Realm for their mission, their investigation leads them to an event held by a former prisoner of Hell, Shinobikuni, where she reveals a pardoning app that will forgive people for their sins. What is Shinobikuni’s goal? And what will become of the humans who were promised entry into Heaven?
This is a story that encompasses Heaven and Earth—what fate awaits this world?
✤ Yukar from the Abyss
LocaGames, a Japanese indie game company, is set to port Yukar from the Abyss to the Nintendo Switch on December 7, 2023, in America, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong, followed by a release on December 11, 2023, in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
This partly voiced game (LIs only) was released on Steam earlier this year. Additionally, an iOS version is available, while an Android version is currently in development.
Here’s the game synopsis.
An Otome romance game where you pursue love with Japanese animal gods
Pre-order or get Yukar from the Abyss
Switch – eShop US | AU / NZ | Europe / UK
PC – Steam
Mobile – iOS
✤ Sympathy Kiss
Earlier this month, IFI announced the release date for the localisation of Sympathy Kiss on Nintendo Switch, set for February 27, 2024.
Alongside this news, they unveiled the contents of both the Limited Edition, Necklace Edition and Day One Edition, featuring an array of stationary and office-themed goodies that are undoubtedly hard to resist!
See the game’s official English synopsis below.
About a year has passed since Akari Amasawa started her new job as a designer at Estario, a mobile app maker. While she doesn’t dislike her job, she’s not deeply passionate about it either. After her yearly performance review, she’s given the opportunity to join the Estarci team.The company’s namesake app, Estarci is a news app that made a big splash when it launched, but has since fallen behind rival apps, including apps run by Estario itself. Management has decided to give the app one last chance before shutting it down for good, and Akari and all of her new co-workers will need to give it their all to save the app from the chopping block.Will Akari find true love? Will she find what it is she wants to do in life? Will the app get shut down? Wait, was Akari only given this opportunity because the company was looking for an excuse to fire her?!Business and pleasure mix in Sympathy Kiss, a thrilling office romance and slice-of-life drama!
Pre-order Sympathy Kiss
✤ Metro PD: Close to You
Voltage has been porting various games from their Love 365 series to the Nintendo Switch and Steam. Add Metro PD: Close to You to this list—the game is set for a November 30 release (probably already available by the time you read this).
Here’s a synopsis of the game.
“You’re my partner as of today.”
You’re a rookie detective. Your training? Trial by fire, solving a dangerous case together!
Get yourselves out of tight binds and discover an even stronger bond with each other.
Will you catch the real culprit? And will your case come to a romantic conclusion?
A lethal love where you watch each other’s backs. What will come of your dangerous and thrilling romance?!
Whether on the job or in love, there’s never a dull moment!
Unlocalised games release date updates
✤ Getsuei no Kusari -Sakuran Paranoia-
Getsuei no Kusari was released earlier this month on November 23rd.
What caught my attention, and I can’t believe I almost missed it, is that TAKUYO also released a physical version of this game! Here are some links if you want to check it out.
✤ Hakuouki Yuugiroku Taishitachi no Daienkai
If you follow me on this blog or on socials, you’ve probably caught me talking about Otomate Graffiti. This series initiative (?) marks Otomate’s latest effort to port some of their popular titles to the Nintendo Switch.
Among the ports in this series is Hakuouki Yuugiroku Taishitachi no Daienkai, and recently they’ve confirmed that the release date will be March 28, 2023!
Pre-order Hakuouki Yuugiroku Taishitachi no Daienkai
Int’l – CDJapan
*Check their official website for shop-specific bonus details (int’l buyers will need to use proxy).
✤ Kurenai no Homura Sanada Ninpou Chou
Another exciting title from Otomate Graffiti with a confirmed release date is Kurenai no Homura, set to launch on February 15, 2024. This one’s a bit of an old news, I just forgot to share it in my previous news post, gomennasorry~
For those keen to romance some fierce ass, sexy ninjas, here are your shopping links!
Pre-order Kurenai no Homura Sanada Ninpou Chou
*Check their official website for shop-specific bonus details (int’l buyers will need to use proxy).
Miscellaneous
✤ Amnesia Nendoroids
Toma’s Nendoroid is open for pre-order! His face plates include smiling face, frowning face and grinning face, while the optional parts include cage sheet, handcuffs, ace of diamonds card and other optional parts for different poses. The cage sheet is hilarious, ngl.
Thanks for reading! I’ve been a bit quiet on the news front lately, as updates mostly revolved around release dates which I would always tweet out anyway (plus, Hana Awase consumed my entire being this month). However, CupiPara FD getting a localisation is nothing short of amazing!!! I didn’t make it to the stream because NA streams always fall at ungodly hours for me in Australia, but what fabulous news to wake up to.
With Otomate still holding onto those three titles for Otomate Graffiti, Aksys’ upcoming announcement early next year, and more to come from IFI, as well as various otome projects from other companies in the works, we’re undoubtedly in for a wonderful 2024!
