19 Best Otome Games On Switch 2023

Before we get into the best Otome games on Switch, I want to answer some key questions. The most important topic of course is what an Otome game is and how the genre became so popular.

What is an Otome Game?

Otome games are a more visual novel-esque style of gameplay geared towards female fans as Otome quite literally means “maiden” in Japanese. With her foresight in 1983, Tecmo Koei Executive Keiko Erikawa noticed a demographic that was being left out in the gaming industry at the time – girls! To get more women engaged in gaming and to corner an underserved market, Otome games were developed.

Otome games come in many shapes and sizes now but the plot points being passion, love interests, and suspense remain the same.

What Are The Best Otome Games On Switch?

1. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

If you’re looking for a darker twist on Otome games, a few of these will be the best Otome games on Switch that you can find.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is a very unique Otome game. In the main game, you follow the male protagonist who is forced into this seemingly innocent literature club by his childhood friend. This is because the literature club is in desperate need of a 5th member to stay open!

Nothing could possibly go wrong here right?… Right? Join Monika, Sayori, Yuri, and Natsuki in the literature club and learn about different books and write poems. Progressively as you make poem choices your love interests will show you different paths to navigate the story. Can you write your way into her heart?

In this iteration of the game along with the main plot and already existing side stories there are six more side story options. There is also new music along with a music player in-game. There are also over 100 unlockable images and brand-new game art!

Do not be fooled by its cutesy art and seemingly safe music as this game is also a psychological horror with heavy themes (suicide, depression, homicide, and more). This is also one of the few Otome games on Switch that have a male protagonist and a very interesting take on the genre as a whole.

2. Collar x Malice

In Shinjuku, a police officer is tasked with restoring order only to become the primary target. Five mysterious detectives come to her aid.

This Otome game is another one of those darker more serious games you will find on the Nintendo Switch. Which seems to be pretty popular in the genre itself. A criminal organization known as Adonis has been committing horrific murders counting down to a day called “X” day. Our protagonist, a young police officer sent to Shinjuku to find and fight this organization has been captured and collared by Adonis.

While she is let go, the collar placed on our protag, unfortunately, will kill her if she goes to the police. Fortunately, a separate organization comes to her aid! How will our heroine beat Adonis and bring justice to Shinjuku?

With excellent background music, six hours of playtime for each route, and stylistics as soon as you turn on the game you won’t be bored! The downside to Collar x Malice is that early on in the game when you meet the leads you are asked a few vague questions that start the split. Later in the game however any future questions seem a bit more direct in which route they’ll take you.

3. Code: Realize

This one I am going to specify that this does have three games: Code: Realize Guardian of Rebirth, Code Realize Future Blessings, and Code Realize Winterlude. I will however only be covering Code: Realize.

I am a little partial to Code: Realize myself as I watched the anime adaptation of the visual novel first before playing the Nintendo Switch version. Cardia, our protagonist is locked away and isolated from the rest of the world due to the poison that inhabits her body.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the Royal Guards come to take and imprison her as they view her as a monster. Suddenly, she is rescued by Arsène Lupin a chivalrous thief. Can she, along with Lupin and his gang locate her father and remove the poison from her body?

Developed by Otomate and published (in Japan) by Idea Factory and aksys games worldwide. This game, along with many others on this list is worth giving a shot, from the music to how well-written the plot is. You won’t be able to get enough!

If you are a history buff, this one is definitely for you! The game is set in London’s 19th Century Victorian Era and all of the main characters are uniquely based on famous fictional personas of that time.

4. Bustafellows

I found it very hard to find anyone who had anything negative to say about Bustafellows, and that should tell you why it belongs on this list!

Bustafellows is a crime based visual novel that has our main character Teuta a strong, courageous journalist on an adventure set in New Sieg. One day, Teuta witnesses a crooked lawyer, Limbo being murdered. Now determined to save him, Teuta must travel into the past, hoping into different people’s lives in search of clues and to warn Limbo of his fate.

Bustafellows, like a few other visual novels on this list, has very mature themes. If you have a hard time with gun violence or drug references and I would not choose this one.

With its wonderful voice acting, incredible visuals, and nail-biting storytelling it is a great addition to the Nintendo Switch! This one is neat as you can play in any particular order and the plots of each route won’t intertwine.

5. Cafe Enchante

Do you like a more fantasy setting and also cafes? You’ve gotta check out Cafe Enchante!

When Kotone Inherits her grandfather’s Tokyo cafe she discovers the shop holds more secrets than anyone could imagine. Her new cafe is a hot spot for a variety of mythical beings ranging from a hot-headed devil to a humanoid beast! Life starts to take a real change when the government begins to investigate the increase in non-human activity!

As far as slice-of-life visual novels go on the Nintendo Switch go Cafe Enchante tackles some very serious topics very well. Our protagonist is struggling with anxiety and depression from her previous employment this doesn’t however hinder the positive and humorous vibe of the game.

Before you engage in deciding on which love interest you will pick there are 8 chapters where you work with Kotone in handling the cafe. This allows you the chance to understand each of the five before making your choice on who to pick!

6. Nightshade

If you like a dark visual novel with Shinobi you should check out Nightshade!

Nightshade is set in the Sengoku period of Japan with two rival clans: The Iga and Kōga who have been at war with each other for decades. In 1953 however, Nobunaga Oda started a war against the Tensho Iga war. This resulted in the surviving Iga members joining the Koga despite their differences.

Enter our protagonist Enju of the Koga clan. She aspires to be the best shinobi of her clan. During her interaction with our male leads, you’ll find in some routes however that she’s strong and independent but in others, she’s pulling a damsel in distress.

The music, art style, and overall feel of the game will have you wishing that it was longer and is a worthwhile addition to your Nintendo Switch library! You’ll be rooting for Enju Ueno at the end. You can also play this in any order, though I’d recommend saving hers for last.

7. Piofiore Fated Memories

Fated Memories is another amnesia-style game that will be sure to win your heart!

Piofiore: Fated Memories is a visual novel set in the Italian town of Burlone. In Burlone, there are three rival mafia families: the Lao-Shu, the Falzone, and the Visconti. You play as Liliana Adornato and throughout the game, you will find interesting character arcs, tough decisions, and devastating betrayals.

While this is still a romance visual novel. It also tackles very serious topics of trafficking(both humans and drugs), murder, and torture. Most say this is not a deterrent to the game, but if heavy topics are not your thing I would skip this one.

This visual novel comes with a lot of backstory, which is good as it is very plot-driven. The playability between routes is not ruined in any way as each route gives way to more interesting plot points!

8. Olympia Soiree

Can Olympia revive the Sun?

Olympia, our protagonist is the last surviving member of the White clan who used to reside on Tennyo island. It was destined that the maiden of white would restore the sun that has mysteriously lost its brilliance. In Olympia Soiree, Olympia must set out to find a mate, from one of the districts of Tenguu island.

What is interesting about this is the take on classism and the issues that arise from it. Tenguu islands’ classes are dictated by how close to the primary colors each individual is. There is even fighting within individual families due to the color mixing. Able to move between the districts, Olympia on a quest to save her bloodline can find the strengths and weaknesses of each district. She becomes determined to assist the shunned group of “colorless” individuals.

I recommend playing this game as it has such a well-written take on many heavy topics but that being said it does have implied sexual harm. If that is something triggering I would advise avoiding this one. Outside of this, however, the music, art direction, and characters make it a well-worth dating sim to purchase!

9. Taisho x Alice All In One

Where are our favorite fairytales can be our husbands.

In Taisho x Alice All in One, our protagonist a young woman wakes in a mysterious void with another seemingly amnesiac boy. Both decide to name themselves Alice and Arisu, Arisu drags our male protag Alice along as they assist other fairytale types inside of a looking glass.

The appeal along with its stylistic art style is the character design. If you did not notice, each of the visual novels on this list has one thing in common. They’re all heavily story driven, with characters who for the most part are well fleshed out. Taisho x Alice takes the cake for this as all characters have such good design work that extra care is taken for our romance options so as not to get confused.

Arisu, our protagonist helps move the plot along at a very great pace. Along with the excellent script work and funny one-liners, it’s hard to dislike this game. You may want to set multiple save files if you’re the type to play for good endings. It’s tricky but well worth it for the visuals!

10. Gakuen Club

Do you like the Ouran Host Club? This is right up your alley!

Gakuen Club is set in a famous private school. Our heroine is entering her junior high year when she finds out she is suddenly being transferred due to her father’s job in the city. She discovers going to Kirika Academy- a co-ed famous private school is where she is being transferred to! As she’s traveling the school after hours, she discovers a secret nightclub full of attractive young men. How will she adapt to her new school life?

In this game, our female protagonist is met by six love interests that she can romance. Each route is very well written out and is a very cute lighthearted game. It provides a very refreshing reprieve if you are looking for a slice of life that takes you to your school days!

In total are ninety chapters of varying lengths for each route. For this one, you may want to pause each route as some plot points do intertwine which can cause the story to run a bit stale. On the upside, it can give you a second chance at the same story!

11. Cupid Parasite

Teach the Parasite 5- a group of young men how to date through practice. Seems like a piece of cake for our heroine; Cupid Corporation’s top bridal advisor with a secret- she’s Cupid!

We join our main character Lynette Mirror from the Cupid Corporation secretly working in the human realm. In Cupid Parasite, she’s sent to help Parasite 5- a group of young men who are hopeless in matters of love. Luckily as the goddess of love Cupid, she should be able to handle this. She is the top bridal advisor after all! She and her team concoct a plan to teach each of these men how to date through practice dates set on reality tv. The plan seems flawless for sure!

This game is one of the more lighthearted games on this list. Some of the stories can end sadly however overall this game secures its spot squarely within the romantic comedy genre.

In your first game playthrough, you can only access Gil, Shelby, or Ryuki’s route. If you can secure the good ending, you are then able to play the other routes Raul’s and Allan’s routes. While you can play in any order it is recommended to play Ryuki’s first, then Shelby, Gil, Raul, and Allan’s. After you unlock all the good endings you will get the secret route.

12. Steam Prison

Looking for a story with Heights and Lows? Sorry, I meant Depths…

Steam Prison is an excellent entry as your love interest game also comes with a little social commentary. We start our game in the Heights, a society built so high off the planet the people in it are a little… different. Much like others in high society, they view the people of the Depths like they’re beneath them. The people of the Depths who live on the surface of the planet are treated as criminals and barbarians who do not follow the rules that are established by the sky-high society.

Our main character is a young police officer with a strong sense of justice. She was working alongside her peaceful partner Fin to serve and protect the people of the heights. Unexpectedly a tragic event causes her to be exiled to the Depths.

In Steam Prison, in total, there are six romance options that you can get involved with if you purchase the DLC for Fin’s route. If you do not, there are three distinctive routes you can play in the game to get each love interest. The bodyguard routes for Eltcreed and Ulrik, prisoner routes for Adage and Ines, and the servant route for Yune. This game has some endings that are intertwined with each other as well.

This story is another Otome game that has a lot of playability and gives the player a voice so you feel more involved.

13. Norn9

Another Aksys games title that is worth checking out!

In Norn9, our adventure begins with Sorata Suzuhara, a child prodigy. He is on a class field trip and awakens in a new (but strangely familiar) setting. There, he is taken to the Norn- a massive floating airship that he boards and meets a group of people called espers, who have special abilities.

The draw of this game is the many different perspectives you get. While you start with Sorata’s point of view after the first chapter you are then to pick from three girls who have their own three love interests to choose from.

This game however is different in the sense that you have to play through each love interest to advance the story. Normally in Otome games, the main story is not impacted by the side stories so this game is more of a longer play if you’re a completionist.

14. Amnesia: Memories

This also has a fandisk Amnesia: Later x Crowd that is available on Switch and Steam if you can’t get enough!

Our Heroine wakes up on the first of August with no knowledge of who she was before. She wakes to Orion, a mysterious “spirit” who is set to assist her in recovering her memories. As she’s trying to recall everything, she gets a message from her boyfriend who asks her to meet up. She now has to hide her newfound memory loss from her boyfriend and discover who she is!

In terms of idea factory games, Amnesia: Memories is one you want to make sure to pick up! The characters all express how they love the main character in different ways. Which speaks to how well-written the story is. Will true love’s kiss return her memory to her?

Early on, the pull of this game is the suspense that each love interest’s routes cause. While Orion colliding into your consciousness is what causes the amnesia, over each route you discover who the real culprit is. With so many dialogue choices and lovely characters, you can understand how this one made the list.

15. Boyfriend Dungeon

Have you ever wanted to play a romantic visual novel with weapons? What about a romantic visual novel where your love interests are your weapons? Boyfriend Dungeon might be the best Otome game on the Switch for you!

Boyfriend Dungeon is a very interesting take on the Otome game structure. This game is structured more like a dungeon crawler with the addition of love interests being the weapons you fight with! In total, you have seven love interest options to choose from, including a cat!

In Boyfriend Dungeon, you will find that the story is very character development driven. Among the Otome titles, the appeal is that the combat in this game is also very well made.

The customization and item gathering within dungeons also appeals if you’re a gamer who likes a good dungeon crawl. It can get a little repetitive as the dungeons’ aren’t the game’s primary draw. The art style, music, and characters will keep you coming back!

16. Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei

If you are interested in historical Otome games, this one is worth checking out. Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei is set during the Heian period.

Set in the Heian period, the youngest surviving male heir to the Genji clan Shanao lives hidden deep within the mountains of Kurama. However, Shanao carries a secret that very few know about. The youngest surviving member of the Genji clan is not male!

Help Shanao on her adventure to defeat the Heike clan. In this adventure romance, you have five potential love interests that help you along the way. This Otome game is another one that is good for breaking the mold, as our protagonist is a strong lead who doesn’t shy away on or off the battlefield!

Idea Factory has a few different Otome games that have made it to this list. Cupid Parasite and Amnesia: Memories are completely different from this, speaking to their range. If you’re looking for new games to play that are set in feudal Japan, this one is for you!

17. Love Letter from Thief X

Guard your grandfathers prized art from my grandfather’s Foxes! A group of infamous art thieves who steal priceless art worldwide.

Our heroine is a museum curator who has been targeted by a mysterious group of art thieves the Black Foxes! Hot on their trail is also the FBI! The Black Foxes, reach out for our protagonist because they believe only she knows where her grandfathers’ priceless art is hidden.

This Otome game may be best for you if you’re more interested in reading about your chosen route’s character development. Unfortunately, our main character does not stand strong in the same ways as a few others on our list. If you’re looking more for strong female characters, look elsewhere!

If you are however looking for a more classic Otome game, with character development and humor this one will do right by you! The artwork that they’re trying to steal is different depending on which route you pick, so it is worth giving each route a checkout!

18. Star-Crossed Myth

This one is for my fans of gods and mystical beings!

Unlike most Otome games our heroine does not just allow these gods to do with her as they please which is super refreshing. Along with the story, her character and love interests are all very well written making this a truly enjoyable visual novel!

This story does come in two parts, allowing different options for the gods you would be romancing. Star-Crossed Myth: Department of Wishes is the first and Star-Crossed Myth: Department of Punishment is the second one in the series.

The premise is that these gods have all committed a great sin and need your help in absolving them of the sins. If you’re into astrology like myself, this switch Otome game is right for you! Though like some Japanese Otome games, this one does not have any voice acting which may be a deterrent for some. It’s still worth checking out as the artwork, storyline, and dialogue are all superb!

19. My Forged Wedding

Are you a fan of fake relationships that turn into real relationships with your love interests? Let’s talk about why My Forged Wedding might be one of the best Otome games on Switch for you!

In this Otome game our heroine is a recent college graduate visiting her “Uncle” (he’s not her uncle and also has a playable route) Kuni. He’s a business owner who is very well off and asks you for a favor, pretend to be the wife of one of his eligible bachelor friends. As a reward, he will get you a job. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me and an easy deal to me.

The setting for this is a little broader as the type of love interests you have range from a Physics Teacher, Author, Scientist, Lawyer, and Comedian. That being said, the plot is still very well written and the characters are all lovable love interests.

This does follow some of your standard character archetypes which may be relieving to some fans of the genre. If this is your first game in the Otome games subgenre it’ll be a good one for you!

All of these games in their way are fun, immersive worlds with great storytelling that I hope you will enjoy diving into!