 1. Akai Suna Ochiru Tsuki
Japanese: 赤い砂堕ちる月
Developer/Publisher: Landkarte
Story: The heroine is trying to become a great magician. To that end she has to search for a “master” who she finds worthy. Until then she isn’t allowed to show her face to others (what a convenient way to hide the heroine’s face…). And of course as any otoge would have, she’ll be dragged into all sorts of schemes and plots of her country. [from VNDB]
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles. There’s also an AP-like system where you can attack as long as the MC has points in her attack bar. Party members can be switched in to use special attacks. When the attack bar runs out, it’s the enemy’s turn. The MC’s affiliation with certain elements can be raised through conversation choices, making her better at that element’s skills in battle. Conversations also earn you Spirit Points that MC can use to learn new skills. Endless retries if you fall in battle, but you get less Spirit Points that way.
Gameplay screenshots: Conversation / Map /Battle.
Platform: PC (2013)
Official website: http://www.land-karte.net/
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Amazon.co.jp |
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 2. Arabians Lost: The Engagement on Desert
Japanese: アラビアンズ・ロスト ～The engagement on desert～
Developer/Publisher: Quinrose
Story: Aileen is the princess of the robber kingdom of Gilkatar. One day her parents give her an ultimatum: pick a suitor and get married within 25 days or pay them an astronomical sum of money. The trouble is your potential suitors are all thieves and murderers and all manner of ne’er-do-wells. Are you really going to pick a husband out of this bunch?
Gameplay details: Walk around deserts and caves with the party member of your choice. Battles are your everyday turn-based affair. Very easy stuff. Battles give you money and raise your affection with your ruffian of choice. Note: I suspect the battles have been removed from the PSP version.
Gameplay screenshots: Battle 1 / Battle 2 / Battle 3 / Battle 4
Official website: PC: http://quinrose.com/game/arabian/game3.html
PSP: http://quinrose.com/game/arabian_psp/top.html
Platform: PC (2006) PS2 (2007) DS (2009) PSP (2012)
English Reviews: My impressions / Important Importables / Chocolatemix / Hinano’s Game Babbles
Available at: DS version on Amazon/PSP version on Amazon /PSP version on Play-Asia |
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 3. Crimson Empire ~ Circumstances to Serve a Noble~
Japanese: クリムゾン・エンパイア ~Circumstances to Serve a Noble~
Developer/Publisher: Quinrose
Story: The heroine is a head maid who has sworn absolute loyalty to Edvard, a prince, and would do anything to assist him to the throne. There are 2 princes who are fighting for the throne, Edvard and Justin. But because Justin’s mother was of a lower rank, Edvard has more claim to the throne. Therefore, Justin plots to assassinate Edvard. The problem though, is that every time he sends an assassin, the heroine defeats him. [from VNDB]
Gameplay details: Turn-based first-person view battles. You also have a board-game type system with 240 turns to win the support of various nobles and civilians, which involves giving gifts and shopping and other activities. Every turn you get a -10 to support, so you have to stay on top of your bribery to win.
Gameplay Screenshots: Map / Battle / Battle 2
Official websites:
PS2: http://quinrose.com/game/crimson_ps2/top.html
PSP: http://quinrose.com/game/crimson_psp/top.html
PSVita: http://quinrose.com/game/crimson_s/top.html
Platform: PC (2008) /PS2 (2010) / PSP (2011) / PSVita (2015)
English Reviews: Koorinokokoro / Machamocha
Available at: PC version at Amazon /PS2 version at Amazon /PSP version at Play-Asia |
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 4. Goddess Princess
Japanese: ゴッデスプリンセス
Developer/Publisher: Comedy Crime
Story: Half-Italian, half-Japanese Mitsuru Ichimatsu spends her days studying languages and martial arts until her father collapses from overwork one day. Mitsuru then has to take over her father’s job until he recovers, disguising herself (very poorly) as a man so her male underlings (i.e. her romantic interests) don’t underestimate her.
Gameplay details: Described on the official website as “laughably easy one-on-one battles.” The only commands available appear to be “Attack” and “Defend.”
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle 1 / Battle 2
Official website: http://comedycrime.sakura.ne.jp/gpnew/gptop.html
Platform: PC (2009)
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Get the free limited version here. |
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 5. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: High school student Akane Motomiya and her friends are sucked into a mysterious old well. When they awaken, they are in Kyō, another world that resembles Kyoto during the Heian Period. Turns out Akane is the Ryūjin no Miko, who has come to save Kyō from the ambitions of the Oni Clan. She has the help of eight men known as the Hachiyō, and her friends Tenma and Shimon number among them. Initially, Akane is bewildered by her new circumstances, but she gradually begins to come to terms with her destiny and to understand the world of Kyō.
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles featuring Akane (forced party member) and her bishies. The exact details of system differ depending on the platform, but there’s an element system and usually a first-person view of battles, sometimes with portraits, sometimes without.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle / Map
Official website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/haruka/psp/
Platform: PSX (2000) GBA (2002) PS2 (2005) PSP (2013)
English Reviews: Janet’s review
Available at: Harukanaru Toki no naka de PSP at Amazon/Harukanaru Toki no naka de PSP at Play-Asia |
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 6. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で２
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: Taking place 100 years after the first game, the country of Kyou is in turmoil because of a power struggle going on between the emperor and the retired emperor, and the people of Kyou are desperate. Karin, a modern-day high school girl, is summoned to be the Priestess of the Dragon God who will save Kyou. However, there is a priestess who has been recognized by the retired emperor, and the eight men chosen as Karin’s Hachiyou (her bodyguards) do not believe that Karin is really the priestess.
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles with an element system as in the first game. Your party is viewed from behind.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle
Official website: https://www.gamecity.ne.jp/products/products/ee/Rlharuka2.htm
Platform: PC (2001) PS2 (2002) PSP (2005)
English Reviews: Important Importables / Koorinokokoro
Available at: Harukanaru Toki 2 PSP version at Amazon /Harukanaru Toki 2 PS2 version at Play-Asia |
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 7. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で3
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: Nozomi Kasuga gets sent back in time to an alternate dimension where there’s a war going on between the Genji, the good guys, and the Taira, who are the bad guys and are using zombies to try and take over Japan.
And then there’s all kinds of back and forth action that mainly consists of Nozomi using her hax priestess powers and a magical scale that can wind back time to thwart the Taira’s ambitions and bring victory to the Genji while chasing bishies at the same time because it’s that kind of game.
Gameplay details: Turn-based RPG with a four-member party. Character motions are animated and there are joint attacks not only between the MC and the bishies but also between bishies themselves once their mutual relationships are high enough. The encounter rate is rather high, but the battles aren’t that tough and levels are carried over into subsequent playthroughs.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle / Joint attack / Map
Official website: https://www.gamecity.ne.jp/haruka3/
Platform: PS2 (2004) PSP (2009)
English Reviews: My impressions / Lijakaca
Available at: Harukanaru Toki 3 PSP at Amazon /Harukanaru Toki 3 PSP at Play-Asia |
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 8. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で4
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: The heroine Ashihara Chihiro is a normal high school girl until one day a mysterious man informs her that she is a princess from Toyoshihara. More discoveries about her past and her fallen country are made when she wakes up in the world she fled from when she was a child. After battles against monsters she realized her role in this calamity as “Ryuujin no Miko” and that to revive her country, she has to go to war with the enemy nation that invaded hers. [from VNDB]
Gameplay details: Turn-based RPG battles with a 4-member party. The battlefield is circular and everyone has to tackle the enemy in front of them, but Chihiro can score extra love points with a guy by helping him with his once she’s done with hers.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle 1 / Battle 2
Official website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/haruka4/
Platform: PS2 (2008) Wii (2008) PSP (2010)
English Reviews: My impressions / Last Escort
Available at: Harukanaru Toki 4 PSP at Amazon/Harukanaru Toki 4 PSP at Play-Asia |
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 9. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で5
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: A danger is threatening both your time period and the Bakumatsu period. Use your powers to travel to the past and eliminate the threat with your retainers. But remember, every time you use your powers, your life force is diminished. Your retainers include people from all walks of life, some of them are even real people from history, such as Sakamoto Ryoma and the Shinsengumi. Unite all of them to fight the mysterious threat and create a future with your soul mate. [from Play-Asia]
Gameplay details: Turn-based RPG battles. Previous games showed the character models attacking, but this one apparently takes a step backwards and uses static character portraits instead. ‘Kazahanki’ is a Harutoki5 fandisc that also has battle gameplay.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle
Official website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/haruka5/
Platform: PSP (2011)
English Reviews: Lijakaca / Life is Just… / Chocolate Mix / Amahime
Available at: Harutoki 5 PSP at Amazon /Harutoki 5 PSP at Play-Asia |
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 10. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で6
Developer/Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Story: Set in the Taisho era. The main character Azusa Takatsuka is, as usual, an ordinary high school student who gets thrown back into an alternate Taisho era where the demon-extermination division of the Imperial Army is facing off against a bunch of evil spirits. You get to pick whether to side with the Imperial Army bishies or with the demon bishies.
Gameplay details: Not revealed yet. Turn-based RPG battles, I’m sure.
Gameplay Screenshots: City map
Official website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/haruka6/
Platform: PSVita and PSP on March 12, 2015
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Pre-order Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 6 at Play-Asia |
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 11. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de Yume no Ukihashi
Japanese: 遙かなる時空の中で 夢浮橋
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: Combines all date-able characters from the first three installments for an epic romantic adventure. Wake up as one of the priestesses to realize that you are located in the heavenly realm and that all the Hachiyou except the two have been imprisoned by the heavenly warriors. Escape from their wrath and seek ways to free your other members.
You can choose any of the two guardians out of twenty four, creating scenarios that cross the boundaries of the three installments. Combine forces with the other two priestesses to defeat your enemies and beat the game with different Hachiyou combinations. With so many playable characters, this is an ultimate romantic adventure that deserves to be played again and again. [from Play-Asia]
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles very similar to those in Harutoki 3 – speed-based turns, battle participants can be rotated using a wheel, higher affection leads to joint attacks, etc. The enemies show up on the top screen (DS version) while commands and characters are in the bottom screen. Characters from different games can use joint attacks once they get to know each other better.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle
Official website: http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/ds/hyu/index.htm
Platform: DS (2008) PS2 (2009)
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Yume no Ukihashi PS2 at Amazon /Yume no Ukihashi DS at Amazon /Yume no Ukihashi DS at Play-Asia |
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 12. Jewel Princess Ellejou/Destiny Stone
Korean: 아툰즈_보석소녀엘레쥬전체
Developer/Publisher: VVVIC
Story: In Destiny Stone you must help Penelope Pearl save Nassaria from the evil God of Destruction! Explore the countryside, battle fierce enemies and make friends as you learn powerful jewel magic and uncover a deep and engaging storyline.
Gameplay details: A side-scrolling RPG, apparently. You collect jewels and… I don’t understand Korean so I don’t know any more. ^^;; There was an English version on Facebook, but it seems to have gone down for good.
Gameplay Screenshots: Side-scrolling / Menu / English screenshot
Official website: http://ellejou.vvvic.com/main.asp
Platform: PC browser-based
English Reviews: Gamezebo
Available at: Free browser game at official website (Korean only) |
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 13. L2 Love x Loop
Japanese: エルノジジョウ ラブ アンド ループ
Developer/Publisher: Otomate/Idea Factory
Story: The heroine Nanami lives with her older sister in a futuristic setting where robots are at war with mankind and humans have been reduced to living in ruins. On Nanami’s birthday her sister is kidnapped, presumed dead in a robot attack, and she finds a mysterious robot just lying around. Now through the powers of this special robot she resolves to go back in time and change the past so that the future won’t have to be so crappy any more.
Gameplay details: Turn-based RPG battles with 2 forced party members and one extra. Read my post on the battle system if you’re interested. It’s really boring stuff.
Gameplay Screenshots: See post above.
Official website: www.otomate.jp/l2/
Platform: PS2 (2009)
English Reviews: My impressions / Koorinokokoro
Available at: L2 Love x Loop at Amazon /L2 Love x Loop at Play-Asia |
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 14. Little Anchor
Japanese: リトルアンカー
Developer/Publisher: Vridge Inc./D3 Publisher
Story: For years, a bloody war has been fought between the EUG and the ICSEO. The EUG, having grown weary of battle, has started to make attempts at peace. Asumi Amagi is the daughter of a hero admired by both sides of the conflict, therefore she has been chosen to be a figurehead for talks. She is to command the Elysion, a brand new ship built as a symbol to foster peace. However, on the day of the Elysion’s launching an attack by the ICSEO violently thrusts the ship along with her inexperienced captain into the conflict. [from VNDB]
Gameplay details: 12 chapters, each with a first half filled with talking scenes and the second half consisting of mecha/spaceship battles. The battle system sounds Grandia-like: you enter a command and when the character gauge reaches the “Act” point, they carry it out. If you don’t enter commands fast enough, they’ll pick their own commands. You can probably interrupt enemy attacks and vice-versa depending on how you act. Sounds promising.
Gameplay Screenshots: Map / Battle 1 / Battle 2 / Battle 3 / Battle 4
Official website: http://www.d3p.co.jp/little-anchor/
Platform: PS2 (2009)
English Reviews: Lijakaca. Sounds like my kind of game, so I’ll play it soon.
Available at: Little Anchor at Amazon  /Little Anchor at Play-Asia |
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 15. Loveroot Zero: Kiss Kiss * Labyrinth
Japanese: ラブルートゼロ KissKiss☆ラビリンス
Developer/Publisher: Dimple Entertainment
Story: Based on a smartphone comic called Loveroot Zero. Protagonist Yaeko turns a classmate down when he asks her out. Suddenly she is swept away to a magical labyrinth where rejected love is kept… and finds herself trapped there with the guy she just turned down. Awkwaaaard. Luckily there are some other guys trapped there as well, including Yaeko’s boyfriend. To get out they need to work together to defeat the mysterious “Zero” monsters roaming the labyrinth.
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles with 3-member parties. There’s a special attack gauge that fills up as you attack in battle, but enemies are so weak that the battle will usually end before you can use it. There are no levels, but you can power up your party by equipping stuff you find while exploring. Raise your target guy’s affection by choosing to fight and explore together with him. The game has a solid 1-star rating on Amazon.co.jp, so I wouldn’t exactly rush to get it.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle against a Zero / Joint attack / Dungeon map / Love gauge
Official website: http://www.dmpl.co.jp/loveroot/ [defunct]
Platform: PS2
English reviews: Pending
Available at: Loveroot Labyrinth at Amazon / Loveroot Labyrinth at Play-Asia |
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 16. Neo Angelique
Japanese: ネオ アンジェリーク
Developer/Publisher: Koei
Story: A girl named Ange and a couple of bishies have the special power to purify evil creatures called Thanatos that are roaming the land. Sometimes they actually put those powers to use in killing monsters, but most of the time they just stay home and eat dinner and chat.
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles with a two-member party IIRC. Very easy, even by otome game standards.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle
Official website: https://www.gamecity.ne.jp/neoromance/neoangelique/
Platform: PS2 (2006) PSP (2008)
English Reviews: My impressions / Important Importables / Koorinokokoro
Available at: Neo Angelique (PS2) at Amazon  /Neo Angelique Special (PSP) at Amazon /Neo Angelique Special at Play-Asia |
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 17. Princess Battles [English]
Developer/Publisher: Nekomura Games
Story: Unwilling to be replaced in her position as a minor kingdom’s princess by a popular and semi-perfect rival, Lillian has to fight other ladies in raising sim-themed card battles. Will she manage to defend her position as the kingdom’s princess and prove to the world she’s the best girl for the job?
Gameplay details: A visual novel with raising sim themed card battles. Use cards to raise your stats or deal some damage! ‘Work’, ‘School’ and ‘Item’ cards all raise stats, and your goal is to raise all your stats to maximum before your opponent does. Your choices (as well as your card battling skills) influence the outcome and lead to one out of several possible endings.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle / Map / Dress-up
Official website: http://www.princess-battles.com/
Platform: PC (2013)
Reviews: From official website / Mina’s Madhouse / Technology Tell / VNs Now / Nihongogo
Available at: Look for the “Buy Now” link on the Official Website |
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 18. Real Rode
Japanese: リアルロデ / リアルロデ ポータブル
Developer/Publisher: Woga/HuneX/Kadokawa Shoten
Story: Nina, an avid RPG gamer, gets drawn into the world of ‘Rode’, her favorite RPG and finds herself helping one of two princes defeat the dark demon lord taking over the land.
Gameplay details: Turn-based battles with a four-member party. Outside of battle Nina can raise her battle stats by asking guys to train her. This is important both for fighting and for getting the guy you want, since every guy has their own vision of the ‘ideal’ stats a girl needs to win their heart. All stats can be carried over into New Game+, making Nina an overpowered juggernaut in no time at all.
Gameplay Screenshots: Map / Battle / Training
Official website: http://www.realrode.com/
Platform: PS2 (2008) PSP (2010)
English Reviews: My impressions / Majinken! / Hinano / Koorinokokoro
Available at: Real Rode (PS2) at Amazon /Real Rode Portable at Amazon /Real Rode Portable at Play-Asia |
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 19. Sengoku Night Blood
Japanese: 戦刻ナイトブラッド
Developer/Publisher: Otomate / Marvelous / Kadokawa
Story: Romance fantasy set in the Warring States period. Otomate got a different famous illustrator to design characters for each faction. Since the game is just a vehicle for showing off nice illustrations, the story boils down to: Heroine is walking down the street, voice says ‘I need you your power,’ light flashes, whoosh, off to the Sengoku era.Many of the warlords inexplicably have animal ears, and some of them may be vampires…? Either that or the heroine is made of candy because they’re often shown biting or licking her. Oh so it’s that kind of game, is it? I’m kidding, it’s explained that their world contains both beast people and vampires. Because they’re popular and Marvelous wants your cash.
Gameplay details: Form a party of up to 5 warlords and get ready to rumble! Uh, but, battles actually play out automatically. Should this game even be in this section? Your job is to heal them in battle but the number of heals per battle are limited so you must pick your targets wisely. Use enemy crystals to unlock one-on-one scenes with a guy and raise his affections. Raise all his affection stats high enough and he will evolve into a stronger version. Play the game long enough and you’ll get someone ending eventually. You hope.
Gameplay Screenshots: Menu / Character affection chart / Battle / Healing
Official website: http://senbura.jp/
Platform: Smartphones (2017)
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Sengoku Night Blood at the App Store / Sengoku Night Blood on Google Play |
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 20. Tensei Hakkenshi Fuumaroku
Japanese: 転生八犬士封魔録
Developer/Publisher: Vridge Inc./Success
Story: A game based on the classic Edo era literary work ‘Nansou Satomi Hakkenden”.
Just after transferring into a new high school, protagonist Kirisawa Yuna realizes that she is the reincarnation of the ancient Satomi clan princess Fusehime. She sets out to find the reborn Hakkenshi and help them fight malicious spirits known as “Tamazusa” that bear a grudge against your family around the campus [from VNDB].
Gameplay details: Pick the right choices during the story parts to change your relationships with the Hakken warriors and get the ending you desire. The official website describes the battle system as “simple, yet deep” but it looks like a regular rhythm game system to me, all about pressing the correct buttons at the right time to fire off attacks. Weak attacks require fewer presses and are easier to use but less powerful. The reverse goes for powerful attacks. Build up Extra points and then spend them on powerful special attacks against the enemy It seems the main character doesn’t actually fight but only helps the warriors by healing or encouraging them.
Gameplay Screenshots: Battle / Extra attack / Conversation
Official website: http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/ps2/hakkenshi/game.html
Platform: PS2
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Tensei Hakkenshi Fuumaroku at Amazon |
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 19. Ururun Quest Koiyuuki
Japanese: うるるんクエスト恋遊記
Developer/Publisher: Vingt-et-un/D3 Publisher
Story: A lively young lady named Ruri spends her summer vacation exploring her mist-covered, monster-filled world with the help of her childhood friends.
Gameplay details: Turn-based RPG with a three-member party. Apparently quite hard with a high encounter rate. There’s a class system too. Master one class and you can switch to another. Characters who like Ruri enough will help her out in battle, and their special attacks get stronger and more frequent the higher their affection is.
Gameplay Screenshots: Town Map / Battle 1 / Battle 2
Official website: http://www.d3p.co.jp/ururun/
Platform: PS2 (2005)
English Reviews: None yet
Available at: Ururun Quest at Amazon /Ururun Quest at Play-Asia |
My “patience with poor game design” meter gets shorter and shorter every year. I forget what the screen said last time I saved, but I know I’ve played at least 35 hours of Wild Arms 5. When I quit I was supposed to go around the continent destroy some TF System stuff in some towers somewhere, only navigating to the towers is a right pain in the posterior because the roads in this game are all twisty and turny and don’t show up on the main map and you end up getting completely lost, blah blah blah. And then you finally make it into the dungeon and there’s this stupid puzzle and you have to go get your laptop or phone so you can FAQ and eventually I just said Screw that, I’m outta here! And that’s that for me.
