gonna be honest here
if you grew up to be somewhat on the dominant side you don't find many enjoyable games here. most don't even try and those who do sound like try-hard kids.
I love the concept of Harem games, but the MC is usually not enjoyable. the girls just wipe the floor with him, while he is busy collecting 'good boy' points. if he sees some action its usually a mix of always horny girls/strange circumstances/reward for said 'good boy' points.
now don't get me wrong. I love it if the MC is kind to people, just not this sucking up to girls to get sex.
Enter Cosy Cafe MC: wholesome Gigachad - with extra much spine (ZERO cringe edition)
The MC is just that well written. He is believable, he is dominant, and he is wholesome. Such a pleasure to watch.
+ Story:
MC is focusing on setting up his own restaurant while still being in school. And while he is chasing his dream, the girls around him start to chase him.
+ Girls:
a timid girl with a golden heart who gets bullied, a desperate bitchy 'princess' who agrees to be absolutely obedient to MC for being given a job as waitress, a petit redhead tsundere, a shy japanese female teacher who lets MC willingly grope her in the subway, a milf who is the school headmistress and visibly impressed at how MC is carrying himself, a low-key good looking school committee member and over-the-top hardcore feminist who will likely get dominated into oblivion by MC, a quiet girl whos into pet-play iirc, and another redhead who tends to be a mellow by-stander and is the headmistress younger sister.
Except teacher and headmistress all girls are same age as MC, and the focus is mostly on submissive girls.
I find them to be extremely realistically written, and also quite endearing (which happens almost never for me). If you are into more classic feminine submissive girls this game is a healing experience.
+ Sex:
It feels real. What I have seen so far was very erotic. The dev clearly understands how to build erotic tension and the flirting by the MC is so good that it feels natural when things happen. Its so rare that oneself as the player can clearly see why the girls want the MC. He is also the one who initiates things and pushes forward, and its far from the usual dumb circumstances leading to sex.
Dev is or was obviously a wholesome chad IRL lol
Maledom is very very good. Its not only in sex scenes, but in normal conversations. "Would you prefer it if I call you 'my slut' instead of 'a slut'?" Or making the condition for the bitchy girl to be accepted as a waitress to be absolutely obedient. To just casually add a tongue-in-cheek "now run along, little slave" after a conversation to see how she reacts. It adds an erotic element to normal dialog. "You are good at following orders Victoria." Or just how he confidently keeps looking at the girl undressing herself while she looks at him with blaming gazes.
Dev is a natural in writing maledom.
+ Visuals:
Very nice lighting. The sunlight is clear, bright and real. Other games look more epic at a first glance, but this is imo much more enjoyable in the long run. The renders are crisp af. The character models look great already, but the skin will be further improved in the next update (dev posted images already in the thread). The body language of the girls looks very natural and the dev is clearly talented in 'posing'.
^^ I personally enjoy that the girls wear normal clothes (more exciting to unwrap them) and have realistic hair colors. Honey select 2 models are just hot and cute at the same time, and here they really shine.
+ Writing:
2nd best I've seen (of ~70). Every line of dialog just hits. Its a pleasure. Sometimes I scroll back just to read that mad line another time.
Example: 3 vicious girls run their mouth about 1 of the 2 girls sitting with MC in the subway. Trying to label her as a whore in school, and to make it stick. Extra loud to humiliate her. At some point she snaps and gets up to confront her former friends. MC is concerned but just keeps watching for now. 2nd girl gets up to help the other one. MC still waits. They really go at each other. Insults to scar their hearts. Now everyone knows you need a bulletproof vest to enter a group of vicious schoolgirls going at each other. All very realistically written so far. Now MC stands up, approaches, and opens with a friendly:
"Alright cunts, thats enough." lmfao
Romantic, or personal dialog is just the same. Awesome stuff. People feel real.
+ Food:
The game makes great effort to show the restaurant theme. You see the groceries, the cooking process, and the delicious looking meals. The desserts. You see the cake as a whole. Then cut in pieces.
You witness the MC cooking in his apartment to make the shy girl relax and feel comfortable, and you see him practicing his meals in the restaurant kitchen while another girl is assisting him.
I find food and eating scenes in VNs strangely relaxing and I just love how its done here. <3
+ Wholesome:
Like others have mentioned: to have a game with a dominant wholesome MC is just golden. Didn't think I'd live to see that happen. Even the maledom is wholesome. You can imagine that he has a little sly but warm smile on his lips while teasing the girl. Or make her lift her skirt in the kitchen. The MC never whiteknights for getting pussy. But he shows a lot of kindness if somebody needs it or is behaving respectfully. If he wants pussy he just flirts with the girls. No whiteknighting necessary. He is also making effort to create harmony in his harem, by making sure the girls are treating each other well.
And he does something almost unheard of in AVNs:
he has a healthy amount of respect for himself - and doesn't take uncalled-for shit from others. Regardless if girl or guy. And then he is friendly again.
Again written very well and believable.
+ Amount of content:
Very very long for its update number.
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This VN reminds me a lot of the anime Clannad. The slightly delinquent dominant MC with a good heart trying to better the lives of those around him, while never losing respect for himself. The girls have similarities as well, I find.
I really like the game description:
" This will take the shape of a harem that eventually becomes a family. "
Of the ~70 AVNs I played this one is my favorite. The big difference for me, as my review surely made obvious, is the MC.
He carries himself with so much calm confidence, its very relaxing. Also, 'Cosy Cafe' made me realize how much I missed seeing conversations between feminine submissive girls and a masculine guy.
Thank you, Cosy Creator =)
TLDR: yummy food, endearing submissive girls, and a genuine dominant kind MC - please don't wake me up lol <3
