Seeking Games with a believable harem

[Fleroxius]

Games with

• a harem that makes sense storywise
• the LIs don't just jump on MCs dick, somewhat slow buildup
• some jealousy / infighting between girls
• ideally good writing

I also think a "realistic" harem is pretty much synonymous with polyamory, so I don't mind lesbian content (I actually really like it)

 

[podllboq]

Got me thinking about what it means for a harem to make sense storywise... Or what it means for a harem NOT to make sense, for that matter.

You didn't say anything agains incest, so... What comes to mind is the series of games by Lockhart. "A Petal Among Thorns" is the first one, it is one-on-one essentially (MC and LI), but is the beginning of the process of building a harem around the MC. The next game is "A Moment Of Bliss", it sort of ends up in most of the harem built. There will be further game(s) in that "universe", united by the same characters and the very premise for a harem which is revealed in the 2nd game. All of them are exceptionally well written by someone who actuially knows more than a thing or two about feelings and empathy.

Not a single drop of jealousy in those games though. For the same reason/premise that explains the harem in the first place. Telling more would be a spoiler.

Some more lighthearted examples could be Snow Daze, Power Vacuum, maybe even Parental Love (too much of a fuckfest to be "realistic" imho)

 

[m00nsh1ne]

Bare Witness has a pretty good one that could work in real life. While it's not a "true" harem in that every romancable girl in the game can end with the MC. There is a scenario where he ends up with four girls all in one relationship. So if that's good enough for you then I'd suggest it. There are a few post apocaliptic games that could make sense under the scenario the game takes place in. Games like Desert Stalker for example. If you have a specific scenario in mind like, number of girls (or guys I don't judge lol), and what types of jealousy you are looking for than I might be able to be more specific.

 

[Fleroxius]

Got me thinking about what it means for a harem to make sense storywise... Or what it means for a harem NOT to make sense, for that matter.

You didn't say anything agains incest, so... What comes to mind is the series of games by Lockhart. "A Petal Among Thorns" is the first one, it is one-on-one essentially (MC and LI), but is the beginning of the process of building a harem around the MC. The next game is "A Moment Of Bliss", it sort of ends up in most of the harem built. There will be further game(s) in that "universe", united by the same characters and the very premise for a harem which is revealed in the 2nd game. All of them are exceptionally well written by someone who actuially knows more than a thing or two about feelings and empathy.

Not a single drop of jealousy in those games though. For the same reason/premise that explains the harem in the first place. Telling more would be a spoiler.

Some more lighthearted examples could be Snow Daze, Power Vacuum, maybe even Parental Love (too much of a fuckfest to be "realistic" imho)

I actually already played the two games by Lockheart, but they fit what I want pretty well!

When it comes to "a harem that makes sense storywise" the easiest/ most common way is probably "MC is the only guy surrounded by girls" (like e.g. Last Hope, AHitR, Android Life), but even then it's not easy to convince me that all these girls would willingly be in a harem.

 

[Fleroxius]

Bare Witness has a pretty good one that could work in real life. While it's not a "true" harem in that every romancable girl in the game can end with the MC. There is a scenario where he ends up with four girls all in one relationship. So if that's good enough for you then I'd suggest it. There are a few post apocaliptic games that could make sense under the scenario the game takes place in. Games like Desert Stalker for example. If you have a specific scenario in mind like, number of girls (or guys I don't judge lol), and what types of jealousy you are looking for than I might be able to be more specific.

I've had my eye on Bare Witness, but I think I'll wait until it's completed.

When it comes to Desert Stalker and similar games... Technically they fit my wants pretty well, but I don't really like this type of setting. I know that kind of goes against what I said in the first place because a harem "makes sense" in these games, but I don't really enjoy it, maybe because it's normalized? It's not that crazy in the Desert Stalker world for someone to have a harem. I think I enjoy it especially when it's in a modern setting, where a harem would be very unusual and the characters go against the norm.
Now that I think about it, I don't think I ever played a harem game where there any social repercussions or smth like that.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[podllboq]

the easiest/ most common way is probably "MC is the only guy surrounded by girls"

Trust me I don't mean it in a bad way, but I kinda expected a more complex reasoning And since you played "A Moment of Bliss", you know what sort of "making sense for the story" I thought you meant. It's about the "why" and the underlying causes, not the "how".

In a weird way, "The Headmaster" might fit your description regarding social repercussions and going against the norm.