Thanks. Also on my list for a while. Heard that's a masterpiece, but somehow couldn't start it - there was always something to do before. Maybe because it's already finished and I know there won't be more, if I really like it.
There are many of us
Nothing can be perfect, but still, there are many valuable recommendations and I hope it'll last as a database not only for me
Nice! Loved Game of Hearts, one of the best games I played and it's based on my fav genre, netori. Good to know that sequel already started, missed it somehow, but it would be a matter of time before I'd open GoH thread to check what's going on and why there's no second part already.
I think I could help a bit, but you need to precise it a lil bit as GoH is quite unique, didn't met any game that I could call a sister game. The only thing that comes to my mind is Hero Party Must Fall. It's a netori harem game with MC corrupting pure women that are connected to title hero. It's based on very deep relationships and you can expect a lot of bonding and corruption. I think I didn't play any game that have more bonding and deep talks than in HPMF. MC is also in a tough situation and he definetely isn't a bad guy deep in heart, but don't want to spoil anything. But be awared as there's sissification later. I don't remember, if it's avoidable, but of course it's not MC who'll be changing.
Okay, I am glad you brought this up. See I haven't played all the games you mentioned in the OP but I have played Hero Party and Cosy Cafe. The title of the thread says "deep romantic" and I know HPMF is nothing but romantic. Like you said the MC isn't a bad guy deep inside, but his actions are certainly not affectionate. He manipulates everyone he interacts with and he doesn't treat them kindly either.
I agree HPMF isn't romantic in the same sense as Cosy Cafe, but at some point it's building romantic relationships - remember long talks in bed and sharing emotions, fears, passion? This game isn't focused on romance, but IMO relationship that MC built with main three LIs became romantic in it own twisted way. Anyway, it's somehow similar to GoH, where MC also MUST corrupt main LI. The difference is that in HPMF MC don't have such strong power and is also facing much stronger characters, so the road of corruption is more harsh and needs darker approach.
Well, if it comes to her, she was loving it and always asking for more
not sure at which point you dropped, because there was one drama, but its conclusion was very touching.Hmmmm... I see now we have a lil bit different view of romanticness, but I think what you're looking for. Not sure, if there's a harem game that would be 100% good for you, if you dropped Cosy Cafe. You may try:
Oh yeah, I remember glimpses of this. He is definitely conflicted. I remember this strongly with the mom of the hero. Even though the MC treats her terribly, she makes him show a bit of vulnerability. Good game, I just wish it wasn't so rough in the sex scenes.
Maybe I should give it another chance. I did like the premise quite a bit. Thanks for the tip.Well, if it comes to her, she was loving it and always asking for more
Interesting, what is romance for you personally then? I agree that harem isn't compatible with what I meant but GoH pulled it off quite well no? There are also small example in many games I have played along the years. Heck even in something like Summertime Saga, the mc is quite caring towards the blonde cheerleader who was a bitch to him at the start. Afterwards though, they have quite a mature relationship.
For me romance is a relationship between two people that contain romantic situations, intimacy and being very close emotionally. It can be shown in many ways, like having dinner together in romantic settings, but also by deep conversations at beach during sunset about living together and plans for future including sweet words or just deep talks about desires, plans, sharing emotions, etc, after sex. Last example is why I consider later part of HPMF as romantic. It's not romantic from beginning and it's definetely not wholesome romantic at any point, but for me it felt romantic in its own twisted way. It bring the same emotions and change that was made in characters added it extra flavour. They didn't have to become so close to MC, they could just use him to fight the curse, but instead we can say they fell in love and shared with him much deeper feelings than with their beloved Hero.. Anyway, romance for me will not always be lovey-dovey and not always will be only bright. Take GoH as an example. It's about homewrecker who's destroing relationship based on love, but in financial crisis. He's using magic, money and tricks to corrupt wife devoted to her husband. He's sweet for her and sincerely don't want to hurt her, but let the truth be, if not a financial situation and his magic, she wouldn't even kiss him in cheek.
Yeah I like the two keywords you used here. Intimacy (physical) and emotional closeness. I agree with those full-heartedly. Do the games you mentioned have these tenets? The ones I haven't played I mean.
Every mentioned by me game in this topic have more or less of emotional closeness and intimacy, but in some of them it appear after a long time and after many obstacles, darker events or netori (HPMF, The Higher Society, That New Teacher). Also it's not always with every character. For example TNT is netori based and some characters are quick fuck and some are on deeper emotional level. It may give a feeling that game isn't too romantic, because not enough "air time" can be spared to specific LI, if there are many of them. Perfect example is DropOut saga which may be perfect after being finished, but it still contain a lot of deep personal and emotional relations, to not call everything of them relationships (yet). Big warning tho, MC here is a tough guy and problem saver with hero complex, so you should expect things like LIs being in very nasty situations including they being physically harmed (but not by MC).
Not sure, if you'll love it, but while reading this I immediately thought of Vae Victis - Khan: Conquer, Ravish, Breed. It may be good for you as some backup title, but maybe you'll find it good enough to start soon. MC is a conqueror and after conquering you can have dark/love route with LIs. At love route you'll have a chance to better know all of them, but don't expect too much lovey-dovey stuff.
Well. These are porn games after all
most of people here wants just good fuck with SOME story and devs want to earn money, so they need to follow the trends. However, while looking for new titles I found some games with purely wholesome descriptions, but I'm not really a fan of pure and vanilla games, I need things to be spiced at least a bit.Glad you like it
Not sure, if there's any definition, but from my point of view, typical harem is when LIs accept MC having other women and at some point of story they'll know each other or even live together. But there are games like Photo Hunt, where you can have all main LIs and only some of them know about each other, don't mind MC banging others, but there's even no smallest hint about they all living together with MC.
I am glad the discussion intrigued you. Please feel free to chime in and share the games you mentioned. For me it doesn't matter if there are a few or many girls. As long as the game allows me to pursue the girls it depicts as desirable (non-background characters). But I assume harem means the girls are aware of each other as otherwise it is cheating. But, yeah, I don't trust the tagging on the site to differentiate the nuance.
I see. I will focus on these as a start and go through the others if I feel brave. I am not strictly against non-vanilla stuff because trust me I have played a lot of these games over the years. It is just that I feel I have become a bit jaded I guess. And as I alluded to earlier, GoH just awakened something in me I feel. This new itch of comforting a hurt girl through emotions and headpats kinda way. Forget headpats, my new kink is holding the girls' cheeks and looking into their beautiful eyes lol.
One thing I forgotten to mention and is important. Three of these four games have relationships that are incest or may be considered as incest, which for some is very non-vanilla. Only The Nature of Magic is incest free. It's all in the tags, but I should mention it while recommending.
I don't follow the harem route in Eternum but I only know about 1 forced branch like that in the game, between the werewolves and vampires near Hollowbrook. The plot and LI impact is pretty limited, and the impact of different choices is pretty limited there, more about flavour text than about wildly different plot arcs. I can say it was definitely designed for the full harem route tho. It's 1 of the more emotionally impactful harem games too, more than pretty much anything else mentioned in here or in the OP except Vae Victis. Eternum's LIs are too eager to share, but unusually for harem games they do bleed.You're right. No mutually exclusive LIs. In spoiler however you can see post about branching story (werevolfes/vampires) and poll was about mutually exclusive scenes. I just don't want to be disappointed due to future dev ideas and there are many more games to play. All good people just in this topic gave me recommendations with 5 games added to my list, so it's a material for maybe even a month of playing
Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts Jaike! Sadly, I am hesitant to try games that have too deep of a gameplay mechanic like Love of Magic. I play these games for the story. That's why I struggle with sandbox games a lot but tolerate them if the story is good enough. Love of Magic is a step beyond that in depth though.
I checked some of the recent reviews on this and they are quite damning but decided to download it regardless. Will give it a go. The premise does sound very flimsy though ngl. Hopefully the romantic interactions as you mentioned will serve distract me from the negatives.
Again, I am not that far in, so take what I will say with a grain of salt. Things might get a lot worse later. Also, I will get into a bit more detail while trying to not spoil much (but still slight spoilers).
