Let’s be real, fictional boyfriends have always had an edge over real-life ones. While we’ve discussed first-person RPGs designed for male players at length, there’s another aspect of gaming culture that has been quietly thriving in China—otome games.
Originating in Japan, otome games are story-driven romance video games where players take on the role of a female protagonist, navigating plot lines and romantic relationships with multiple love interests. Each male lead comes with a carefully designed personality, appearance, and backstory, ensuring there’s always at least one that fits your type.
In China, otome games are referred to as 乙游 (yǐ yóu). Most are mobile titles built around a gacha system, where players pull randomized character cards, storylines, or collectables on a daily basis, with optional in-game purchases unlocking additional content and narrative branches. Paired with beautiful artwork and professional voice acting, these games create a highly immersive and addictive experience.
Below are five Chinese otome games handpicked by RADII. All are officially available for English-speaking players, whether through localized translations or English dubbing.
Love and Deepspace (恋与深空)
If you’ve only heard of one Chinese otome game, chances are it’s Love and Deepspace. Launched in early 2023 by Papergames, it quickly became a global breakout hit, drawing over 70 million players worldwide as of 2025. With English, Japanese, and Korean dubs available, nearly half of the games’ revenue is generated from overseas markets. This year, it also took home the Best Mobile Game Award at Gamescom, the world’s largest annual gaming event, a significant milestone for Chinese otome on the global stage.
Blending sci-fi and fantasy, Love and Deepspace casts the player as a Deepspace Hunter, tasked with protecting humanity in the distant future. Along the way, you encounter the five male leads: Xavier, Rafayel, Zayne, Sylus, and Caleb, each with their own distinct personality, visual style, and story arcs.
What truly sets Love and Deepspace apart is its status as one of the few otome games with 3D rendered visuals. This also allows players to customize their protagonist in striking detail, with many players creating idealized versions of themselves to amplify the immersion. And while romance is at its core, the game is also combat and lore-heavy, with expansive world-building that gives it the structure of a full-fledged RPG.
Mr. Love: Queen’s Choice (恋与制作人)
Also developed by Papergames and released in 2017, Mr. Love is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of China’s otome boom. Unlike the more action-oriented otome games, Mr. Love emphasizes love and companionship. The game relies on an interactive simulation feature, with in-game text messages, phone calls, and social media-style interactions that unfold in real time.
You play as a female protagonist running a struggling media production company, supported by four male leads, each secretly gifted with superpowers. Every potential love interest fits a distinct archetype: there’s the celebrity superstar, the wealthy CEO, the moody scientist, and a righteous special agent. Surely there’s one that fits your preference!
Since its release, Mr. Love has gained international popularity, complete with English and Japanese dubs. It even received a Japanese anime adaptation in 2020, which is also worth checking out!
Beyond the World (世界之外)
Released in 2024 by NetEase Games, Beyond the World quickly climbed the charts, ranking just behind Love and Deepspace in terms of revenue. The game employs a storytelling framework known in China as 无限流 (wú xiàn liú)—literally “infinite flow”—a narrative style popularized by web novels. You step into the role of a protagonist who is repeatedly pulled into parallel worlds, each with its own rules, dangers, and objectives. Complete the mission, survive the plot, and you awaken in reality, with no memory of the parallel world, except for the male leads and some key plot threads.
Each new world introduces a different theme, from ancient China and sci-fi dystopias to mafia thrillers and more. Despite the shifting worlds, fate ensures that you’ll encounter and fall in love with the same male leads again and again.
A word of warning, though, the game makes liberal use of AI-generated images, which can lead to visual inconsistencies and mistakes. The game currently offers an English text translation, but lacks an English dub or Western localization, which may disrupt immersion for some players.
Tears of Themis (未定事件簿)
If you’re into detective games, this is the perfect game for you. Set in the near future, you play as a criminal defense lawyer navigating complex cases while growing closer to the four male leads: a private detective, a fellow attorney, a psychiatrist, and (yet another) wealthy CEO.
Tears of Themis is popular for its no-nonsense plotlines and realistic depiction of law professionals. Each chapter centers on a new case, requiring you to gather evidence, analyse testimonies, and present arguments. The episodic cases gradually intertwine into a larger narrative, with extensive side quests that flesh out the male lead’s personal stories.
There is currently no English dub, but the English translation is fully localized.
Lovebrush Chronicles (时空中的绘旅人)
Developed by NetEase Games and released in 2020, Lovebrush Chronicles (also known as For All Time) blends romance with art and fantasy. You play as an arts student in her first year of college who discovers the ability to travel between parallel universes. With the power of art and the aid of four male leads, it’s up to you to save these worlds. There are three worlds to explore, and in each world, the male leads take on different personalities and abilities.
The game can be played purely as a visual novel or as a gacha-based RPG focused on collecting cards and resources. Notably, Lovebrush Chronicles is one of the most free-to-play-friendly otome games available. The full storyline is accessible without any heavy spending. While there is no English dub yet, the translation is particularly well done.
Some of these games aren’t shy about pushing boundaries, featuring suggestive, intimate scenes with spicy voice acting. And when you consider just how many games have long catered to the male gaze, from dating sims to big-budget RPGs, it feels overdue that women get the same bandwidth of escapism, companionship, and fantasy.
With diverse art styles, gameplay mechanics, and hundreds of well-designed male characters, Chinese otome games offer something for nearly every kind of player. What started as a niche video game genre less than a decade ago has rapidly evolved into a global phenomenon. And even beyond the titles listed here, countless untranslated otome games are still waiting to be discovered. So what are you waiting for? Consider this your sign to dive in!
Cover image via Weibo
