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What’s the difference between Otomemuke (Otome Games) and Joseimuke? A thread! 
So I’ve been seeing a lot of people talk about otome games, but I also see that not everyone knows that otomemuke (maiden game) are different from joseimuke (female-targeted media)! I wanted to make this thread to give a little info about it 
What’s a Joseimuke?
A Joiseimuke is any media that is catered towards a (mostly) female audience. Shoujo manga and Otome games fall under this — it’s a category or umbrella term for all female media
A Joiseimuke is any media that is catered towards a (mostly) female audience. Shoujo manga and Otome games fall under this — it’s a category or umbrella term for all female media
So what’s an Otomemuke (Otome game)?
An Otome Game has the following:
Routes with characters
Special CGs from said routes
Endings with your character of choice
An Otome Game has the following:
Routes with characters Special CGs from said routes Endings with your character of choice
An Otome Game would mean you go through a single character route and try to get that character’s ending. Usually you would have a general story before you can branch out to routes, but this is the general otome formula
Examples of Otome Games:
— Amnesia Memories
— Hakuoki Series
— Ikemen Series
— Mystic Messenger (altho it’s Korean, not Japanese)
— Amnesia Memories
— Hakuoki Series
— Ikemen Series
— Mystic Messenger (altho it’s Korean, not Japanese)
A general observation: If you have to collect cards, or if any of the romance aspect is within those said cards, chances are, it’s not an otome game. 
An exception to this would be the Ikemen Series and Ayakashi RR because despite collecting cards, you still have the main story that branches out into routes
But wait— Isn’t A3 an “Otome Anime Game”?
It is, but I assume they renamed it (it didn’t have “otome” during release) because “otome” in itself already has connotations; I assume it’s a marketing strategy to gain more exposure. It’s only otome in name but not in gameplay
It is, but I assume they renamed it (it didn’t have “otome” during release) because “otome” in itself already has connotations; I assume it’s a marketing strategy to gain more exposure. It’s only otome in name but not in gameplay
So what other games aren’t Otome Games? To name a few:
— Obey Me! (as of now)
— UtaPri: Shining Live (the other games are otome though!)
— After L!fe
— Twisted Wonderland
— On Air!
— Enstars
— Obey Me! (as of now)
— UtaPri: Shining Live (the other games are otome though!)
— After L!fe
— Twisted Wonderland
— On Air!
— Enstars
Why? Because despite these games hinting the characters like you/the MC, you don’t get any endings with the characters.
They don’t have routes for you to have an ending with your love interest of choice or have running storylines
They don’t have routes for you to have an ending with your love interest of choice or have running storylines
BONUS: Let’s talk about Yumemuke!
Yumemuke is a sub-genre of Joseimuke that let’s you imagine your own ideal MC! Usually these games avoid showing any design at all because they leave it for the player to decide!
Obey Me!, Twisted Wonderland and The Arcana are good Yumemuke
Yumemuke is a sub-genre of Joseimuke that let’s you imagine your own ideal MC! Usually these games avoid showing any design at all because they leave it for the player to decide!
Obey Me!, Twisted Wonderland and The Arcana are good Yumemuke
And that concludes this thread!
To sum it up: Otome Games mean you have routes and can romance characters and get endings with CGs!
If you have to collect cards, chances are, the game is not an Otome but a Joseimuke
Thank you for reading
To sum it up: Otome Games mean you have routes and can romance characters and get endings with CGs!
If you have to collect cards, chances are, the game is not an Otome but a Joseimuke
Thank you for reading
Also! If you’d like a more in-depth explanation, Otome Obssessed explains it more here! 
https://otomeobsessed.com/why-you-think-a-joseimuke-is-an-otome-game/
https://otomeobsessed.com/why-you-think-a-joseimuke-is-an-otome-game/
And this article by Uguu Cage of Love is also really really insightful!! 
https://uguucageoflove.wordpress.com/2018/08/15/otome-media-vs-media-for-females-explained-with-a-focus-on-games/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
https://uguucageoflove.wordpress.com/2018/08/15/otome-media-vs-media-for-females-explained-with-a-focus-on-games/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
