Lover Pretend is a solid B-tier otome . It doesn’t revolutionize the genre, but it knows exactly what it is: a fluffy, meta romantic comedy about writers block and fake dating.
⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Platform: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed via NSP/eShop) Genre: Otome / Visual Novel Developer/Publisher: Idea Factory / Aksys Games Lover Pretend Nsp
You play as Chiyuki, an aspiring scriptwriter who is desperate to finish her debut screenplay for a university contest. The catch? She has no memory of her mother, who disappeared when she was young—and that missing past is the key to her story. Her research leads her to a surprising discovery: the theme of her mother’s last unpublished play, "Lover Pretend," centers on a mysterious "pretend lover." To uncover the truth, Chiyuki ends up in a very meta situation—entering into fake relationships with several eligible bachelors to understand love and complete her script. Lover Pretend is a solid B-tier otome
You love Ouran High School Host Club or Last Game manga vibes; you want a short, sweet break from fantasy VNs; you enjoy "fake relationship" tropes. Skip this if: You need high stakes, tragedy, or complex plot twists; you hate miscommunication drama; you want a 50+ hour epic. The catch
Worth buying on sale ($25-$30). At full price ($50), it feels a bit light. But as a digital NSP for the Switch OLED in handheld mode? It’s a perfect bedtime read.
