Romance in pixels

On March 1, Chai Qianwen, a 24-year-old from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, set off on a 10-day trip to France. She visited the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the coast of Nice, and the town of Menton — destinations carefully chosen to retrace the journey of Qi Yu, a character from the mobile game Love and Deepspace.

The trip was meticulously planned as a birthday celebration for her virtual lover — even though he exists only in the digital world.

Chai first discovered otome games — interactive romance games that originated in Japan and are primarily aimed at young women — in November 2024.

She was immediately drawn to the character Qi. Within two months, she had gone through the entire arc of a virtual relationship — from the initial acquaintance and awkward uncertainty to becoming a couple and falling deeply in love.

Now, their relationship has reached a stable phase: every morning, she opens the game to greet Qi on screen with a simple "Good morning".

China's first otome game, Mr Love: Queen's Choice, released in 2017, had already attracted over 2 million daily active players by 2018.

Its successor, Love and Deepspace, launched in January 2024 by the same company, quickly captivated players with 3D modeling and immersive gameplay. Players can unlock dating storylines by drawing cards and even trigger character reactions through interactive gestures, such as poking a character's cheek.

The game features five male protagonists, each with a unique identity and personality. For Chai, what makes Qi special is his "strong sense of being real". Rather than pursuing her overtly or aggressively, his gestures are subtly sweet, creating a sense of authenticity.

Qi is also the virtual boyfriend of Lin Aijin, a 23-yearold law graduate from Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Lin has been playing otome games for nearly 10 years and has tried almost all the well-known titles. Unlike most players, she doesn't focus on a single character; for her, different characters fulfill different emotional needs.

For example, Qi from Love and Deepspace provides her with the strongest "emotional intensity". Lu Chen from Light and Night has the greatest literary appeal and feels most connected to real life. Zuo Ran from Tears of Themis has a personality and values most closely aligned with her own.

For Lin, the male characters in otome games are a "source of energy", and her relationships with them rest on several core elements.

The first is companionship that never fades. "I really dislike goodbyes in real life. But the characters are always there when you open the game, no matter where you are or what time it is," Lin said.

The second is a safe space for emotional expression. "There are certain things in life you can't share with family or friends — often because they could lead to conflict. But you can always open the game and talk to the male characters," she explained.

Lin's connection to otome games goes beyond the screen. Her most memorable offline experience came when she commissioned a cosplayer to portray Qi at her university graduation.

The cosplayer stayed with her from afternoon until evening, taking photos, strolling around campus, walking the red carpet, and creating cherished memories.

"My cosplay commissioning wasn't a traditional date like most people have. What I wanted was for the character I love to be part of an important moment in my life," she emphasized.