May 3rd, 2023
You’ve reached the place where all the bad, but oh-so-satisfying entertainment exists. Here, in the Trash Vortex, we provide you with only the trashiest, most bingeworthy recommendations. It’s a dark hole you won’t escape!
Dating Sims
Imagine your favorite trashy romance novel. Now, imagine that novel as a game, featuring you as the protagonist! Enter: the otome game. Meaning “maiden game” in Japanese, the term “otome game” is used to describe a story-based game (generally a dating simulation, in which the objective is to win the heart of one of several characters presented to the player) geared toward, you guessed it, young women. Rising popularity in the west means that more of these games—once considered too bizarre and unmarketable to bother localizing—have found their ways to our shores. Our maidenly dreams have never been more firmly in our grasp.Amnesia
Amnesia (also titled Amnesia: Memories in the US to avoid confusion with a certain other horror game) is … problematic. Like, really problematic. Like, “all of these men suck; why am I even trying to win their favor?” problematic. It’s a game about unhealthy relationships that does not even pretend to handle them well. But boy, is the writing juicy.When you, the unnamed, blank-slate heroine, wake up with no memory—the result of some expository supernatural shenanigans in the game’s intro—you must learn all that you can about yourself and the world around you in order to regain them. Oh, and there are mysterious forces trying to kill you, and that’s in addition to enduring some, frankly, atrocious treatment by some of your potential romance options (looking at you, Toma). Fun, right?As this is a romance game geared toward women, you would think the plot would be something a little … I don’t know. Sweeter. That is where you would be wrong. Amnesia is a psychological thriller, through and through, and one that is generally considered a standout of the genre. Just … please be sure to put your critical thinking skills to use with this one. You are smarter than a romanticized abuse narrative! Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.)Trigger warnings for abuse, murder, manipulation.Mystic Messenger
Dating pngs in a controlled setting not doing it for you? Wish to be just a little more beholden to the whims of an anime boy? Allow me to introduce Mystic Messenger, the mobile game that took the internet by storm in 2016. Play as a regular girl with no personality who finds herself wrapped up with the RFA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for purposes that are never elaborated on beyond, “It’s for charity.” Members include Zen, a handsome, self-absorbed rising actor; Jumin Han, the humorless heir of a conglomerate; 707, a hacker who lives off of memes, Dr. Pepper, and potato chips; and Yoosung, a gamer. Not into men? That’s fine. There’s also a … gal pal option? That’s basically the same thing as finding true love, right? Right? Three cheers for female friendship!Mystic Messenger is (in)famous for introducing augmented reality mechanics into the classic dating simulation formula: Conversations with other characters happen via a chat room on your phone in real time, meaning that if you’re not in the game at the right time, you might miss chunks of the story, which can frustratingly lead you to a bad ending. In addition, characters might call the player, which can make playing on the go a bit of a struggle. Both of these issues can be mitigated via the game’s in-game currency, which allows you to replay conversations you might have missed … if you’re willing to shell out a bit of cash IRL. For 707, I’d pay anything. Available for iOS and Android.
—Kana Coonce, Trash Vortex Editor