The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya

玩完扇屋篇再回来评价的,感觉各方面都强于扇屋,对这类题材感兴趣的买菊屋就行了.最起码一些剧情还是描写的不错的,剧情安排逻辑也较为合理,伊吕波篇很有意思,神乐篇有点感人. 至于日系乙游的通病,女主没主见小鸟性格已经是老生常谈的问题了.菊屋篇还好,尴尬的对话不是很多,CG比较丰富.可攻略角色也多,BE少HE多.总体来说优点大于缺点吧. 个人倾向于打折入最佳.

I loved this Dogenzaka game. I've been writing quite a few reviews lately, Destiny princess, my butler, pub encounter, office lovers and now this one. To keep things short I've gone down an otome rabbit hole of Dogenzaka Games and I am loving the games I've played by them so far. The Good: The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya is really well done, each route has such variety and creativity put into them I loved all the Characters so much. The characters and stories are so well done it was really hard to rank them, and have a favorite!! After playing each route and seeing the characters full personalities, they are each very well written. These Men are forced to be courtesans and as I went through the routes it is very sweet to see how much they care about each other and would help each other out even though they are technically in competition with each other. There is a strong bond that all these men share and when you get deep into each route you can see the respect and care they feel for each other. The romance was of course good and spicy but the friendships really made me cry. ALSO the MC is really kind and thoughtful, she is timid and shy but I personally didn't find her annoying. I liked the MC + She has a stunning character design.... I was pleasantly surprised to see she was very pretty AND Busty, that's right the MC is representing the girlies with back pain (she didn't look like a kid so yay!! its always a weird when the MC has a VERY childlike frame...) The Bad: (For me personally I found nothing bad, so I'll talk about the trigger warnings) Sexual Assault, Dubious consent, and uncomfortable/degrading comments were the most triggering things I saw. Sexual Assault is mild (not in every route), Dubious consent is high (present in every route), and Uncomfortable/Degrading comments is high (I believe its in every route). Quick note about the degrading comments, 95% of them were against the Men, not the MC. I wont even lie some of the women in the game are really degrading towards the men, treating the men as property that can not tell them No. But I'm glad they didn't gloss over this, anyone can be creepy and degrading its not a gender exclusive behavior. Anyone can be a victim to this behavior no matter the gender. Some of those women in the game give absolute predator vibes.... especially to poor Kagerou I was sooo uncomfortable for him (He's not underage but the comment was talking about a time when he was underage...) . It is not the most comforting thing to read at times but it is accurate for the situation these men are in, men can be victims too. Final thoughts: I loved this game but not everyone will agree and that's okay because we all enjoy our own content. Hopefully the trigger warning section will be helpful for those who are weary. I'm off to play the 2nd Yoshiwara game!!! <3 <3 (This is unnecessary info) But I wanna rate the Dogenzaka Lab games I've played so far!!! 1. The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya (The characters are so. well. written.) 2. Destiny Princess (The General and the Assassin!! <3 <3 <3) 3. Pub Encounters (Sweet and Unique <3 <3) 4. Office Lovers (So Funny and Cute <3) 5. My Butler (Comical + I enjoyed that one route very much... but then again that other route still traumatized me...)

( ੭ ˘ ³˘)੭‎ this one's not for sale

I love otome games, and I do understand this was mobile before and released 10+ years ago now. It def hasn't aged well story wise, there is some problematic things from homophobia, and how the MC acts kinda makes me question her age which gives me a bit of uncomfy vibes. It's not uncommon for Japan to use younger female MC's in games like this as it's closer to the demograph interested but it's not for me. I really liked the art, there being absolutely no voice acting made it hard to play. It's not a bad thing, but personally, it's hard for me to feel connected to the characters without voices to put with them. Idk, but I think there are better games in the genre that I'd play over this one.

Простенькая новелла на несколько вечеров (для одного рута) Особой глубины здесь нет, но вселенная интересненькая

當你以為是去嫖妓的時候殊不知自己才是被嫖的一方 連掌櫃的都能攻略這點就比二代強多了

The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya is a romance-driven otome visual novel that combines historical fantasy, emotional drama, and mature romantic themes within a fictionalized version of Edo-era Japan. Developed by Dogenzaka Lab, the game presents a world where men are exceptionally rare, leading to the creation of a reversed Yoshiwara district populated by male courtesans who entertain women seeking affection and companionship. This unusual setting immediately separates the game from more traditional otome stories, creating a romantic atmosphere built around emotional loneliness, desire, and the fragile line between genuine love and carefully performed affection. The story follows Misao, a young woman whose life changes after she becomes drawn into the glamorous but emotionally complicated world of Kikuya, one of the district’s famous establishments. There she encounters several courtesans, each carrying different emotional burdens and personal insecurities beneath their polished appearances. While the premise initially appears focused purely on romantic fantasy, the narrative gradually reveals a more melancholic tone as it explores the emotional consequences of living inside a system where affection is treated as both performance and profession. Many of the characters struggle to separate their public personas from their genuine emotions, giving the romance routes more emotional complexity than players might initially expect. One of the strongest aspects of the game is its atmosphere. The world of Yoshiwara feels elegant, isolated, and quietly tragic at the same time. Lantern-lit streets, traditional architecture, elaborate kimonos, and luxurious interiors create a romanticized version of Edo-era Japan that constantly balances beauty with emotional sadness. Beneath the glamorous surface, there is an ongoing sense of loneliness surrounding both the heroine and the courtesans themselves. This bittersweet atmosphere becomes one of the game’s most memorable qualities because it gives emotional weight to even the quieter romantic scenes. The character artwork is especially impressive and remains one of the game’s biggest strengths. Every love interest is visually distinct, with detailed clothing, expressive facial designs, and beautifully illustrated CG scenes that enhance emotional moments throughout the story. The courtesans are intentionally designed to appear graceful and desirable, but the artwork also succeeds at portraying vulnerability and emotional exhaustion during key scenes. Several romantic moments become significantly more impactful because of how effectively the visual presentation captures emotional intimacy. Each romance route offers a different emotional experience depending on the chosen character. Some characters initially appear flirtatious and confident while secretly hiding insecurity and emotional pain, while others are more reserved, emotionally distant, or burdened by past trauma. Although many of the personalities follow familiar otome archetypes, the emotional struggles connected to their roles as courtesans help distinguish the routes from more conventional romance stories. Themes involving sacrifice, loneliness, emotional isolation, and the search for genuine affection appear frequently throughout the narrative. The writing occasionally handles emotional vulnerability surprisingly well. Since many of the male characters spend their lives pretending to love clients as part of their profession, several routes explore the conflict between artificial affection and authentic emotional attachment. This emotional uncertainty becomes one of the game’s most interesting narrative elements because the characters themselves often struggle to understand whether they are capable of experiencing real love. Certain routes lean heavily into this emotional tension and become significantly more memorable because of it. The game also includes additional side stories and post-ending content that expand on the relationships after the main routes conclude. These extra scenes help strengthen attachment to the characters and give players more emotional closure after completing specific endings. Fans who enjoy replaying visual novels to fully explore every romance route will likely appreciate the amount of relationship-focused content available. However, the game suffers from several major flaws that limit its overall impact. One of the most noticeable problems is the lack of voice acting in the Steam version. Emotional scenes occasionally feel less powerful because conversations rely entirely on text and static artwork without vocal performances to strengthen dramatic moments. Considering how heavily the game depends on emotional intimacy, the absence of voice acting noticeably hurts immersion during important scenes. The translation quality is another weakness. Awkward phrasing, grammatical mistakes, typos, and inconsistent dialogue appear regularly throughout the story. While the general meaning remains understandable most of the time, the localization occasionally disrupts emotional scenes or creates unintentionally awkward conversations. Certain lines feel unnatural enough to weaken character interactions, especially during dramatic moments that require emotional subtlety. The pacing can also become repetitive during longer sessions. Much of the gameplay revolves around conversations, romantic tension, and emotional discussions inside the courtesan district with relatively little external conflict or major plot escalation. Players looking for more dramatic story progression or larger historical events may find parts of the narrative too slow-moving or repetitive over time. Misao herself is another mixed aspect of the experience. While she functions adequately as a self-insert heroine for romance-focused storytelling, her personality often feels passive compared to stronger protagonists in more narrative-heavy otome games. Many important emotional developments are driven primarily by the male characters rather than Misao actively shaping the relationships herself. Gameplay depth is also fairly limited. Choices exist throughout the story, but the branching structure remains relatively simple compared to larger visual novels with more complex route systems. The experience depends almost entirely on the player’s emotional attachment to the characters rather than interactive mechanics or strategic decision-making. Despite these flaws, The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya remains memorable because of its unusual premise, emotional atmosphere, and attractive cast of characters. The game successfully combines romantic fantasy with themes of emotional isolation and hidden vulnerability, creating a softer but more melancholic tone than many lighter otome titles. While the technical shortcomings and uneven localization prevent it from reaching the highest level of visual novels, the emotional sincerity found within several routes helps the experience stand out. For fans of otome games centered around romance, emotional drama, and historical fantasy settings, The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya offers a visually appealing and emotionally engaging experience. Its slower pacing and limited gameplay may not appeal to everyone, but the bittersweet atmosphere, memorable romance routes, and strong visual presentation make it a worthwhile title for players interested in character-driven romantic storytelling. Rating: 7/10

Um dos poucos jogos da Dogenzaka que não é um vômito de clichês e crimes contra a mulherkkkkkk Posso dizer que foi um otome interessante, com uma premissa de certa forma engraçada e que eu nunca tinha visto antes.

Main problem is there is zero voiced characters and all these pretty boys are so similarly dull (every these boys only give you the female protagonist attention because they are PAID by you to service you), there is only so few background musics, not only too repetitive and seriously quality is average at best. I 100% advice not to pay the full price because this game as a whole most definitely not worth the asking price. Get it on discount if you are absolutely into these otome visual novels, the art in this game is decent.

花钱嫖男人，反被男人嫖。。。