If you’re like me and typically don’t gravitate toward this genre, this might be a great introduction to it. And if you are already an otome fan, you’ll likely appreciate the blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance that Genso Manège offers.

Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun playing Genso Manège. The mini-games and overall art style were well executed. The age and adoptive sister/brother romance did put me off though, as well as the lack of dialogue options. I wish the game gave you more chances to get to know the characters and interact with them before throwing you into their route. That being said, once you start romancing them, each character has an in-depth backstory. You could also see the progress levels with each character, which was nice to know.

Genso Manège is an otome that I, admittedly, had a preconceived notion of what it would be like given its “soft and sweet” appearance. Underneath its pastel visuals, I was pleasantly surprised to find a gripping and emotional story about overcoming hardships and loss populated by a memorable cast. Genso Manège certainly adheres to “don’t judge a book by its cover” due to its hidden narrative depth alongside finely-tuned traditional visual novel elements and a fun optional puzzle mechanic, providing fellow romantasy junkies a new game to adore.