Angelique

The first otome game is generally acknowledged to be Angelique, released in 1994, and created by an all-female team. The game was originally targeted to pre-teen and younger teenage girls, but became unexpectedly popular with older teenagers and women in their 20s. Angelique is credited with setting up the specifics and conventions of women’s games: a focus on romance, easy controls and utilizing other multimedia.

The player assumes the role of Angelique Limoges, a young woman chosen by the Queen of the known Cosmos to one day succeed her. In order to do this, she must populate a kingdom she has been given before her rival and fellow Queen candidate, Rosalia, can do the same. Angelique can call upon the help of nine male guardians who help regulate various aspects of the kingdoms, as well as send them to sabotage her rival’s kingdom. If the player wins the contest, Angelique becomes the new Queen. She can also choose instead to wed one of the nine guardians, any of whom can be courted, and sacrifice her throne for true love.