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Mihoyo’s Tears Of Themis Deserves A Genshin Impact Moment

Mobile games are the dominant way people are playing – that’s not debatable anymore. Most folks have a game or two on their phone – and I love that. Personally, I play more mobile games myself than anything else at this point. Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Epic Seven dominate my time, but prior to Mihoyo launching Genshin, I didn’t talk about them much. My silly little phone games, for whatever reason, felt like a bizarre point of shame. I have the same dilemma when I play otome games. I shouldn’t be, but I’m embarrassed that I find joy in these genres and platforms. Yet, when Genshin Impact catapulted Mihoyo into fame, a lot of that changed. And now, I’m hoping the same will happen with Tears of Themis and otome games.

Granblue, Pokemon Go, Fate – a lot of these are all mainstream mobile titles. I won’t pretend like no one was talking about them at any point, but I will say even some of those mobile behemoths got me teased by the more “hardcore” among us. None of that really matters ultimately, but I did feel bad about bringing those games into my profession of, well, you know, writing about video games. The “mobile games aren’t real games” crowd is a bit brutal.

Anyway, here’s me revealing my other dark secret – I freakin’ love otome games. Like, I’ll play a visual novel any day of the week, but if you dangle a new otome title in front of me I’m calling out of work sick and diving in. I eat, sleep, and breathe trashy romance. I love anime boys that brood and insist I cannot save them, but don’t worry I totally can through the power of love or whatever really unhealthy coping mechanisms my little avatar has. As you probably have guessed, a lot of folks like to poke at me for this, too.

Years ago, back when Mystic Messenger blew up on Twitter, I was on cloud nine. Folks were popping off about cheesy lines, cute boys, and bedroom voices that made you fling your phone across the room and blush. Gaming sites churned out guides, thoughtful features, and news on updates or interesting findings. That was in 2016, so that renaissance is mostly over, but my heart does flutter every time I see an outlet drum up news or opinion pieces on otome games that have since launched on other platforms. (Play Code Realize, I’m begging you).

There’s a big ole community out there that works hard to keep folks in the loop on new localizations, titles launching in Japan, and which game has the most salacious stories. But, I feel like we’re mostly relegated to this small space, and it’s silly when the love and adoration is all there. I felt the same way about mobile games, and then Genshin Impact’s success, wide availability, and brilliant world launched Mihoyo into the spotlight. I can’t click on a single gaming outlet now without Genshin Impact popping up, and before, that just didn’t seem to be the case for my precious mobile games. I want Mihoyo’s otome game, Tears of Themis, to have what Genshin Impact has now.

If you’re unfamiliar, Tears of Themis is a detective game with a lot of steamy romances. It looks like Ace Attorney, but you can now make out with your attorney when all is said and done (Capcom, take notes). Anyway, you’ll control a young lady who’s a brand new attorney with options. This girl has four dudes just rarin’ to go in each corner, and the choices you make will lead you to your true love. If you were curious, I’ll probably chase Artem Wing, mostly because he looks like the most emotionally distant and tortured lover and for some reason I have a thing for subjecting myself to the pain of loving the ones I would tell my friends to stay away from.

I haven’t gotten my hands on it yet, but you’re damn skippy I signed up for that pre-registration access. I’m just hopeful, though. When I look at Tears of Themis, I’m hopeful there’s that same level of quality that came with Genshin Impact. Mihoyo’s games are undeniably polished, well localized, and full of clever, captivating writing. I’ve come to love the world of Teyvat and its citizens, and my hope, my wish, is that Tears of Themis is going to be like this. Maybe not exactly Genshin Impact levels of fame, but something close, at least.

Tears of Themis is out sometime this year, and I’m rooting for its success. It’s not very often folks want to hear me gush on and on about my favorite romance games, but with a little push from Mihoyo, I think that can be changed. I desperately want Tears of Themis to be good, and if it is, then it really deserves its own fanfare. It deserves a Genshin Impact moment.

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