Disney Twisted Wonderland is finally coming out in English, and despite the franchise’s huge popularity in Japan, it’s pretty unknown in the West, with many wondering what’s the game’s genre.
I have an incalculable number of otaku acquaintances from Japan who’re into Twisted Wonderland. And I’d definitely be deep into that swamp myself if time permitted. Now that Twst is finally getting an English release in USA and Canada, here’s a quick intro to the game, different from the details you can read on its official site. Here, we’ll be focusing on the game’s genre.
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Twisted-Wonderland | KV and Theme Song Trailer | Disney
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Twisted-Wonderland | KV and Theme Song Trailer | Disney
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What’s the game genre of Disney Twisted Wonderland?
Is Twisted Wonderland an Otome game?
When we say Otome games, you’re thinking of games like the Angelique series by Koei Tecmo, or games from Idea Factory like Hakuouki. As in, visual novels with various choices and routes, with a female protagonist and where you can romance several characters.
Twisted Wonderland isn’t an Otome game like that. First off, it’s a sociage / gacha game. In other words, it’s free to play, and new content story elements and Events are continually being added.
Is Twisted Wonderland a dating simulator / raising simulator?
By dating simulator, we’re talking about games like the recently released Jack Jeane or Tokimeki Memorial 4 Girl’s Side. As in games where you can romance other characters. But to do so, you’ll need to manage the protagonist’s schedule and parameters. Such as being good at studying or being good at sports. And inviting the characters to date, confessing your feelings, etc.
Launch trailer for Jack Jeanne, released exclusively in Japan on Switch, on March 18, 2021
Twisted Wonderland actually isn’t like that either, it’s neither a dating simulator nor a raising simulator. So what’s the game’s genre at the end of the day?
Twisted Wonderland is an Adventure game
Twisted Wonderland is a “Narrative Adventure JRPG”. “Adventure” games in Japan or “ADV” is what’s commonly called outside Japan “visual novels”. Adventure games are text adventures. Sometimes you’ll be able to move your character either through a menu or directly on a map. Taking various decisions and investigating items or locations. Good examples are the Ace Attorney series or 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.
Meanwhile, you have another category of Adventure games, which are similar to the globally accepted conception of visual novels in the west. Where all of the gameplay is mainly only dialogues, with choices that sometimes don’t matter. And Twisted Wonderland is exactly that.
While there are turn-based RPG elements and rhythm game elements in Twisted Wonderland, it’ll be incredibly misleading to say it’s an RPG or a rhythm game. You will spend most of your time reading. And listening to the characters speaking, as the main story is fully voiced.
Long story short, Twisted Wonderland‘s genre is akin to a visual novel
Do not get your hopes up for it if you don’t like reading. The game’s main appeal is to focus on your favorite characters and read through their stories and interactions.
Disney Twisted Wonderland will be launching in USA and Canada on January 20, 2022.
Twisted Wonderland also has an anime adaptation in the works. Disney confirmed a worldwide release too.
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