9 R.I.P.

9 R.I.P. is a wonderful supernatural otome VN for those who don't mind a sprinkling of horror with their romance.

9 R.I.P. is a paranormal otome offering 9 different routes and over 65 hours of gameplay, perfect for visual novel fans. With great character designs and voice acting, it captivates both through its story and visuals.

9 R.I.P. is a sight to behold, and I think that it vibes so well with the tone of the game season and the rapidly fading warmth of a long, cruel summer. The character routes are exciting, dynamic and very different. The choices are usually clear, but you’d be surprised where you can misstep. I never felt lost, bored or confused: I just knew that I wanted to know more about Misa, about those who surrounded her, and about the foundation of all these bizarre happenings that get whispered about in her world.

But then perhaps you’re not in the mood for a gut punch, and just want a high-quality story with a bit of ghostly theme and something as close to “feel good” as possible, given the context. 9 R.I.P. is, ultimately, a playful take on urban legends and more akin to that classic film, Ghost, than something more visceral. If you’re out there looking for proper horror with a similar theme, Death Mark 2 is going to be a better recommendation for you. But it’s okay that Otomate didn’t make that game, either. After all, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get it on with a hot ghost, even if 9 R.I.P. missed the opportunity to make one of these boys look like anime Patrick Swayze.

The game is best enjoyed in handheld mode with headphones, offering a deeply immersive experience despite its slower pace and minimal interactions.

Besides being a highly recommended game for fans of otome games who are willing to take on an adventure that offers a reasonable dose of terror and suspense, 9 R.I.P. tells several love stories that speak volumes to people who are in a phase of self-discovery, making it a game that anyone can easily relate to. 9 R.I.P. is also a game that offers a relatively wide range of quality content, which, despite having a few problems, are nowhere near enough to overshadow its brilliance.

Betting on themes that go beyond traditional romance, 9 R.I.P. is yet another excellent pick for visual novel fans, especially for people who enjoy the otome demography. Even with a slightly more mature approach compared to other Otomate titles I've reviewed, the game is an invite to a narrative in which the supernatural and human emotions intertwine in an exceptionally well-made manner and without leaving loose ends.

When I went into this, upon looking up how long the game was – seeing as it’s already out in Japan – I was expecting it to be a bit longer than it actually is. But with so many different love interests and multiple endings for all of them, it still has quite a lot of content. I spent over 35 hours on this otome and completed six different routes, plus unlocked various alternate endings. I still have a couple more routes to go. In the end though, 9 R.I.P. was a fun time. It’s nowhere near the spiciest otome you can play, but the atmosphere and music is fantastic. If otome are your thing, you’ll enjoy yourself. I do believe it’s worth the price of admission. 9 R.I.P. releases on the Nintendo Switch Oct. 15, 2024.

All the feedback above aside, 9 R.I.P. has a special place in my heart. It has been a little while since I played another otome game, and this game lit my fire for it once again. I think fall and Halloween are the perfect moments to play this game and really embrace the ghost romance stories. Everyone has a storyline for them in the game due to the many realms we play in. 9 R.I.P. feels like it has multiple games rolled into one