Full Romance Games Comparison And Review

Hello people and welcome to this review! I will be reviewing 4 of the most popular — in popular opinion – apps in the sector of visual gameplay apps.

These apps are:

Episode Interactive by: Pocket Gems, Inc, PocketGames
Chapters: Interactive Stories by: Crazy Maple Studio Dev.
Choices: Stories You Play by: Pixelberry Studios
Romance Club – Stories I Play by: Your Story Interactive

	Episode Interactive	Chapters: Interactive Stories	Choices: Stories You Play	Romance Club – Stories I Play
First Released:	July 2013	October 2017	August 2016	March 2018
App Store Age Rating:	12+ (it’s really not, in my view it is also 17+)	17+	17+	17+
Passes are Called:	Passes	Tickets	Keys	Tea
Gems are Called:	Diamonds (also uses Shards)	Diamonds	Diamonds	Diamonds
MC Visual Customization?	Fully, yes	Yes but limited options	Yes, but limited options available	Yes, but limited options available
MC Gender	Depends on the story	Depends on the story	Customization available, so both	Mostly female but also male
Animations:	Full Animations	Character appear in full body with no emotion	Characters appear in a bubble and change emotion. Light direction like zooming and panning.	Background graphics move but characters only change expression
Watch Ads to Earn Gems?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of Series Available in the App:	150,000+	10,000+	75	45
Parent Company:	Pocket Gems	Crazy Maple Studios	Pixelberry Studios	Your Story Interactive
Target Audience:	Mostly females (but also males, Older Teens and Young Adults)	Males and Females (Older Teens to Young Adults)	Males and females (Teens to Young Adults)	Females (Teens to Young Adults)
App Ratings	4.4	4.0	4.2	4.1
County of Origin	United States of America	China	Mountain View, CA	Chisinau Moldova
Daily Rewards	Yes (related to exclusive stories)
Animated Characters	Yes	No	No	No
Challenges for rewards	Yes	Yes
Install Range	100M – 500M	10M – 50M	50M – 100M	10M – 50M
In-App Purchases	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Does it allow community writers	Yes	Yes	No	No

Gameplay

Romance Club has the graphics of most visual stories which include 3D characters with just a handful of emotions such as shock, happy, sad. It also includes zooming, glimmering and shaking effects to amplify the gaming experience. The plot of the stories are intriguing but not as captivating as I’d like, permit me to say it is not as captivating. Each story uses quality music and sound effects having a nice touch to it. Each chapter is an average of 15-20 minutes.There are collectibles in some stories which are stored on your profile page such as handkerchief, mirror as it relates to the plot. Your profile allows customization by name and shows your level.

Choices I’d say has a visual novel feel to it, revealing the character’s half body with limited emotions. It shows the characters in a bubble and the colors of the bubble changes based on the character’s emotion; (for instance, gray is neutral, turquoise is happy, red is angry and orange is shock). It makes use of zooming and text overlays. It has a good amount choices in each episode with some having an influence on the relationships of characters — this can be in timed choices. Though, Choices has a unique gameplay of including a text chat feature which makes it more interactive. Each chapter is an average of 15-25 minutes.Your profile shows the number of chapters and books completed. Choices has an interesting ‘auto-play’ which I’m sure readers would find useful when multitasking! This auto-play switches the text every 4 seconds (I counted, yes) it also stops when it is time to make a choice and carries on later, which personally I think is a cool feature other apps need to pick up from. Choices also makes use of intriguing overlays and effects to bring the story more to life (an instance is in a story where the character stretches out their hand and touches the mirror and gets transported into another world).

Chapters has a similar gameplay to the first two, it shows the characters full body with limited emotions and no movement, though it has an option to reveal half of the character’s body. Chapter has a gameplay of including a text chat feature which makes it more interactive as well. Each of the chapters is around 15-20 minutes with an average of 5 choices per episode. It also includes zooming, glimmering and shaking effects to improve the gaming experience.

The gameplay for Episode Interactive is unique to the first three which has been spoken off, this is because the characters in this interactive game (because it is not a visual novel) are fully mobile, customization and functional. In the aspect of movements and actually interacting with the characters, the others would pale in comparison. The interface has gradually improved and has three known character styles (with two no longer being updated). The first style was the OG, which is called Classic, the next one was a predecessor which was called Ink, the final and most recent is the all improved Limelight which resembles 3D characters with better movement. Apart from the characters, this app operates with ‘overlays’ such as dimming overlay, furniture overlay and ‘effects’ such as weather effects. It also works with zooming, panning (which will be controlled by the reader, allowing them to scroll across the screen and look for items), sound effect and music. One thing they don’t do is have collectibles which can be stored to the reader’s profile. There is a certain feature which is that there are different themes of speech bubbles and effects that can be applied to the choice bubble; such as golden choices, darkened choices, locked choices. Going to the profile sections, the readers profile is pretty simple in comparison to the others, it shows the readers character in a background along with any story they have written and the stories they recommend – see? Simple and admittedly underwhelming.

MC Customization

The customization of Romance Club is quite limited in my opinion. The feature with the most customization on each character is actually the ‘hair’ option which covers all hair types which is inclusive; while the skin tones are the general types – light, caramel and dark. There is also customization of the character’s name.

Choices has an equally limited customization, it does not allow you to customize separate features, though it gives you an array of combined looks which cover the different diverse looks such as Asian, African, Caucasian and so on. This app also allows you to customize the character’s named which is a given. Some stories on this app allows the reader to select whether they want to play as a male or as a female, which expands the target audience and experience of each reader (though the customization is even more limited for guys as per usual).

Chapters also has a limited customization. It ensures to cover the diverse looks but it is still limited. In community stories, one is unable to customize certain features of the character, it only goes as far as naming the character.

Episode Interactive takes the cake with customization. They customize every feature on your characters face. I will list it out to be exact – the face shape, the eye shape and color, the nose shape, the eyebrow thickness, the lip shape and color, the body color, the body size (abs, flat tummy, a tiny fupa and a chubby character) it also changes the hair and hair color as usual. To point out, the chubby character is only for the female characters. It is also the first to include customization for animals as well: the cat, the dog and a horse, and guess what? They are also animated. This customization feature can be applied to as many characters and not just the main character and their love interest, it simply depends on who the writer wants you to be able to customize (such as the family members, the best friend, the siblings, their rival and so on). Episode allows for naming of the characters.

How the passes and gem work

Romance Club offers the first chapters for free, but charges ‘Tea’ starting from chapter 2. Players can collect gems through story gameplay, daily rewards, challenges, and watching ads. Gem choices can also boost character relationships, but these enhancements are limited to the respective chapter. Despite the benefits, some gem choices can be as high as 33 gems, which some players may find excessive.

Like the previous app talked on, Choices offers the first chapter of any story for free and begins to charge ‘Keys’ starting from chapter 2. The gem choices which you pay for is only stored to be seen again in the next chapter (for instance, if you purchase a premium outfit with gems). Readers can collect gems and keys through watching of ads. Choices also boost relationship with characters but does not affect the next chapter.

Chapters also offers the first chapter free and from the second chapter, it begins to request for tickets. As a first timer, Chapters offers the reader 105 diamonds and 6 tickets, it also sometimes offers readers the chance to read some exclusive stories entirely for free (though this comes as a limited offer).

Episode Interactive offers the first chapter for free as the others do before requiring passes fro entry. It charges an obnoxious amount of gems in ‘exclusive’ stories — to do the math, there could be about 6-10 choices in which 70% are gem choices of >17 gems per choice. It offers a recently creates Shards option in which 100 shards is equals to 1 diamond and for VIP’s 25 shards equal to 1 diamond. Speaking of VIP, this app also has a feature of allowing a reader to be a ‘VIP’ which gives them certain benefits for a monthly pay; is it worth it? From my research, not really, it gives 2 extra passes for community stories some gems and no ads. Oh, I think the No Ads makes it just a bit worth it.

Target Audience

The target audience for Romance Club is mostly females, though not limited to males. The stories are not as explicit (that is, most are focused on feelings rather than the plain act of it) and could be termed 16+ It targets mostly teenagers and perhaps young adults who are interested in visual novels. This particular game as it is not made by community and more of the exclusive invites so it does not touch on as heavy topics so the lighter feel may attract more of teenagers than the latter.

Choices has a mixed target audience I’d say, of both males and females; due to the distinct genre’s, it also captures teenagers to young-adults who would prefer one genre to the other. As for the age limit, this app could accommodate as young as 15+ as a number of the stories are not explicit (though on the app rating it shows 17+ which can be a bit misleading if that is the reason you downloaded the app – it is also important to point out that the ‘steamy’ stories have their separate genre and is not infused to the stories out of that genre. Choices as the other visual novel is not made by community and more of the exclusive invites.

The target audience for Chapters is definitely 17+ considering the covers used for the visual novels. It gives you second hand embarrassment just leaving it open for peering eyes to see. Not to mention the names of some stories, did someone say I lost my Innocence to the Mafia Boss? No? Okay. From the genre, I would say the target is definitely for females, from teens to young adults, it may even be a guilty pleasure to woman in their middle age. To each their own.

Episode Interactive claims to be 12+ as you saw in the tabular description but I could tell you for a fact that it should be in the humble category of 17+. Sexual scenes aside, Episode deals with some heavy topics and mature innuendos which should not be read by a 12 year old if we are being real. So, please ignore the 12+. The target audience of this is also majorly female but a few males because of community stories that may be written by and for men. But just like the others, it is mostly for the female category who are 17+. I’d say the age range for this is pretty wide knowing readers that are over 30, so, this would fall within old teenagers, young adult to middle aged adults.

Interface

The interface of Romance Club is quite good, it gives you the opportunity to check your wardrobe which includes outfits you’ve paid for, it also gives you the opportunity the buy diamonds at any time of the game. It also shows the percentage of the story that has been played. Also, on your profile, you get to see the number of stories finished, started and unread. The story includes timed choices that impact scenes and culminate in category points at the end, such as Science, Stars, and Style. The game incorporates numerous choices in each chapter, enhancing immersion in the plot and building relationships with other characters.

The interface of Choices is similar to that of the first, it gives you the opportunity to check your wardrobe after each chapter is over but the wardrobe is simply to view the clothes as the reader would not be able to put it on at any other part of the story, (it turns to a collectible if you may call it). This app also gives you the opportunity to replay the story as well as rate it — either as ‘I like it’ or ‘Not for me’ which is rather unique to the first. As a reader you have the opportunity to add this to your favorites folder. One feature I find interesting is the ability to turn off the adds for this app, which would stop you from earning gems through watching of ads (very considerate, very mindful).

Chapters has an interface which is interactive. The profile section has a card cabinet which shows you your collectibles through out the story, this is usually in form of images that the reader can go back to admire. The profile section also has a number of achievements for the reader to gain which makes playing on the app more fun. Chapters allows a reader to be come an author when they create stories on the website portal called (UGC) — when this happens, a section called ‘Messages’ would allow the author to communicate with their readers on the app which is pretty cool. Still on the UGC features, this offers prized money for different kinds of challenges which I think is a really cool incentive for creating stories. The author would also have the ability to get featured and start earning from their story when they reach a certain threshold.

Back to the reader’s corner, the total number of stories on this app is within the region of 8483 (according to my trusty calculator) which I think is quite a lot (though believable because of community stories). The app makes use of props to improve the experience. Unlike the other two, Chapters has the option of showing the full length of the character, although there is still limited emotions and no animation of the characters. They do have a feature in exclusive stories which is a phone text format that deserves a say in this rating.

The interface of Episode Interactive is ironically not as interactive. It has a basic layout of the reader’s profile with the stories they may have written and the stories they recommend. It also shows the duration the reader has been on the app as well as the chapters and stories that has been completed by the reader in question. More of the interactivity is seen in the Writer’s corner which allows you to see some fan mails left by your readers. But a bit of point to them for having the Writer’s Corner in the first place. There is a fairly new addition of being part of a book club – or several if that’s your fancy. Completing some challenges such as reading books gifts the reader and their club members gifts such as passes, a diamond, shards or perhaps something less.

Genres

As the name of Romance Club implies, most of the stories on this app are romance or have a trail of romance in each story no matter the initial genre. Perhaps just a little percentage may not emphasize on this as much. I honestly think it should be of a wider range in this. I also do not see much of real-world scenarios, most of it are fantasia which can get the ‘one trick pony’ feeling.

Choices has a total of 15 genres with three extra which are based on the language translation (Spanish, French and German) which I think is a unique touch so that’s a plus in my book. Before a story is selected by a reader, it shows the different genre’s that the book has even without clicking on it which I think is a faster way to filter through the stories a reader may be interested in reading. The genre of this app feels more distinct from the other app as it is not infused with romance in every story (which should be the bare minimum but I digress).

Chapters has a whooping 30 genres which is admittedly the most for genres among our other three apps. The genre’s for this app span across both the visual novels and the text-stories. I’d say unlike the other visual novel apps, this has a more interesting an diverse genre type (for instance, paranormal, holiday and fan fiction) which can get pretty fun if you are tired of reading the usual genres. Also, the stories are spread out in a good number around these seemingly ‘unusual’ genres.

Episode Interactive has only 12 genres with thousands of stories spanning across these genres. It also has some categories which are ‘stories we love’, ‘contest winners’ and ‘own voices’ which is quite unique in its own way. Each genre is then categorized into the stories written by episode and written by writers in the community. Though I’d say a handful in each genre still has romance attached to it.

Community

Romance Club has a community on Wiki which is called ‘Romance Club Wiki’ which is a fandom where they can contribute their thoughts on this. Some of the hot topics on this community page have to do with the Love interests, their favorite books, walk through of stories and favorite main characters in stories. It also has an interface where players are free to post and interact with each-other through likes and comments.

Choices has a bit more community interaction than the first, they make use of Reddit as one of their major community fandoms (such as r/Choices, r/ChoicesVIP, etc.) It also makes use of ‘Choices Wiki’. Some topics on these communities include favorites lines, favorite stories and this has a more ‘homey’ feeling to it as the community seems to me more talkative and fun. I found myself scrolling through the reddit community and having a good laugh. The amount of reader on Choices is quite significant, this makes their reddit account pretty interactive at peak hours.

The community of Chapters is much more interactive as it freely allows the creation of stories to publish by readers, this makes the community feel more ‘seen’ than the other two. There is also a sort of ‘forum’ which exists in the app, where readers can interact and talk on their favorite series, sharing their stories while still being on the app. The creation of stories by the community is allowed for both visual novels and text-stories, it also gives authors the opportunity to earn money which is via the amount of ‘diamonds’ that has been spent reading the chapters by each reader. It is no surprise that because of this Chapters has 30M+ downloads.

The community of Episode Interactive is one word, ‘chaotic’ ha ha, I kid you not! They represent on whichever medium they are. Their fan base is also one of the major reason that the app is widely known. From the tik toks to the vibrant reddit channel and Instagram base, Episode has it all. But the thing is, it’s not all good talks. The community of Episode definitely give their two cents about the app and its new ‘inventions’. To keep it friendly, Episode does have a massive and hilarious community. They also have a forum in their Writer’s Corner which is used for different purposes such as: coding help, background finds, read request, art request and many more. Speaking of community, the episode app consists of 70% of community stories; this is probably a reason why episode has such a great community.