Mirage Noir Should Be on Your Otome Radar

Written by Devil Darling, Writer, Otome Enthusiast, Horror Lover

Published on August 21, 2024

New otome titles are constantly being announced, so I like to keep an eye out for any promising new additions to my collection. After playing the demo for Mirage Noir, I’m happy to say that it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. With its rich world-building, intriguing characters, and a storyline that promises more twists than a labyrinth, Mirage Noir is one title that has me truly excited for its full release. So let’s dive into why.

Art and Visuals

Mirage Noir doesn’t just impress with its story — it also captivates with its stunning visuals. Even the environments look amazing. Every scene is like a piece of art that immerses you in the world — the alleyways look dirty and dingy, evoking a feeling of danger; the city is vast and sprawling, and the interiors of buildings look lived-in. A few times, I just had to stop and take in the backgrounds.

And then there are the characters, who are drawn with an elegance that mirrors their personalities. You get a sense of who everybody is just based on their look alone. Take Alexei, for example — you see his bandaged arm, his tattoos, and the way he carries himself, and you immediately understand that this is a person in a rough and violent line of work. Additionally, the character silhouettes are instantly identifiable, which is always a sign of great design. The art team has clearly poured their hearts into creating a world that is as beautiful as it is immersive.

The Story

Now, let’s talk about the story — because, let’s be honest, a mystery lives and dies on the merits of its narrative. Luckily, if Mirage Noir’s demo is anything to go by (and it most certainly is), the story promises to be excellent.

You take on the role of a young detective by the name of Yunie, who’s two years into her professional career. Stuck doing nothing but paperwork and fetch quests for her boss, she’s starved for a real mystery to solve. And one day, the universe graciously answers her plea. Her detective agency gets a call regarding a murder, and while her boss goes out to solve it, Yunie is instead sent to handle a commotion in the city center. There, she encounters what she believes to be a drunk, and while trying to help him, the man turns violent and attacks her. Luckily, a member of the country’s biggest gang, Alexei, jumps in to save Yunie, knocking her attacker out.

This is where the true mystery begins, as Yunie recognizes her savior from a vision she had of him, along with three other people. Soon after this incident, Alexei gets framed for murder. Yunie lets curiosity get the better of her and tries to see him in his jail cell, which leads to a series of events where she meets the other men from her vision and agrees to help clear Alexei’s name.

Characters

What really makes Mirage Noir shine are its characters. They are complex, flawed, and utterly captivating. Each love interest brings something unique to the table, making every interaction a memorable one.

Yunie

As the main character, Yunie is more than just a blank slate. She’s intelligent, resourceful, and determined to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous it may be. But perhaps her most defining feature is her curiosity, which is what drags her into the overarching mystery. This all combines to make Yunie feel like a real detective.

Alexei

Alexei is the younger brother of a crime boss. It’s his imprisonment over a murder that begins the game’s mystery in earnest. Alexei appears easygoing and eager to start trouble, and as you might expect from his line of work, he’s a capable fighter. Still, he’s not rude or unpleasant to be around; in fact, he’s quite nice to the people he likes.

Jem

You first bump into Jem randomly on the street, but at that point, you know nothing about him except that he’s one of the men who appeared in Yunie’s vision. As you encounter him again later on, you learn that he’s part of Alexei’s friend group and is a popular streamer known for his cosplays. In fact, the second time you meet him, Yunie couldn’t recognize him because he was impersonating a policeman. He comes off as thoughtful, and caring about the happiness of others, especially that of his friends. Though that might be an understatement, as not everyone would be willing to dress up as a cop and break a friend out of jail.

Thierry

Thierry is the crown prince of the country, though that title holds little power. Still, he’s often wrapped up in diplomatic work and meetings, as expected from a political figure. What’s also expected from a political figure is to not associate with criminal groups, so he needs to hide his friendship with Alexei from the public. He’s a man whose trust is hard to earn, making him appear cold and distant at times.

Sami

Sami is the last person you meet in the demo and is generally hard to read. He loves video games and is an expert hacker, being skilled enough to disable the security cameras at the prison. He also uses these skills to run a full background check on Yunie and uses that information to sway the other three into trusting her. Overall, I don’t have much to say about him at the moment, but I’m looking forward to how his character is developed once the full game comes out.

Features

Mirage Noir is packed with features that elevate the otome experience. As with most good games in the genre, it features a branching narrative, where every choice you make can lead to different outcomes. With multiple routes and endings, this game offers plenty of replayability, ensuring that no two playthroughs are the same.

The game also features minigames, which allow you to choose how difficult you want them to be. The demo has only one, near the end of the jailbreak part of the story, and it certainly breaks up the pacing in an interesting way.

Why You Should Play Mirage Noir

If you’re looking for an otome game that combines stunning visuals, well-designed characters, and a mystery-centric plot that’s actually gripping, then Mirage Noir is the game for you. It’s certainly one of the upcoming titles I’m most excited about. I’d urge any otome fan to keep an eye on this one. You can wishlist the game on Steam here.