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Now that Yen Press’ run of the CLAMP Collection Tokyo Babylon manga is done, we once again get to see what happened to Subaru and Hokuto Sumeragi and Seishirou Sakurazuka. After all, volume 7 is dedicated completely to the major reveals and 

Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for the Tokyo Babylon manga ending below. 265a2d

Throughout Tokyo Babylon, CLAMP keeps hinting at things not being exactly right. Seishirou engages in suspicious behavior that proves he not only has his own supernatural abilities and awareness, but may be an onmyouji on par with Subaru. Subaru constantly wears gloves he never takes off. There are times when we’ll see him think back to a childhood memory with a mysterious person. Hokuto seems especially aware of something to do with Seishirou, yet pushes him and her brother together. Once we start to get into later volumes, Seishirou’s activities become more blatant, and we start hearing about the Sakura Zukamori assassin. 

So Tokyo Babylon volume 7 is completely dedicated to giving us answers, yet with the ending also leaving us completely lost with new questions. The bet between Seishirou and Subaru? It’s completely revealed. Seishirou met Subaru when both of them were young and Subaru saw him committing one of his assassinations. Seishirou marked the boy as a possible victim, saying once they’d meet again that Subaru would have one year to get him to fall in love with him. If he failed, Seishirou would kill him. If he succeeded, he’d get to live. But Seishirou claims he failed, and we’re confronted with a scene that’s blatant torture. 

Considering the violence we’ve seen throughout Tokyo Babylon, which affected both Subaru and Seishirou in the past, this in itself isn’t shocking. Especially paired with CLAMP being realistic and showing the effect of this latest encounter on Subaru after the fact. He’s comatose. Completely broken. His mind and body is devastated after Seishirou completely revealed who he is. There’s no immediate recovery. We witness exactly how brutal it all was. 

These moments before the end also provide an opportunity for us to see the healthier loving relationships around Subaru. We know at this point that, age difference not withstanding, the primary pairing here is extremely toxic. But Subaru is initially saved because of an act of love and sacrifice by his grandmother. She resorted to extreme lengths to snatch him away from Seishirou, paying a price in the process. Then Hokuto, his twin sister, sets out as a secondary sacrifice to assure his safety after the previous encounter that left him broken. 

But more importantly, we don’t get to know what’s next. We only know what happened to Hokuto because of CLAMP’s narrative and Subaru’s ability. We don’t see him meet Seishirou again in the ending of volume 7 of the Tokyo Babylon manga. We don’t see the inevitable weeks and months it takes him to recover. We even don’t see him pick up the pieces. We only see him end up assisting on a final “case” to show that even after everything that happened, he’s still using his onmyouji abilities to help others.

I also think the fact that X/1999 remains unfinished helps the Tokyo Babylon ending stand out even further at this point. CLAMP got to offer us some resolution. Further confrontations between Subaru and Seishiro appear, as they meet again. Hokuto is referenced, and we get closure regarding that spell only she could use. But at the same time, we don’t get to know what becomes of Subaru. He still doesn’t get an ending.

The Tokyo Babylon ending still hits me every time I read it, even years later. There’s no mercy in this final volume. CLAMP set up a tragedy, leaving little clues along the way. Some more obvious than others, of course. There’s no closure here. No happy ending. Just like real life, things don’t come together perfectly. Instead, we see how different choices we’ve made and people we let in permanently affect our lives even after a short time together. And, because the follow-up work remains unfinished, we just never get to really know what happened to Subaru at the end.

All seven volumes of the CLAMP Collection Tokyo Babylon manga are available via Yen Press.

The post The Tokyo Babylon Ending Remains Striking Over 30 Years Later appeared first on Siliconera.

So Takahashi from the Bike Shop, a shojo slice-of-life manga from Arare Matsumushi, is one of those love stories that you can settle in, enjoy, and get cozy with due to how low-key it is. Yes, there’s some anxiety about the relationship in the first volume as characters define things and Panko gets used to Ryouhei. However, by the end of it and throughout the second volume, we’re seeing a strong foundation being built between a couple that could really work. 

Editor’s Note: There are some mild spoilers for volume 2 of the Takahashi from the Bike Shop manga below. s5s2l

The end of the first volume of Takahashi from the Bike Shop and start of the second volume of the manga mainly focuses on how Panko is overthinking things and adjusting to the new potential relationship and her feelings. Like clearly, she’s now dating Ryouhei. There are mutual feelings that are obvious to Ryouhei and the reader. But she’s just taking a moment. Which is relatable and fine! It happens. Where Matsumushi takes a turn from other shojo manga is that this doesn’t get stretched out to a full, uncomfortable volume or two of “will they or won’t they” moments. Instead, Panko realizes at work while fantasizing and shutting down a jerk coworker that yes, she likes him, and she wants to date him. 

This means when she does go out with Ryouhei again, following a meal with her work friend Kimi and her partner Suruga, there’s no ambiguity. The new couple defines what they are. They enjoy their time together. He notices she’s a bit upset about an change. She treats him to a shirt he wanted. It’s just comfortable and pleasant to see a couple who is behaving in such a healthy, mature manner. 

Honestly, I also love how mature Takahashi from the Bike Shop is, but how the manga approaches even serious situations in a cozy and comfortable manner. Panko sees people misjudging Ryouhei or treating people unfairly, and she starts speaking up because of the influence of her new boyfriend. I mean, I’d even consider it as her realizing it doesn’t matter what people think of her. Only the opinions of folks who count, like him and her friend Kimi. She’s 30! Who cares about them! Do what makes her happy! And, in turn, reading that makes me happy. 

This extends to another situation. There’s something of a tragedy that happens at the end of the second volume of Takahashi from the Bike Shop. Ryouhei completely steps up and volunteers to help Panko and her mother. Even though it means he needs to go out of his way, as well as encounter a traumatic situation of his own. He goes all out for his partner and his kindness makes something sad a little more bearable. Then, in turn, Panko comforts him in her own way. They’re able to be there for each other.

Maybe it’s because Panko is an older protagonist or due to the fact that this is a slice-of-life manga with so little drama, but Takahashi from the Bike Shop is a shojo series that makes me feel all cozy and happy. Both Panko and Ryouhei are pretty secure individuals by the time we get to the second volume. She’s still way more anxious about things than he is, so he’s coming across as the more mature one. But we get a sense that this is a real partnership with both people invested in, helping out, respecting, and caring for each other. It’s refreshingly mature and grown-up about things.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Takahashi from the Bike Shop are available now via Yen Press, and volume 3 of the manga will debut on October 28, 2025. 

The post Takahashi from the Bike Shop Is My Current Cozy Manga appeared first on Siliconera.

I’m constantly bombarded with ads from manga apps with shojo series, like Emaqi and Manga Plaza, taunting me with a few pages from a Cinderella story series about a black sheep twin or stepsister who meets the best man who recognizes her for the diamond in the rough she is. Some of these types of stories can be great in their own right due to certain takes on the genre, like Bride of the Barrier Master. Now that we’re five volumes deep into the My Happy Marriage manga, I keep being reminded how its the superior series when it comes to characters, handling of sensitive topics, and actual relationship development.  

Editor’s Note: There will be some minor spoilers for early volumes of the My Happy Marriage manga below. 12423z

The first reason I feel like My Happy Marriage is the superior Cinderella story manga is because the start is exactly that. Miyo Saimori’s the elder daughter who is pushed aside in favor of her stepsister due to not possessing a Gift and the marriage between her father and mother being essentially a political one. She’s engaged to Kiyoka Kudo, a person with a powerful gift who is also head of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit and rich. He’s as close as a prince as we can get in this period piece. Because she’s so kind, humble, considerate, and unlike any fiance ever forced on him, he ends up seeing exactly who she is and realizing how special she is. And because this is a manga based on a light novel, there’s ample characterization to make him appealing too.

Also important is how Miyo is depicted throughout My Happy Marriage compared to the Cinderella fairy tale and other shojo manga. Miyo went through hell in her family home. She was abused. Throughout the first two volumes, we see her responses to that. She hides the fact that she has so little clothing and is working to make what she has last. She apologizes too much. She goes out of her way to not cause trouble. Don’t make requests. Don’t make mistakes. Don’t make assumptions. It might almost seem like overkill sometimes to see someone trip over herself so much to keep out of others’ ways. However, if you ever were in her position or knew someone who was, it comes across as quite realistic. It isn’t like other shojo manga that involves a heroine more quickly getting over years of abuse because now she’s got a normal life where she’s potentially pampered and loved. She’s very much in recovery.

I also appreciate that Kiyoka’s approach to the situation feels equally realistic. He tries to be patient and kind. He reaches out to her. He sets up gifts in such a way to possibly encourage her accepting them and not feeling guilty about doing so. He has his housekeeper Yurie reach out to her and her. But at the same time, there are moments in later volumes of the manga in which even he gets frustrated. Which happens! Even if you care about someone, it could be easy to get impatient about the time table for recovery not being what you’d expect. 

The fact that Miyo keeps growing throughout My Happy Marriage and her own development as a person isn’t sidelined for the sake of the more romantic elements in this shojo manga and immediately resolved Cinderella story is encouraging as well. By the time the fourth volume hits, we’re aware of her capabilities. But this isn’t a blessing. All gifts are shown to have their own trade-offs, and in her case being untrained is leading to negative experiences that exacerbate her PTSD reflected throughout the story. This means as we lead into the fifth volume, we’re hitting a point at which her own character development is going to be prioritized. As a result, I feel like we’re seeing her feelings for Kiyoka coming through more clearly and better understanding her own power.

I love My Happy Marriage so much, and I’m so glad Square Enix Books picked it up, as the manga ended up being one of the best period piece Cinderella style stories out there. It feels like one of the best written “underdog” tales in a sea of manga about twin sisters who supposedly aren’t the gifted ones, but actually are, and end up with a too-good-to-be-true fiance who realizes exactly how amazing they are and fights off their jealous family. Here we see things like PTSD acknowledged. We watch personal growth between characters. Difficulties surrounding supernatural abilities are addressed, so they don’t seem all wonderful. Plus the actual relationship between Miyo and Kiyoka feels as though it is developing in as health a manner as it can, given the circumstances. It’s a wonderful shojo manga. 

Volumes 1-5 of the My Happy Marriage manga adaptation are available via Square Enix, and both seasons of the shojo anime are on Netflix.

The post My Happy Marriage Is the Best Cinderella Story Series appeared first on Siliconera.

Kikuri Hiroi can be one of those scene-stealing characters in both the Bocchi the Rock anime and manga adaptations. While the series tends to focus on Kessoku Band like Hitori, Ikuyo, Nijika, and Ryo, this funny and flawed ing cast member with moments of depth is a standout too. Though since she is an alcoholic and has plenty of vices, the enjoyment someone gets out of the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary spin-off manga will vary depending on how much you like her and the original series.

Editors Note: There will be some mild spoilers for early parts of volume 1 of the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary manga.  5m2f1e

While the original Bocchi the Rock is a four-koma series that gradually builds on the story of Kessoku band in strips that also can sometimes stand on their own, the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary side story manga follows a more traditional format as it looks at Sick Hack’s singer and bass player. While it starts by bringing up Kikuri’s talents and how adept bandmates Eliza Shimizu and Shima Iwashita are, it also quickly establishes she is no angel and shows a copy trying to reason with her when she’s in a full drunken “incorrigible alcoholic”moment. 

It’s a stark introduction to two facets of her personality, and the first chapter continues to emphasize that. She gets so drunk after a sold-out Yokohama Arena show that she winds up blackout drunk in Kanazawa. While Eliza and Shima clearly respect her talents enough to perform and be in Sick Hack with her, neither is going to come and pick her up and they also definitely knew she probably wouldn’t make the fireworks show they were going to go to. People in the bar she winds up in think she’s exaggerating about her indie band being popular and talents, due to the fact she walks in drunk and keeps drinking. But then actual fans recognize her, ask to meet her, and her story. Kikuri gets carried away and offers to cover folks’ tabs, blowing through her money and winding up alone and broke at a shrine with a stray cat and huge bottle of cheap booze. 

What I appreciate is that Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary sort of feels like a different type of slice-of-life manga. It’s still going through an indie rocker’s daily life. We get a different perspective. But it doesn’t lock the story into a comedic or dramatic tone, and it establishes that from the outset. Because while this chapter starts out funny, as we see her deal with her drunkenness, not being able to convince people for a ride, and come to with spending almost all of her money as she’s carried away on fan adoration, that quickly turns darker. By the end of the chapter, she’s entered her infamous Spiral of Happiness, which sees her dealing with any discomfort or pain by getting so drunk that she gets “happy” and numb. 

And we see this continue throughout this spin-off. Kikuri reaches a high point, usually a performance of sorts or something dealing with her talents resulting in a win for Sick Hack or her personally. But then something happens to swiftly bring her down. It could be recklessly spending money that could have ed her for a month or longer. Maybe it’s getting so carried away in the moment that she trashes expensive equipment that belonged to a club. While we see people around her, such as Eliza and even Shima, do care in their own ways and offer different sorts of s, there’s a constant cycle that makes it both occasionally amusing and a fascinating analysis of her as a character. However, because Kikuri is a drunk, I could see it being painful or difficult for some people to read, especially when it can seem like she isn’t thinking about consequences or considering others.

So if someone really likes the original series or is interested in the character, I feel like the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary manga can be interesting supplemental reading. But if someone has experiencing being in a role like Shima or being around someone like that, I think it might be a difficult read. Especially when moments come up when Kikuri or other people do get serious.

Volume 1 of Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 2 of the manga on September 23, 2025. The company also handles the Bocchi the Rock manga. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Bocchi the Rock Side Story Manga Is Great for Kikuri Hiroi Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

I enjoy seeing what independent developers can achieve with smaller projects. There might be unusual takes on genres or experimentations with genres and ideas. Chronomon is one of these types of titles, as Stone Golem Studios is attempting to fuse popular genres such as Pokemon style creature capturing and Stardew Valley sorts of farming. It’s still early days, and of course there’s clunkiness in such small things, but the idea seems like a promising one. 

Chronomon begins with our avatars awaking in a bunker. Someone else living there, named Kyral, lets you know that some creatures ended up being successfully trapped last night. After choosing a “starter” and using a CIM card to get its data, the worst happens. of the Epoch Syndicate show up and force a retreat. Worse, since they might breach the underground base, Kyral helps you escape, as well as learn how to use a Chronomon to flip switches to escape. Fortunately, a farm has been prepared. It’s dilapidated and in need of repairs, but we have a chance to regroup, establish ourselves, make connections with villages, and perhaps start to rebuild and fight back. Granted, since this is early access, we don’t have all of that yet, but we can make a start. 

I really like the initial approach in Chronomon, and it does feel like a mix of Pokemon monster-raising JRPGsand Stardew Valley style life sims in a way that similar sorts of games like Moonstone Island doesn’t. There’s a very dark atmosphere that fits the dystopian tone, yet also a sense of hope since we are fighting back and connecting with other people and a village. The look is pretty strong at the moment, especially with farming, though I do think improved controls will help that in time. It also pulls from games like Marvelous’ Rune Factory in that every type of action you’re undertaking shapes your character and progress, so it feels like choosing to farm, fish, or battle with monsters each carries weight. Farming comes down to clearing land, tilling soil, planting crops, and waiting to harvest. Monster battling and catching entails heading out into the world and going through turn-based fights.  

As an early access title, I did notice some elements of Chronomon do feel like they need a bit of touching up. The thing that initially bothered me most, so much so that I ended up restarting, is during the first selection of your monster ally, the execution, controls, and menu meant that I selected a character I didn’t want when I was just attempting to check the stats. Said control issues are currently a problem throughout my sessions, as I went through it on a Legion Go and couldn’t try and go with a mix of switching to keyboard and mouse if I found things weren’t ideal. This is compounded by, at the moment, the UI being a bit cumbersome. Considering how heavy of a focus crafting and character management is, I wish it was a bit clearer and easier to parse. However, keep in mind this is a game isn’t even one month into early access as I write this and, on May 13, 2025, Stone Golem Studios created a Steam Discussions thread specifically looking to address the controls issue. 

Another early issue has to do with balance in Chronomon. Which, again, I think we will see addressed over the coming weeks and months. At the moment, I feel like the goal is to really make this feel like a post-apocalyptic adventure with odds stacked against you. It takes a while for your creatures to level up, even when they’re under level 5 or 10. Enemy creatures can be incredibly strong. If you die, you’re both losing items in your inventory and money. I found it quite daunting, especially in the first three hours I played. I’m not sure if the answer is implementing some difficulty options or eventual balancing patches or adding items that adjust earned experience and influence stats. But again, it’s early on and things could change. 

I do think the one thing I’d like most from Chronomon is something that we might not see happen over the course of development. The game and its concept possess a really strong identity, and you can see that from the outset. Stone Golem Studios seems like it has a really strong idea of what it wants to do, the story it is going to tell, and an approach to pairing farming and a life sim with monster catching and battling. However, I feel like sometimes it visually doesn’t always match that. I wish the character designs for the monsters, NPCs, and our avatars stood out a bit more. Especially since there will be a relationship element with friendship systems. I’d love to see the major NPCs look more unique and some of the Chronomon stand out more as development continues. I even feel like this ties into the UI issue I mentioned earlier. Some adjustments to define the game’s visual identity so it leaves the same sort of impression as the gameplay concepts would be great.

Chronomon could be an indie to keep an eye on. The concept behind pairing a Pokemon like with Stardew Valley is sound. The initial loop is encouraging, and it seems like Stone Golem Studios is trying to use the idea of a post-apocalyptic world to explain its gameplay and narrative in a cohesive way. There are some minor issues at the moment, and I would love to see more defined character and UI designs to help it stand out. However, you have to expect that from an Early Access title. It might be worth watching in the weeks and months to come. 

Chronomon is in early access on PCs via Steam. 

The post Preview: Chronomon Blends Pokemon and Farming Life Sims appeared first on Siliconera.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping brings us back to the world introduced in Duck Detective: The Secret Salami and, well, it’s exactly what you’d expect the adventure game to be. This is a short, bite-sized adventure with colorful characters, and it ends it feeling rather cozy due to it being a rather laid back approach to sometimes low stakes mysteries. It’s a good thing! Not every title needs to be a 40-hour epic, and Happy Broccoli Games again created a captivating story to savor over the course of an afternoon.

Eugene McQuacklin, who I’ll just go ahead and call Duck Detective from here on out since everyone else does, is down on his luck as the sequel begins. He’s living in Freddy Frederson’s spare room, still is addicted to bread, and his ex-wife wants nothing to do with him and won’t return his calls. He can’t wallow, however, as Freddy is dragging him on a glamping trip with his new girlfriend to grounds near a potentially haunted asylum. (He already paid for it!) Forced along, the detective finds either ghosts or haunting the area, or there’s a decidedly more dastardly explanation for unsettling behavior. It’s up to us to investigate again.

Aside from Freddy, the alligator that got Duck Detective goat’s in the first game, tagging along, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping proceeds pretty much identically to the first game. A mystery will arise. You’ll need to put together deducktions, based on observations, interviewing people, and interacting with the environment, to get topics to feed into a Mad-Libs style statement figuring out what happened. Solving one mystery opens up the next, advancing the story and granting access to new areas.

What I loved about Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping that is unique to this entry is honestly the increased interactions with Freddy. The Duck Detective is a prickly sort of character that feels plucked from a noir novella and dumped into what is, at a glance, an adorable world that includes a lot of quirky characters. By adding Freddy as a more present foil, we get to appreciate the ways in which this more goofy, nerdy, and typical person interacts with this serious investigator.

However, I also appreciate that despite being cozy, The Ghost of Glamping continues the tradition of Duck Detective actually including some dark and mature themes just like The Secret Salami. While it’s played for laughs and silliness since it is just bread, the titular detective does have an addiction. His relationship with his former lover is an issue. There are not-great people here trying to take advantage of and hurt others. 

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping offers more of the same and, in the case of this series, that’s exactly what Happy Broccoli Games should be doing. It’s a welcome addition to our gaming libraries! The characters are still incredibly entertaining. The gameplay is sound. The narrative is engaging. It feels like another episode of something we all already agreed that we enjoyed, and I appreciate the relief of knowing there’s a consistent series that will regularly deliver a certain type of enjoyable adventure for an evening.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is available for the Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. 

The post Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping Builds on the Original Game appeared first on Siliconera.

Labubu basically ended up being the pop culture fad going into 2025, with Kasing Lung’s The Monsters designs resulting in different kinds of merchandise based on the characters, and shockingly enough One Piece is a part of it. While the only one with plush elements are the 400% and 1,000% Mega Labubu of Chopper, with the hat being soft fabric, Pop Mart also released PVC, ABS figures of the Straw Hat crew. While I do think the ideal target audience for the collection is going to be people already interested in Labubu, the design and execution is such that I think people who love One Piece might be interested it for the depiction of some of the cast.

Okay, so to start, the Pop Mart The Monsters One Piece collection is a blind box situation, but it is possible to avoid getting repeat characters by making sure you only get Labubu figures from the same box. This is because each unopened box includes a full set of 12. However, the caveat is that this set is actually made up of 13 total, as the secret one is a Gear 5 version of Luffy. Odds of getting it are 1/144. So most likely someone will just get the full, standard crew of Straw Hats or those considered allies in a box. It basically covers up through the Whole Cake Island Arc, if you don’t count the Gear 5 figure. 

In of style and size, the characters are all very uniform. This does mean they aren’t realistic and to scale in any way. Like Chopper being the same size as Franky sort of proves that. However, there is about the same care and effort put into each one, which I appreciated. Their poses all seem realistic and based on attacks or actions in the anime and manga. The standard Luffy one is about to unleash Gomu Gomu no Mi. Sanji is in the midst of a Diable Jambe attack. Nami comes with a (removable) Clima-Tact in the midst of an electrical attack. There are special uses of glossy paint or transparent parts for certain effects, such as Franky and Robin’s sunglasses. Also, when characters arrive, the packing involves foam for more delicate parts, such as Usopp’s slingshot, Jinbe’s ponytail, and the neck of Brook’s guitar, to ensure they aren’t damaged in transit. All of the bases are also individual Berry coins with specialized parts to ensure they grip characters properly. So while Zoro’s coin has no parts, there are pegs on ones for folks like Sanji and slats that fit into Jinbe’s geta. 

I also mentioned that certain people feature extra accessories. as accents, and you could honestly sort of pose them with or without them. The One Piece characters with extra parts in this The Monsters Labubu figures line are Law, Nami, Sabo, and Sanji. Out of those, I feel like you could honestly display any without their extra accent or weapon, though with Nami it’s a bit of a stretch. Her Clima-Tact, the fire on Sanji’s foot, Sabo’s pipe, and Law’s Kikoku are all separate parts, in some cases with additional paint jobs or translucent elements. All of them fit well into the figures’ hands, so they are pretty stable once in place for display. They’re nice little accents that set the characters apart, and I sort of wish Robin came with extra hands to showcase her Devil Fruit ability since she is in a pose that suggests she is using it. 

Honestly, the Labubu Robin figure is the only one in the One Piece The Monsters set that I didn’t really like. Yes, it is cool that she has translucent sunglasses on her head. However, her pose isn’t as expressive as other characters, the nature of it means we don’t see as much of her costume as the the rest of the set, and it generally doesn’t feel as detailed. Everyone else has a lot more personality to them, which I appreciated.

The funny thing is, I actually think the Brook one is one of my favorites even though it features no real The Monsters or Labubu accents. There are no signature ears. The skull doesn’t feature the pointy teeth in place of the standard ones. The only thing that suggests he’s part of the line are the proportions. Even so, it really just looks adorable and very true to the character, and I appreciate that.

Okay, scratch that. My actual favorite is Franky. I really don’t care about the character when he shows up in One Piece games or other adaptations. He’s just sort of there. But I do appreciate how the Labubu figure version of him in this The Monsters line features a little bit of articulation. You can move his arms up and down, and I really like that extra bit of whimsy.

People’s mileage may vary when it comes to the Pop Mart The Monsters One Piece figures of characters as Labubu. The designs are well-thought out and made, I will say. And some of them are especially neat due to extra accessories or posing elements. They are quite cute and, since there is the One Piece connection, they’ll be relevant even when the fad wears out. Especially in the case of the extra cute Franky, Brook, or Chopper ones. I do wish maybe some characters had a bit more to them, like Robin, but in general they’re fun.

The Monsters One Piece figures that turn characters into Labubu are available in single blind boxes or in a full box of 12. The anime is streaming on services like Crunchyroll and Netflix. The live-action adaptation is on Netflix. Viz Media handles the manga outside Japan. 

The post The Monsters One Piece Figures Make Characters Labubu appeared first on Siliconera.

I’ve mentioned before how in early Oshi no Ko manga volumes and anime episodes, it seems to focus on Aqua and his development, and it’s only around volume 9 that we Ruby starts to steal the show. The 10th volume builds on that in a way that’s honestly a little terrifying. We see the full extent of her plans from the previous volume to now and the effects of those actions, as well as her brother’s response, and it shows exactly how brilliant, devious, and powerful she can be.

Editor’s Note: There will be minor spoilers for the first few three chapters of the 10th volume of the Oshi no Ko manga below. 2o4n1u

Things start out with a new episode of the show Dig Deep, which features Aqua as a host and Ruby as a reporter, dealing with the cosplay incident and flaming of the show from the previous volume. Because of the director Tetsu Urushibara’s decisions, a cosplayer was treated abominably, people who were supposed to be on the show had no warning about changes, and approval wasn’t gotten from Abiko Samejima for Tokyo Blade usage. However, while that all went wrong and people’s reputations were hurt and livelihoods threatened, we start with Ruby about to benefit. She orchestrated the proposal for handling it on the show, with her hosting the “interviews” to explain how it all went wrong.

From the outset, it seems like a fantastic way to make amends. The director apologizes. The show explains how it happens. The wronged cosplayer who sicced her thousands of followers on the show and started the hate campaign gets a chance to speak up. Abiko is able to talk about her project and why she’s protective. It seems like everything went right and Ruby gets some attention in the process.

But we see that Aqua understood what Ruby orchestrated, and he brings up up after the episode recording in Oshi no Ko. He can tell she had a hand, but asks when she started it all. It’s then that, like a James Bond villain, we see exactly how brilliant she is. She realized she didn’t want to wait for the assistant director Shun Yoshizumi to climb the ranks so she could get more work. So she used the flaws she observed in Dig Deep, formulated a plan to ruin the direct, pulled in a cosplayer known for leaks and unleashing a toxic community, and put everything together to force a situation where the already established director Urushibara owes her. She forces her way up the ladder quickly, rather than the more gradual and slow way Aqua did. He looks more and more shocked as she explains, and we get this greater sense of appreciation of how observant she was, how she watched people, the decisions she made, and how she ensured she had the cosplayer, director, assistant director, and audience all on her side by the end.

The thing it comes down to is collateral damage. When Aqua schemed in Oshi no Ko, it felt like it ended up being more targeted endeavors. During the Love for Real incident with Akane, he convinces people to work together for a good cause. When he’s taking part in the Tokyo Blade stage play, it’s to reach one specific person and get information from people tied to a certain group. His climb through the ranks of the entertainment industry isn’t about his personal gain, really. It’s about getting clues and insight to find Ai’s killer. His climb doesn’t tear anyone down and, while he does get Akane on his side along the way, the relationship he builds don’t seem to involve exploitation.

With Ruby, she’s more ruthless once she decides she learned what happened to Gorou Amamiya and sets her sights on advancing as quickly as possible. She’s willing to manufacture situations to play people to her advantage. Yes, in this instance she does “fix” things in the end. But the only person who is better off at the end is herself. Also, in so doing, it gives the impression she’s somewhat alienating herself from others. While Aqua did detach from Kana, which he established is a purposeful action to ensure what happened to Ai never happens to her and protects her, he also didn’t set things up to benefit. Ruby is cunning, enraged, and determined enough to do that.

In a way, I think only now getting to see Ruby in this way in Oshi no Ko, especially after Aqua did much of his scheming in early volumes, makes for a more interesting comparison. It makes the lengths she went to and the way she behaved as a mastermind more impressive and terrifying than it might have been otherwise. Likewise, seeing Aqua’s response to the realization that Ruby is willing to go so far is a major moment.

Oshi no Ko volume 10 debuts on May 27, 2025, and Yen Press will release volume 11 of the manga on August 26, 2025. The anime is on Hidive. 

The post Ruby Can Be Scarier Than Aqua in Oshi no Ko appeared first on Siliconera.

I love Playdate games that don’t use the crank. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate titles that do use it in inventive ways. But I also like when developers experiment with the limited palette, screen dimensions, and size of the system to approach other genres in unusual ways. Most notably, I’ve really appreciated the range of adventure games showing up on the Playdate over the last year, as the range of options gets diverse, engaging, and inclusive.

I first realized how much I enjoyed the various adventures that did show up on Playdate once I played the game Echoes of Emergent. It’s a gorgeous visual novel from RNG Party Games that essentially accomplishes miracles with the limited color palette of the handheld. The post-apocalyptic story follows a woman named Ayumi as she comes to with what happened and what’s next. I was stunned by how gorgeous and the realism the developer accomplished with it, as well as the touching story. It’s so engaging, and the minimalism helps make the tale stand out even more.

This feeling of the handheld working well with the genre ended up solidified with Terratopia: March of the Demon King. Kodiak Games’ adventure feels like a hybrid of the old school, first-person RPGs and point-and-click adventure games, given its perspective and approach. You assist a princess in preparing to defend a kingdom. This means investigation, interacting with people around you, learning more about the world, and training so you can fight back. It’s clever and I felt encouraged to explore, especially since it features such a fun script.

As I mentioned earlier, some of these Playdate adventure games seem to be getting extra inclusive too. One of the most obvious examples being Julie and Anders Bjørnskov’s Escape the Boardgame. It’s an escape room adventure that involves getting out of board games after being mysteriously shrunk down to the size of their pieces. It’s a follow-up to their previous title Escape the Arcade, and both tie together nostalgia, family-friendly situations, and puzzles that anyone of any age and skill level can enjoy. 

But all this is really exemplified by just how much is showing up to enhance the library of adventure games on the Playdate as of late. I picked up Wegiout of curiosity, even though I’m usually not as interested in horror adventures, and found Pixel Addict Games and Keith Baker, and found it even darkly funny sometimes! Hundred Rabbits’exploration and puzzle game Oquonie caught my eye because it is so detailed and features such unique characters and rooms, and I loved finding a way through a world where I didn’t know the language. Even though Hablet, from PiousPigeon, is more of a simulation, I also feel like the nature of visiting daily and interacting with The Concierge as I build up the town almost feels like I’m on my own adventure when I play. 

I feel like the adventure games on the Playdate really highlight other creative things developers can accomplish with the handheld. We know the crank is fun and can do neat things. But with various adventure games showing up on the handheld, we see how folks are taking advantage of its other unique features to tell stories in unusual ways.

Panic’s Playdate is available now, and Season 2 of games for it debuts on May 29, 2025. 

The post Playdate Is Proving to Be a Home for Adventure Games appeared first on Siliconera.

One of Square Enix’s most recent releases is On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance, a slice-of-life manga series that explores identity and relationships while also celebrating people expressing themselves through fashion. It’s interesting from the outset, with the first volume both establishing how Akira Hanku and Sotaro Amata express themselves at work and at home and showing their possible relationship. They even respect each other completely, each appreciating the other’s style! It seems promising, but what I think I’m starting to appreciate most is Shinnosuke Kanazawa’s art.

Editor’s Note: There will be minor spoilers for volume 1 of the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance manga. 6tc1t

The thing about On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance is that it is both a celebration of two people unabashedly embracing styles they like, dressing in ways that make them feel comfortable, and being proud of that in their personal lives. Because they each embrace a different aesthetic, it means Shinnosuke Kanazawa gets to go all out on Rococo style Lolita dresses and elaborate punk designs. 

We see Sotaro’s Lolita style first, and it’s handled with so much care in both the initial introduction and all ensuing ones. First, we get a shots of specific elements of an outfit, like the detailed heels with matching stockings, a bonnet with a pigtail hairstyle, and lace on the cuffs of a dress’ sleeves. When the full-body shot appears, there’s focus on every ruffle and insert s highlighting bows. Different angles are presented, so we can appreciate how the outfit is put together. And because Sotaro is shopping, we also get to see additional pieces. Even proper terminology and slang is used, with “Cha-Lolita” used for Classic Lolita during a daydream about a new look.

With Akira, it means the moment the character is off-work, we see how a put-together look masks someone who rocks a wolf cut, wears multiple piercings, and would look as comfortable in Vivienne Westwood, street punk styles as ska or skater attire. The first “look” emphasizes a fake neck tattoo, ear piercing with a chain that connects to one through a lower lip, a studded choker with chains dangling off of it, and multiple rings. There are rivets in the black, pinstripe pants, with a black belt with chains that match the necklace. There are deliberate tears in the pants and a white, oversized shirt. I could swear the shoes look like T.U.K.’s two-tone Viva Mondo Creepers. There are fingerless black gloves with zippers on them, and a oversized jacket with belts. Whenever Kanazawa draws the character, the art is clearly pulling from the progression of the fashion movement over the decades.

I even appreciate the care with which Shinnosuke Kanazawa depicts the professional attire for both Akira and Sotaro. That’s how we see each of them for the “work” sides of their lives. In each case, they also seem to perfectly suit them and still somehow seem as detailed as the clothes they’re most comfortable wearing. The first time we see Sotaro, he’s in a three-piece suit. Kanazawa used shading techniques that somehow make it look expensive, and the tie has a pinstripe pattern. Attention is called to accessories, such as what seems like it would be a gold watch with a black face that ends up being the focal point of some close-up s. Similar attention is paid to his loafers. He is designed to look the part of a professional, but there are hints at a bit of flashiness.

With Akira, we see how formal she looks in the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance manga, but Shinnosuke Kanazawa’s artwork also emphasizes practicality for her. She wears black vest and pencil skirt with white button-up shirt. It’s impeccable, with every part in place. Her hair is tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail with a basic hair tie. Her shoes are black with a Cuban heel style, a short heel with a wide base designed for comfort instead of fashion. We can tell that she commits and is direct, making choices that emphasize that. In each case, these looks say a lot about the people.

I really appreciate the thought we can see Shinnosuke Kanazawa put into the design of the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance characters, with the art in the manga looking extremely fashionable, realistic, and suited to each individuals. Their home life looks are incredible and intricate, showing elements of who they really are and how they feel comfortable. Their professional ones get the job done, but also offer hints at elements of their personalities even though they’re obviously following office dress codes. I can’t wait to see what each of them wear next.

Volume 1 of On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance is available now, and Square Enix will release volume 2 of the manga on September 16, 2025. 

The post I’m Captivated by the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance Manga Art appeared first on Siliconera.

Monster Prom is one of those series where I feel certain entries are catering to different types of possible players. I always felt the first two games were best for newcomers to the concept. With Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip, I felt like it was more for those familiar due to character decisions and gameplay concepts. Now that Monster Prom 4: Monster Con is here I still think the series is as entertaining as ever, but it might not be best for newcomers.

You’re a monster. You’re trying to find someone to love. Fortunately, you and your six friends April, Doug, Liam, Nico, Omen, and Zoe are headed to a con. As you work on your own comic and attend activities and events, there will be opportunities to work on yourself and connect with them. Maybe you’ll even find love! However, you’re not the only person attending, as potentially other people could be playing with you and even pursuing the same love interest as you. 

So the Monster Prom series are basically visual novel dating sims with stat management and calling dibs on events determining if you’re lucky enough to win a love interest. As such, the writing is a really important part. While I really loved the scripts in the first three games, I’m disappointed in this one. Yes, Beautiful Glitch absolutely embraces the con experience. However, I feel like that overwhelms the charm typically found in the series. Because all of the interactions with the love interests focuses on activities at a con or fandom, I felt there were times when they sometimes came across more as caricatures of certain types of fans than more nuanced personalities. 

This isn’t as much of an issue for established characters like Liam and Zoe, who are still great, but I think the reason I did connect with them more despite loving the designs of newcomers is because we got to know them in the original game and follow-ups. Like I really wanted to see more of April’s depths, due to her background. And while Omen and Nico have fantastic designs, there were runs where I came away with the feeling that Omen is there to be the “chaotic” and “dark” choice and Nico was an excuse for a bunch of costumes. I really felt like past games offered a bit more range and insight into who characters were, leaving me feeling like I “knew” who they were after a few runs. I didn’t get that here. It’s enjoyable in its way, and I think Monster Prom fans will like it, but the decision make me wonder if it’d turn off those more unfamiliar with the series.

But in general, the Monster Prom 4: Monster Con gameplay is as tight as usual. Gameplay is divided into a sequence where you visit a few spots at the con to build stats, seeing a scene with some of the love interests where you can make decisions after each one. After that, you’ll get opportunities to work on your comic by choosing from certain prompts to Mad Lib your way to a finished work at the end. There will also be times when you can sit with one of the love options at a table to try and make an impression and connect. When you reach the end, your stats and actions influence the relationship with a possible person in your group and you see what your finished work looks like. Depending on the option you select at the outset and how many players appear, you could end up spending two hours or more searching for love.

So while the writing is clever and often funny in Monster Prom 4: Monster Con, I also feel like the execution of the story and direction may not be as good of an introduction to the series. Like the original Monster Prom and Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp strike me as being better examples of the narrative work and characterizations Beautiful Glitch is capable of, while offering solid gameplay. The general gameplay loop and experience in Monster Prom 4: Monster Con is great, the characterization decisions and some narrative choices for events make me feel like it’s better as a follow up once someone’s familiar with what the team and series is capable of, rather than a first introduction.

Monster Prom 4: Monster Con is available for PCs. 

The post Monster Prom 4: Monster Con Feels Made for Existing Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

I don't know who I am. I don't know what happened to my family. I'm alone, on a road to a small town, and while nobody cares enough to offer me food or a place to stay, they show enough concern to warn me away from the witch living in the woods. Yet the moment they do, I know that is exactly where I am meant to be. This is Emberstorm Entertainment's Reka, a game about training under a witch, decorating a chicken-legged, moving house, and using my herbal and potentially magical skills to improve my life throughout this simulation. 

I take my time on my journey to the witch's house. She's not going anywhere. I'm not running away. But I do want to know what is around us, and what I can expect. I help a merchant with a fae entity of sorts trapped in a lantern repair a wagon. I find a baby goat before it falls to it's death in a well. People in this dwindling village spread many rumors about the woman I'll soon meet. She's a demonic presence. She's an eccentric old lady. She once had a companion, but who knows where they went. She eats children. She's an affront to The High Lord. 

Everyone has an opinion and, after hearing a sufficient amount, I know enough to suss out her exact location and use my com to head to my new home. All this serves as a means of showing how much worldbuilding can be done in such a short amount of time. You need to try and connect to learn more. Only by hearing rumors can you get on the right path. But by taking that time, you also learn what their lives are like. What the village is like. What they need. How you can help to gain useful or decorative rewards.

Upon first meeting Baba Jaga, she seems... ordinary. A plain, elderly woman. Someone a bit gruff. She's been waiting for me, just as I have for her, and she tasks me with gathering mushrooms and honey for our meal, then raspberries to barter with some Lutki in the woods who stole her talisman. Said charm will be mine if I retrieve it, allowing me immediate access to teleport back to her home at a whim. "So she is magic," I think as I head out for more practical gathering. Her crows follow and surround me. Whether they are there to report my deeds back to her or protect me, I can't tell. Mushrooms, honey, and raspberries are easy enough to spot. So are the mischievous woodland creatures that look like hopping wooden logs with faces. They're eager to trade me niceties like apples for my berries and give a gift if freed from errant logs, though I did need to chase down the thief who stole from my new master. 

I feel like that’s what I appreciate most about Reka, even in these early days. There’s a strong sense of magical realism. Yes, there really are beings like the Lutki and Leshy in the woods. Some remedies for people around you are as simple as putting in some effort to harvest, gather, or prepare food. However, there’s real magic here too. The fast traveling is a prime example, as is the chicken-footed, moving home itself. After a death in the family in the village, the home really does need to be cleansed, but that involves placing black salt instead of weaving some spell. But it’s amazing how often practicality and common sense wins. For example, when getting permission from Leshy for a trial that allows a larger home, none of the tasks involve magic or crafting. They involve actions that make the forest and its inhabitants happier. 

I also appreciate how this carries over to added content as well. For example, in May 2025 a Roots and Remedies update launched for Reka. This brings farming to the game. However, I feel like that garden is multifaceted. It looks nice, besides my quaint cottage. It adds something new to my routine. But it also enhances this witch game by making elixirs possible. Yes, we could poison people before, but now there are more opportunities, and it seems like a means of using both practical tonics to assist people and more magical potions such as one that lets us understand animals.

Reka feels full of potential and like a witch game that explores how “magic” could be an actual spell or a more practical solution someone didn’t consider. Even though the 1.0 release isn’t set to arrive until later in 2025, it feels like there’s so much to enjoy already. I love diving into the world created here and taking in the ambiance.

Reka is in early access on PC via Steam. 

The post Preview: Reka Already Feels Like an Immersive Witch Game appeared first on Siliconera.

D3 Publisher and Monkeycraft’s Yeah! You Want "Those Games," Right? So Here You Go! Now, Let's See You Clear Them! series of minigame collections, better known as Those Games now, are generally rather ingenious. The false mobile game ads’ games, which typically are never representative of what’s in those titles, become actual games in the compilations. The first two are rather solid! The third one, called Listen Up! We Tried to Make “Those Games” Even More Extreme! Some Things Have to be Learned the Hard Way! is a bit more specialized. While fun, Those Games Extreme is absolutely geared more toward people who finished the first two than a new audience.

This is still a compilation. However, this time there’s a mix of titles from the past two installments. Color Lab, Number Tower, and Pin Pull from Those Games appear. These are the ones in which you sort colored liquid from test tubes, fight enemies in towers by picking the right ones to target first based on their number strength and your own, and one in which you pull pins in the correct order to help a person get treasure and avoid hazards. Those Games 2’s Draw & Guard, Knock-Back Shooter, and Spellbinding Scroll show up. These involve protecting a cat by drawing lines to protect it from enemies, properly aiming in an enclosed areas to ensure a bullet ricochets to hit enemies, and attacking enemies by whittling down numbers while you gradually move forward toward a finish line. Aside from the increased difficulty, the only major difference is a change from a woman dealing with people in love with her to a war scene as Spellbinding Scroll became Survival Scroll. 

At its core, Those Games Extreme is generally fine. In most of the situations, it feels like we’re getting more levels for existing minigames that probably were among the most popular from the first two entries. There are 155 levels, which folks might appreciate. In general, they all sort of feel the same. In the cases of Draw & Guard, Knock-Back Shooter, Number Tower, and Pin Pull, I feel like the situations are perhaps a little more complex or involve a tad more thought to ensure you’re going through the steps in the correct order or making wise choices.

However, in two cases I do feel like there’s a little bit more to the minigames. In the case of Color Lab, I feel like it’s a more positive change! Yes, you’re still sorting liquids in test tubes to ensure each one only has one color in it. The changes make it feel like there are new approaches and really enhance the experience. Some colors may be hidden until you start sorting the liquids, which can really mess with plans. In other cases, there will be test tubes with obvious cracks that will shatter after being moved too often. Bonus points also come into play. It’s easily my favorite game in the collection. 

With Survival Scroll, I honestly hate the direction Those Games Extremes takes it. I’m sure some will appreciate it, since it becomes more like the ads with soldiers gradually gaining more troops, getting stronger, and becoming more well-armored before facing a foe at the end. It’s also still pretty strategic and prioritizes reaction time. However, I think Spellbinding Scroll felt more creative by making it about captivating people and winning them over with your charm, rather than gunning baddies down. I considered it a more clever approach to the formulaic concept. So to get something that does look like everything else makes it feel a little less special.

I feel like Those Games Extreme is a more specialized entry in this collection. People new to the series would be better off trying the first or second installment. While some of those stages may be easier, you’d get a bit more variety. If you do like the past games and especially loved certain minigames like Color Lab, then it’s worth looking into picking up.

Listen Up! We Tried to Make “Those Games” Even More Extreme! Some Things Have to be Learned the Hard Way! is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. 

The post Those Games Extreme Feels Made for That Series’ Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

While Mona isn’t one of the most important characters in Genshin Impact, we’ve seen quite a few items tied to her. She ended up being the first figma based on the game, and one of the first scale figures ended up being of her too. Now she’s the character in the spotlight for the Genshin Impact Charlotte Tilbury collection, and it seems quite appropriate given the types of elixirs and magic creams included in the Starry Miracle Adventure Box and Starfell Treasure Kit. From what I’ve seen and experienced though, the items really are best when tied to the character.

First, all the Charlotte Tilbury items in the Genshin Impact box are pretty great. I got the most use out of the Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, which makes your lips shine while also hydrating and softening them. I also ended up being impressed with the Magic Cream moisturizer, as I have some skin sensitivities and it didn’t irritate or cause my skin to get flushed after using it. These two bundles tend to be a way to sample those products while also getting accessories related to the game, so it’s a way to test things out. However, it ended up being the other accessories that I liked best.

Mona has a fantastic aesthetic in Genshin Impact. Even though she isn’t one of my Hydro mains, as those roles fall to Neuvillette and Kokomi, I like her design a bunch. (Especially her original design.) My two favorite items in this Charlotte Tilbury Genshin Impact promotion are the ones that more subtly reference her and the game. Her outfit, both before and after the adjustments, included an accent on her hat that features a golden moon encircling a gold circle with red accents and a star design in the center. The pin included in the Starry Miracle box is an exact replica. I found it a bit big to include in my ita bag, so I’m not sure how I’ll display it yet, but it’s a gorgeous, well-made piece. 

The other fun item is a replica of her mirror in the Starfell Treasure Kit. The outside design is an exact replica of the one she used to scry in the Unreconciled Stars event quests. It’s such a fun callback to a moment in the game that pretty much changed everything about the nature of Teyvat. (Not to mention, we ended up introduced to Scaramouche, aka Hat Guy, via it.) It’s also a really handy mirror with a standard reflection on one side and magnified on the other, which makes it practical.

As for the other items in both Genshin Impact Charlotte Tilbury sets, they’re fine. The eye mask, headband, drawstring pouch, and zippered makeup bag are all totally fine and work well. The one from the Starry Miracle Box especially is handy for carrying items, thanks to dividers that help with organization. The tote bag with the logos from the collaboration on one side and Mona on the other is also sturdy and good for books or a few groceries. I just wish the logos were a bit smaller and more subtle. I get that it is important to note what it is, and to include the “Makeup your destiny” branding for it all. But the astrological designs tied to Mona are such an appealing pattern that are recognizable without screaming out, “This is a Genshin Impact bag!” So I’d have appreciated if the same subtlety and nuance shown with the mirror, pin, and even tote bag applied to the other items. Like in the case of the eye mask, I’d have put the logo names across the band or on the inside of the mask if possible, so you have that gorgeous print that resembles the pin untouched. 

In general, there’s a good balance among items in the Genshin Impact Charlotte Tilbury sets. For people who want merchandise directly based on the series, perhaps even for cosplay purposes, there’s the pin and the mirror. Those of us who would actually use the cosmetics and creams get an array of sizes of different Charlotte Tilbury products to test and see what we might like. The accessories like the bags, headband, and eye mask are handy in a practical sense. I just wish everything employed the same sense of subtlety as some of the other items, so the designs were the main focus instead of the logos for both the brand and game.

The Genshin Impact Charlotte Tilbury bundles are available now. The game is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Genshin Impact Charlotte Tilbury Items Are Best When Mona Is Referenced appeared first on Siliconera.

There are so many shojo manga about a young woman who might get to marry royalty, but endures so many challenges and develops so many enemies along the way. It’s frustrating! Especially when the heroine herself isn’t taking it well and sometimes gets down on herself or questions who she is. The 31st Consort seems, from the outside, like it could be such a story. It is about the underdog potential wife for a king competing against other consorts. However, the character of Felia and way she wins over those around her makes it feel a little fresher in the first volume.

Editor’s Note: There are minor spoilers for the first volume of The 31st Consort shojo manga below. 636q2w

Felia is a rather ordinary girl from Karodia province living with Ricarro, her oldest brother that is the area’s lord, and her other brother Garon. She’s a rather ordinary person who enjoys tending to the herbs that region is known for. However, because of her station, she ended up being picked as one of the king’s consorts. The thing is, she’s the 31st one. Which means she only sees him on months with 31 days, as that’s when he’ll see her. Because of that, and the fact that it’s the lowest ranked in of power, nobody else wanted the spot and it fell to her. Because this is a position that lasts for a year, her brothers basically talk her into it, so off she goes.

First, I want to say that it’s a little off-putting that Felia is considered “old” at just over 22. I get this is supposed to be something of a period piece, but it shocked me a bit! I did read shojo series along similar lines with younger heroines, so it isn’t the most egregious case of that.

From there, we get to see Felia’s arrival and what life would be like for the 31st consort. Since she’s a country girl and their community is more humble, she arrives in her ordinary clothing, with her brother Ricarro bringing her to the castle in an ox cart. Rather than be captivated by the impressive palace, she’s more concerned with the soil, flowers, and composting possibilities. Her home ends up being the most, well, homely! She gets her own wooden house, a garden, and she’s not getting any maids since nobody wanted to live so humbly. Which she attests as fine, as she’s the type of person who didn’t want or need one. All she basically has is the Knight Commander Binz to help, and her only request ends up being farming tools.

Aside from the shock about her age, The 31st Consort ends up being quite pleasant from there on out. Binz and other of the knights’ fourth unit assigned to her end up making themselves at home and befriending her, in a better situation than other knights assigned to demanding or terrifying higher-ranked consorts. She had no issue standing up to an intimidating housekeeper who apparently usually leaves people cowed. It’s sweet to see her adapt so well and people genuinely appreciate her, as well as her make astute observations about the soil, area, country, and other consorts. So much so that people like Binz are willing to fight for her and other consorts’ knights escape to hang out at her place.

This all means once Felia meets King Macron after months, we’re also meeting him for the first time. And his feelings on marriage and the consort process feels like it mirrors hers. He doesn’t care for it. He doesn’t want to spend time with unpleasant people. He basically wants to do his job, and he’s counting down the days. We see what he goes through with them, the governmental process that involves whittling down candidates, and finally his first meeting with Felia. Even though the housekeeper delayed the king’s visit, due to her dislike of Felia. But when he does arrive, it’s genuinely satisfying and makes The 31st Consort seem like a shojo manga with some potential. 

While the initial introduction for this shojo manga might seem a bit awkward, I ended up really enjoying the first volume of The 31st Consort. Felia is such a down-to-earth, practical heroine. She savors what she has, appreciates a challenge, is incredibly competent, and always remains in character. It ends up being quite a delight, and I ended up rooting for the 31st consort to be picked by the end of the first volume too.

The first volume of The 31st Consort is now available, and Yen Press will release volume 2 on August 26, 2025. 

The post The 31st Consort Could Be a Promising Shojo Manga appeared first on Siliconera.