Here is a visual novel I did not expect to like as much as I have.
Girls! Girls! Girls!? was released in 2023; it was a crowdfunded title developed by Myosuki that enjoyed consistent popularity since coming out. It’s an Otokonoko dating sim, with a twist!
Before continuing, I must bestow upon you an important preface. Otokonoko is a historically loaded term, both in its original Japanese context and in its less than nuanced English interpretations. The least inaccurate translation of the word would be ‘Cross-Dresser’ but that’s still a gross oversimplification. You don’t need me to remind you about the other, much more transphobic “meme” term, now do you?
The allure of the boy who dresses as opposite gender trope has been a long standing tradition in manga and anime way before the infamous umbrella term was even coined, prevalently as either a specific form of fetish bait or as a punchline to a tired old joke.
As I am, emphatically, not an authority on the topic, I would recommend this essay by one Riley Hannah Lewicki to help you form a better understanding of its cultural impact and long-standing issues.
This brief yet necessary introduction should help reframe the conversation I wish to have in regards to Girls! Girls! Girls!?. Namely, its aforementioned twist: these “cross-dressers” are presented as girls.
They live as full-time women, they are called by their chosen names, She/Her pronouns all the way to the bank - except for the rare script inconsistency and one side-character being a She/He boy. There are no air quotes around the word 'Girl’ and that is an unchanging fact throughout the novel.
Whether intentionally or as a localization quirk, the text supports the identity of these maids through the language used to describe them. It helps that the narrative is also about found families and the importance of safe queer spaces.
The Otokonoko element is refreshingly understated. Forgone are the usual (annoying) gags, its focus being on what really matters: dating gorgeous ladies.
In essence, you play as the newly hired manager at a financially unstable maid café in Akihabara, the titular GGG. You’ve got a cast of charming waitresses to meet as you try to save the place they call home. Some of them might flash their bulge at you as a prank and some might need your help waxing their legs. So, man up and get managing!
If you play the uncensored version, you are 100% getting sex scenes where the POV character tenderly compliments a girl’s cock whilst lovingly ramming her in missionary position.
In all honesty, the romance is very sweet.
Having thoroughly, unequivocally established the premise, I am going to tell you about a funny incident that occurred in Nanase’s route.
To clarify, Nanase is the mischievous, promiscuous “bulge prankster” I have oh so sneakily referenced earlier. She’s great, by the way.
During the process of cruelly edging my character’s shaft in our ongoing S&M puppy play, her contextual CG popped up and, well…. a surprise teat appeared. A modest, small, cute yet unmistakable mound of the breasting variety.
The reason why this is a big deal is because, while all the girls in the game appear to have socially transitioned, the cross-dressing aspect implies they have not changed in the physical, hormonal sense. Yet, Nanase has boobs. That must mean she’s on HRT!
Realistically, it was probably a mistake on the artist’s part, which would make sense considering the entire game is riddled with weirdly specific technical hiccups, scripting errors and a general lack of polish.
Another CG appearing in the same route will show off a more “anatomically correct” version of the girl, thus confirming my hypothesis. However, as full of presumed mistakes as this title is, the developers never bothered to rectify any of them. More over, the recent Beach Episode DLC (because of course there’s a Beach Episode DLC) carried over the same language choices from the base game. None of the girls suddenly stopped using their pronouns.
So, to summarize everything we have learnt so far, the English text consistently makes our maids trans and one of them is afflicted by a unique case of the Shy Titty. That has not changed since 2023. As far as I’m concerned, it is all canon.
I might as well spend a paragraph on the previously cited flaws I encountered here. They can be mostly summarized in one sentence: made with Unity Engine and Live2D.
I am not a technical expert but if the visual novel keeps experiencing weird lag every time it moves from one scene to the next, my assumption is that it’s having trouble loading its assets. You see, for some baffling reason, the developers of this indie title decided the onscreen characters needed to be animated like VTubers, which must have cost a pretty penny to commission. The models aren’t bad, per se, but it takes a while to get used to the visual disconnect between them, the portraits beside the dialogue boxes and the illustrations, which all look stylistically different.
Aside from that, I begrudge the seeming absence of a toggle option for the skip button. I have to keep it pressed, instead. The joints in my fingers are not pleased. The game is often confused about the placement of the POV character’s name and surname, I can only speculate it to be a translation mishap. Oh, and the font may be a little hard on the eyes. Ultimately, though, this is a laundry list of relatively minor complaints.
I want to make it clear that this game is good. It isn’t “accidentally good” and it’s not good in spite of its problems. It’s a genuinely heartfelt, earnest VN that loves its subject matter and, more importantly, loves its characters. The girls are fantastic, by the way.
Everything clicked for me, and I shall explain how by spoiling the official “bad ending.”
If you don’t take any of the maids out on a fateful Sunday date, you will trigger the finale wherein you couldn’t rescue the café from bankruptcy and everyone has to say goodbye to their home.
A time-skip occurs. Afterwards, the protagonist stumbles upon Nanase and Hayasaka, having officially become an item. From their chat, you discover how the rest have faired after the death of the locale. It turns out, they all led happy, fulfilling lives.
Sena has her modelling career and Ayase is an accomplished martial artist. More importantly, the girls have never lost touch with one another. They remained a close-knit family, mutually loving and supportive regardless of the difficulties.
The café was a safe space and losing it was heartbreaking but the depth of their relationship was not bound by a mere building. What made the place special was sharing it with the people they loved. Their real home lied within that warmth.
Tragedies happen every day yet the world keeps on rolling. One sad ending may be the start of a better life and, from the looks of it, the former maids managed to find a path where they could live as themselves. They never needed a manager or a niche business to do it, because they always had each other.
What’s bittersweet about this scenario is that you, the main character, the player, don’t get to be part of this family anymore…
Experiencing that momentary hollowness made me realize how much I cared about these characters. Ironically, I was the one who was not ready to say goodbye.
Purposeful trans narrative or not, this is a story that touches on their struggle with self-expression and visibility. It’s about queer togetherness, finding love, validation and kindness in a world that might not have any. 'Tis a sentiment brought forth in every single route, empowered by the sexual interactions and manifested in the most literal sense through the Maid Polycule Orgy Ending.
I am serious, the H-scenes feel humanizing rather than objectifying - and that is huge for an Eroge! Once again, these women’s identities are not air quotes.
There is just no way around it, Girls! Girls! Girls!? is a wholesomely horny romance about maids who are girls/have penises and a guy sincerely loving every part of them. They absolutely bang each other and you are invited to watch. I consider it a smashing success.
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