Otome games are a kind of game that are not only popular in Japan, but are increasingly getting more popular in the US. They are a story-based game that can be played on a console, PC, or app and is said to be almost like a visual novel. There is a main plot to the game, but usually these games center around romantic relationships where one female character will get to know several different male characters before deciding who “to be with.” That is though if the real-life player makes the “right” choices and creates a happily ever after! I’m not hugely familiar with otome games or have played one, but it does remind me of apps where there is a storyline that the real-life player makes choices that affect the overall story and the ending of the game. Alice in Bishounen-Land is a manga that captures some of the “nuances” of playing those games. Alice is a high schooler who doesn’t play otome games, but her best friend does and is obsessed with them. So much so that when Alice’s best friend gets chosen to be in an actual otome game and gets sucked into it (including Alice), she states that she never wants to leave! In order for Alice to get back home and save her and her best friend, she has to become the best producer of an “idol group” (or group of singers) and beat every other producer in order to win the game and get them back to the real world. But since Alice hasn’t played these games before, can she really win and get her and her best friend home?

ADVENTURE: I truly found Alice in Bishounen-Land to be one big adventure. From the time we see Alice questioning how important her best friend’s games are to her to Alice going into a brand new otome game and then to Alice “leveling up” her singers so they can win in that said otome game, there is always a sense of moving forward in Alice trying to reach her goal. And with the help and interactions from these new singers, her adventure continues to be anything but boring!

ACTION: Each of these singers in Alice’s idol group bring a new kind of fun to Alice’s day that I found to be very enjoyable to read, but also funny at times too! Each of the men are very different from one another and sometimes there is talk about how one of the guys (who is a giant) created a river by riding his huge bicycle to school. Another one of the guys (who is a teacher in a child’s body) is always talking about how if Alice would use “real money,” she could experience this game with more (and better) perks such as exclusive clothes and “higher level” singers from the gacha machine. Plus, these men’s performances and how the art shows them in the game is hilarious!

ROMANCE: I did see that this manga is marketed as a romance, but so far, there hasn’t been much romance at all. I would definitely say this is more of a comedy than anything else, but it does appear that Alice may have a special connection with one of the singers later on. It’s uncertain to say, but I think there are hints given that there could be a romantic development in the next and final volume.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This is a very quirky story! There are parts that come across odd, but that is part of the charm of this manga as well. I found all the characters to be very fun, but Alice I especially found relatable and more often than not, laughed out loud at her comments on how crazy this game is. I would recommend this story to those who enjoy visual novels (or similar game play as I described in the opening) where the players make decisions as well as those who like music and comedy-based stories!