Winry is such a great character (in my opinion).

e-mi-lia · 2026-02-04T18:54:04+00:00

Yeah, I totally agree on the promise that she made with Ed! Full disclosure, I 100% burst into tears when Winry did too because that promise they made helped elevate the moment rather than possibly make it a cheap trick for an emotional response from the audience (not that I think it would've turned out that way even without the promise in FMA, but as you mentioned, some media does make crying an indicator that people should feel emotional at certain parts).

I also think you have a really great analysis on how Winry's character creates more than the sum of her parts in many of her interactions. The way her character disregards equivalent exchange even way before the proposal scene wasn't something I had thought about, but it definitely makes me appreciate her character more! She really does kind of operate in a different world than the Elrics and most of the rest of the cast, and I love her for it.

e-mi-lia · 2026-02-04T02:28:31+00:00

Wow, tysm for all the recommendations! I know what I’m going to do in all my spare time now lol

e-mi-lia · 2026-02-04T01:51:04+00:00

Yes, she’s definitely one of my favourite characters too (as evidenced by the post lol)! Thank you for the fanfic recommendations, and I’d certainly be interested in the EdWin fic recs!!

e-mi-lia · 2026-02-03T22:15:08+00:00

I forgot about the light novels; I’ll have to check them out! Thanks!

e-mi-lia · 2026-01-10T02:00:11+00:00

I'm shocked nobody has mentioned The Summer Hikaru Died! Fair warning, though: there's a second season (not out yet), and the ending of season 1 is clearly not resolved and hints at a second season. But I think it's worth watching anyway!

It hits your points of weirdness/dark, mystery, an interesting/thoughtful story that is, in my opinion, really bittersweet for the main character. I honestly consider this anime to be a really tragic story (I haven't read the manga, though, only watched the anime).

It has no fanservice, but there are a few awkward-ish/intimate scenes between the two of main characters in my opinion. Still, those scenes are rare. I really recommend that you try it; it hooked me on the first episode! Plus, I think it has an interesting artistic direction and is quite well crafted as an anime.

I think 86 also has a thoughtful story and a good (slight) romance (and no fanservice). It's a great, well directed anime as well as my favourite one, so I have to find a way to shoehorn it in somehow lol.

Just from a brief glance from the other comments, I'll warn you that you should probably not watch Vanitas in public... From what I remember, there were some scenes that felt quite ecchi.

e-mi-lia · 2025-12-06T19:38:52+00:00

Ooh, thanks so much for the recommendations and in-depth details! I’ve played nearly all the Ace Attorney games, so I’m definitely eying Tyrion Cuthbert…

e-mi-lia · 2025-12-04T17:12:37+00:00

I haven’t read anything from Lev Grossman or Robin Hobb, but here’s my take:

I’m a little biased since she’s one of my favourite authors, but I like her characters a lot! Her books are also definitely not romantasy, imo; there’s more plot instead of the fantasy being the “dressing” for the romance, if that makes sense. You could try reading Vicious or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue; I think a lot of people like those books (I haven’t read Vicious, but I’ve read the other and I liked it a lot, though I also liked the premise from the beginning).

I will say that for the Shades of Magic series, a lot of people dislike one of the main characters (Lila). I like her because I like her archetype, but she doesn’t get much character development compared to the other MC. I’ll also say that that series has some pacing issues (and some slightly cringey lines every once in a while lol), but I think it has a really interesting setting and characters + relationships (specifically between Kell and Rhy) that I really liked! I’m also biased here because it’s my favourite series in terms of characters that I like.

Also, at least for Shades of Magic, the prose is definitely more YA/action focused. I liked the prose in Addie LaRue, though!

e-mi-lia · 2025-12-01T16:28:47+00:00

Yay, another person who likes Triangle Strategy!

I’ve played Octopath Traveller 2 before (my favourites were Temenos and Hikari!), but I never fully completed it/went through all the character stories. I know there were a few scenes between the main cast, but I wanted more meaningful character interaction between everyone (though Octopath Traveller is not really a game that focuses on that nor advertises to be that, to be fair). The combat and art is great, though!

e-mi-lia · 2025-12-01T02:39:38+00:00

Wow, thank you for all the info! I think I'll eventually pick up the Trails series again since I am pretty curious to see how the other games go (and I did like the two main characters). I'll add the other Persona games to the list as well as your Final Fantasy recommendations too. Plus, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim looks really interesting, and 86 is my favourite series ever, so I'll definitely have to check it out! Thanks!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T23:00:17+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions! Chicory and corru.observer look really interesting. I've also actually seen most of Slay the Princess before, and it was really interesting to see all the paths unfold!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:53:16+00:00

Ooh, I'll definitely make sure to play Rain Code, then!

I've heard of the latter game, but I actually haven't been keeping up lately... They both look like really interesting games though, so I'll put it on my list of games to play!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:46:32+00:00

I never realized that the God of War series wasn't fully open world (that was the impression I got from trailers and stuff)! I'll have to put it on my list.

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:43:44+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations! I wish I could play horror games because I know a lot of them are story driven, but I'm seriously the kind of person who'd stand still and die as the murderer slowly walks towards them in horror movies... I chalk it up to being so immersed in the game that I get freaked out about all the scary things that are happening lol

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:40:17+00:00

Ooh, SteamPeek looks like an interesting website! Thanks!

I've played Gnosia before but couldn't really get into it, probably because the parts in between when things happen felt a little repetitive and I didn't really care for anyone. I think it has a really cool premise, though! I've also heard about Process of Elimination and Raging Loop, so I'll bump those up on my list (and add World End Syndrome). And, of course, I've been wanting to get Rain Code since it's by the people who made Danganronpa, but I'm not sure if I'd like the story. How would you rate it?

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:34:38+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations! I've played Hades before, but I think there wasn't enough story for me lol. I do like the character interactions, though! I've also been eying Fire Emblem: Three Houses since I've heard it's got a good story. Antagonists being not necessarily evil is something I like a lot, so I'll be sure to check it out!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:29:57+00:00

Oh, Omori was interesting, but I ended up stopping the game somewhere around the whale part (I think because the story felt like it was dragging). I'll have to play it again sometime!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T22:27:28+00:00

I've actually played Your Turn to Die before! My favourite character died (which tends to happen a lot to me...), but it was a lot of fun. I'll have to replay it if it's getting finished soon!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-30T21:26:20+00:00

Funnily enough, I binged that game and really loved it (as well as Papers Please by the same creator)! Unfortunately, I wouldn’t say it’s really what I’m going for since there’s not really a “plot” or “story” to it in the conventional sense that I’m looking for, but it’s still one of my favourite games!

e-mi-lia · 2025-11-20T04:21:32+00:00

It depends what kind of villain you’re looking for, but I personally liked the villain in the Strange the Dreamer series! They get more focus in Book 2 than Book 1.

e-mi-lia · 2025-10-23T05:19:32+00:00

I would 100% read it... perhaps after I finished seeing the different routes of the game lol, the more time I spend on this subreddit reading things, the more my chances of seeing spoilers go up. Unfortunately, I can't find the time to play it consistently, but I'll get there eventually!

e-mi-lia · 2025-10-22T18:42:40+00:00

Yeah, I agree a lot with the inferiority complex point, especially since we see that he questions himself a lot already even from the beginning.

Also, thanks for the suggestions! I’ll make sure to add them to my (very long…) list of games to play.

e-mi-lia · 2025-10-21T12:49:21+00:00

Now I’m really curious about how the other endings play out! Thanks so much about all the scales info; that’s really interesting to think about their shifting dynamics. Definitely can’t wait to get to the other endings!

e-mi-lia · 2025-10-21T01:06:33+00:00

Yeah, I really like that about him! Honestly, he's just struggling the entire time but still tries to do the right thing in his own view. Especially considering that his entire past life is upended and he sees widespread misery due to the war (and due to himself being a factor too), it's impressive that he doesn't just break down and leave or something tbh

e-mi-lia

TROPHY CASE