Introducing First Love — A New Showcase Dedicated to Romance Visual Novels
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
There are game showcases for blockbuster releases. There are events that celebrate indie games from every genre imaginable. But for one of gaming's most passionate communities—fans of romance visual novels—there's never truly been a dedicated stage.
That's why we're proud to introduce First Love.
First Love is a brand-new digital showcase and festival created to celebrate romance visual novels in all their forms. Whether it's a heartwarming university romance, an emotional coming-of-age story, a fantasy adventure built around love, or a relationship that stays with you long after the credits roll, First Love exists to give these games the spotlight they deserve.
This winter, we're aiming to bring together developers, publishers, creators, voice actors, artists and fans from across the romance visual novel community for the very first First Love Showcase.
And this is only the beginning.
A Celebration of Romance
Romance has always been one of the most powerful forms of storytelling.
It's the awkward first meeting. The quiet conversations that mean everything.
The unforgettable confession. The heartbreak.
The reunion. The choices that shape two people's futures.
Visual novels have become one of the best ways to tell these stories, allowing players to experience relationships in ways that no other genre can. Yet despite the incredible talent within the community, romance visual novels often share the spotlight with dozens of other genres during major gaming events.
First Love changes that.
Our goal is simple: create a showcase where romance isn't a side category—it's the main event! The First Love Showcase is designed to celebrate every corner of the romance visual novel genre.
Throughout the event, you- the viewers- can expect:
🌸 World premiere game announcements
❤️ Brand-new trailers
🎮 Gameplay reveals
📅 Release date announcements
🎤 Developer interviews
🎨 Behind-the-scenes looks at development
🎵 Music previews and soundtrack showcases
✨ Demo announcements
📖 Exclusive first looks at upcoming projects
💌 Surprise reveals throughout the show
Whether you're discovering your next favourite romance or supporting an upcoming indie developer, we want every announcement to feel special.
Every Love Story Has a Place
Romance comes in countless forms, and First Love aims to celebrate them all.
Our showcase welcomes visual novels featuring:
Yuri
Otome
Boys' Love (BL)
LGBTQ+ romances
Heterosexual romances
Fantasy romance
Sci-fi romance
Historical romance
Slice-of-life stories
Drama
Comedy
Mystery romance
Supernatural love stories
If romance is at the heart of your game, First Love is where it belongs.
Our First Showcase Is Currently Planned For This Winter
Planning a showcase takes time, especially when we want to give every participating developer the opportunity to shine.
That's why we're currently working behind the scenes to find the perfect date for our inaugural event this winter.
We want to avoid competing with major gaming showcases, give studios enough time to prepare exciting announcements, and make sure the event feels like a true celebration of the romance visual novel community.
Once everything is in place, we'll announce the official date, reveal our first wave of participating developers, and begin the countdown to the very first First Love Showcase.
We can't wait to share what's in store.
Hosted by the Sakura Squad
Every great showcase needs great presenters.
That's why we're excited to reveal that the Sakura Squad will be presenting the First Love Showcase. Throughout the event, the Sakura Squad will guide viewers through each announcement, introduce new games, chat with developers, and help create an exciting, welcoming atmosphere from beginning to end. They're passionate fans of visual novels themselves, making them the perfect hosts for a showcase built around the stories we all love.
Expect plenty of excitement, memorable moments, and maybe a few surprises along the way!
Looking Towards the Future
While this winter marks our debut, our ambitions stretch far beyond a single showcase.
We hope First Love becomes an annual celebration that romance visual novel fans can look forward to every year—a place where developers announce their biggest projects, where new creators are discovered, and where unforgettable stories begin.
As the event grows, we'd love to expand with community awards, developer panels, soundtrack performances, fan voting, demo festivals, and even more opportunities to celebrate the incredible creativity within the genre.
Every year, our goal will remain the same: to give romance visual novels the stage they deserve.
Welcome to First Love
Whether you're a lifelong visual novel fan, a developer preparing to reveal your next project, or someone about to experience their very first romance story, we're thrilled to have you with us. Over the coming months, we'll be sharing exciting announcements, introducing participating studios, revealing more about our plans for the showcase, and counting down to our first event this winter.
This is more than just another gaming presentation.
It's a celebration of the stories that make us laugh, cry, blush, and fall in love with unforgettable characters.
Welcome to First Love.
Where every romance deserves its moment in the spotlight.
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