An H game is a Japanese video or computer game that features pornographic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. H games are a subgenre of bishōjo games.
In English, H games are commonly called hentai games in keeping with the English slang definition of hentai, although the term isn't equivalent to "H" in Japanese. Other terms used in Japan include erogē (abbreviation of "erotic game", very common), seinen-muke gēmu (成年向けゲーム, lit. "adult-oriented game"), AVG (for "adult video game"), and ecchi game (ecchi being the Japanese pronunciation of the letter H).
HCG (H CG artwork) refers to the anime-style artwork commonly used in these games, which is often distributed separately from the game itself via the Internet to less skilled players.
Types of H games
H games are often conflated with dating sims in casual English use. Strictly speaking, however, dating sims are a specific genre of game which may or may not contain pornographic content. Thus many, but far from all dating sims qualify as H games. Other common H game genres include
- "Strip" versions of traditional games, including Mahjong, pachinko, poker, and blackjack. Many adult arcade games fall under this category.
- Interactive video or cel animation;
- "Sex simulators" using cel animation or 3D animation.
Other genres that have been used for H games include RPGs, sports, fighting, puzzle, rhythm, minigame, and scrolling shooters.
H games are also sometimes subdivided by sexual preference. Yaoi games feature male-male homosexuality, and yuri games feature female-female homosexuality. The majority of games portray heterosexual relationships, however.
Western perceptions
H games are seen among many Internet-using Westerners as containing poor translation (although this has been improving of late) and general sexual perversion (see Pornography in Japan). Some people would feel uncomfortable admitting to playing and enjoying them, even more so than with traditional pornography. Some players may protest that they only play H games for the "storyline" or "comic relief", an argument which cynics compare to Playboy readers protesting that they only read the magazine "for the articles".
Defenders of the genre cite examples of high quality CG artwork, voice acting, storyline, setting, and character and plot development. Unlike the majority of American adult games, H games often portray characters with individual personalities, quirks, and daily concerns. Many games focus on the immersion of a specific setting or environment, and the social relationships between characters.
Critics often cite a lack of choices or actual gameplay, especially compared to more mainstream games. H games, especially ren'ai games, can display pages of narration and dialogue without coming to a single plot choice, making the game more of an "interactive novel". Others complain dialogue and characters are shallow or simple minded, often as a result of the writers or localization team.
For the most part, Western exposure to the genre has been limited due to the small number of companies willing to localize such games, a lack of market penetration, and non-existent support from magazines, game review sites, and adult stores. H games typically lack advertising, and rely on a dedicated fanbase. Many who wish to experience such games resort to warez and P2P in order to download such games for free. In a few cases games have been translated and adapted to Western versions of Windows by fans, but this is much less common than with anime films, due to technical difficulty. H games often have high prices compared to more mainstream games, due to the significant development costs of licensing and localization spread over the relatively small number of copies sold. This in turn further limits the demand, and localization companies receive less revenue for their products.
Well-known H games
See List of H games for a more complete listing. (and List of H doujinshi (games))
See also
External links
Publishers of translated H games
