Hello everyone! We are SUCH ONE STUDIO, a game development team dedicated to creating immersive FMV (Full Motion Video) experiences. Today, we’d like to share some of our thoughts on level design in romance-oriented FMV games.
In most FMV romance titles, level design tends to be overlooked. Understandably, the spotlight usually shines on the quality of the script, the cinematic visuals, and the charm and acting of the cast. As for gameplay, it’s often reduced to a simple “click-through” experience, rarely leaving much room for surprise.
However, we believe level design still plays a unique and irreplaceable role in FMV games. It represents the “game” aspect of the hybrid experience—serving as a bridge that allows players to engage more deeply with the story and emotionally connect with the filmic component. When done well, it greatly enhances immersion.
Example 1: Finding Her in the Fitting Room
Imagine this: the girl you like takes you shopping. She steps into a fitting room to try on an outfit you picked out for her, leaving her phone in your care. Suddenly, her phone rings. Faced with a row of identical fitting rooms, can you recall the subtle clues from earlier and identify which one she’s in?
To make this small challenge feel natural rather than forced, the story would have already set it up, with earlier dialogue about her clothing preferences and multiple shots highlighting her shoes.
If observant players notice these details and pick the correct fitting room, they’ll be rewarded with her surprised praise and an increase in affection points.
That’s the magic of meaningful interaction: when players realize that paying attention brings positive feedback, the girl no longer feels like a pre-recorded character—she becomes a living person, with her own tastes, waiting to be noticed and responding warmly to your attention.
Example 2: Guessing Her Childhood Toys
Now picture another moment: on a table sit six childhood toys. The girl challenges you to guess which three she actually played with when she was little. Guess correctly, and she’ll reward you.
At first, it seems impossible—how could you know? But players who have truly paid attention will remember the little things she’s mentioned: her approximate age, her well-off upbringing, her competitive streak when playing with boys… Putting those clues together paints a vivid picture of her personality and background.
Through this small but thoughtful challenge, players actively piece together fragmented memories, forming a richer and more three-dimensional impression of the girl.
Example 3: Saving the Seaside Market
Level design in romance FMV games isn’t just about showcasing the girl—it can also heighten the stakes or encourage replayability of key storylines.
In one chapter, the protagonist stakes his career success on a live-streamed seaside market event. Each girl helps manage a different section of the market, but soon faces unique problems that require the player’s help.
To avoid monotony, this section includes diverse gameplay types: investigation puzzles, logic reasoning, dialogue mazes, and QTE sequences. The results of each event directly affect the market’s overall popularity online.
While exploring possible paths to success, players may encounter a lonely boy wandering the beach—or a lost girl searching for someone. If players handle events in a certain sequence, they can unlock a hidden storyline where their actions indirectly reunite the two children. The heartwarming scene goes viral online, boosting the market’s success and delivering emotional payoff.
(This scene is a small tribute to To the Moon, a game beloved by both our core team and our cast.)
Closing Thoughts
None of these examples is groundbreaking in the long history of game design. But FMV games as a genre are still young, and they can draw inspiration from many well-established forms of gameplay. Classic design concepts, when combined with cinematic storytelling, can spark new and unexpected magic.
We hope more players will come to appreciate FMV games and embrace this unique medium. As for us, we’ll keep experimenting with new types of level design—striving to make FMV games more engaging, emotional, and fun to play.
And before we go, a little self-promotion:
Our romance FMV “Such a Guy (有这么一个家伙)” will be released on Steam on October 15.
We sincerely hope it brings you a warm and delightful journey.