''Famitsu'', ''4Gamer.net'',{{cite web |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/410/G041082/20200328002/ |title=女装覚醒アドベンチャー「ボク姫PROJECT」の新情報公開。キーとなるキャラクター達を物語の展開に沿って紹介 |language=Japanese |author=Matsumoto, Ryūichi |date=2020-04-02 |website=[[4Gamer.net]] |publisher=Aetas, Inc. |access-date=2020-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416082539/https://www.4gamer.net/games/410/G041082/20200328002/ |archive-date=2020-04-16 |url-status=live}} ''IGN'', and ''Inside''{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2020/01/06/126669.html |title=『ボク姫PROJECT』主人公・エリカくんの可憐な姿が満載!各店舗特典ラインナップ公開 |language=Japanese |date=2020-01-06 |website=Inside |publisher=IID, Inc. |access-date=2020-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206072702/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2020/01/06/126669.html |archive-date=2020-02-06 |url-status=live}}"}},"i":0}}]}"> [28] who thought that its themes were unique and left a big impression, and that it was understandable that the publisher would be hesitant in greenlighting a game like it; [10] [24] [26] Famitsu were positively surprised that a game with cross-dressing themes could be published for a mainstream audience. [24] What's In? recommended the game both to fans of otokonoko works, and to people new to the genre. [6]
IGN , Famitsu and What's In? liked the game's story, [6] [24] [26] with Famitsu praising the characters for being easy to empathize with and having a lot of personality, although criticizing the flow of the story for being intense, and the setting for feeling unbelievable; [24] What's In? liked the balance between seriousness and comedy, praising the story's at times unexpectedly dark tone and its manzai humor, and found the supporting cast strong. [6] Dengeki Online liked the game's atmosphere, calling it "refreshing", and thought this was reflected in the cuteness of its opening theme. [29] Gamer, too, liked the music. [30]
Famitsu criticized the game for featuring little interaction, and said that what was there was not very exciting; [24] What's In disagreed, calling it fun to raise the protagonist's cuteness statistics, describing it as feeling similar to role-playing games. They also liked the Girl's Emotion Mode, and appreciated how uncomplicated it was to access the game's different routes. [6] The visuals and illustrations were well received; Inside called them "gorgeous", [27] Famitsu liked the cute aesthetic and "adorable" character designs, [24] and What's In? said that Ikusa's "super cute" design helps motivate the player to make progress in the game. [6]
Bokuhime Project was ranked as one of the most anticipated games of the year among Japanese video game players in a survey conducted by Famitsu in early 2020, [31] and was listed by Kotaku as one of the big video game releases of the season. [32] It almost sold out at online stores by May 2020, particularly the Nintendo Switch version, [33] but did not rank on Famitsu's weekly top 30 chart of best selling physical video games in Japan during its debut week, meaning that retail stores were estimated to have sold less than 2,700 copies on each platform during that time period. [34] In a post-launch interview, the developers described the game as a moderate success, although noted that they saw sales growing over time, and that they had managed to reach people who are not normally interested in bishōjo games or games with cross-dressing themes. [14] In November 2020, Bokuhime Project was noted as a contributing factor to Nippon Ichi Software making a profit in the April–September 2020 period. [35]
As part of building a fanbase prior to getting the game greenlit, the manga Bokuhime-sama to Otome Shugi [lower-alpha 2] by Daikokudou Ikuya was serialized in the magazine Dengeki PlayStation , starting on July 27, 2017 in volume 643, in issue 8 of the appendix DenPlay Comic, [36] [37] and was well received. [6] Two short Bokuhime Project audio dramas were released through Twitter on June 7–8, 2020: one featuring Ikusa and Marika, and one featuring Daria and Ouga. [38] A third audio drama featuring Lira was released on July 26. [39] The 25-track Bokuhime Project Perfect Soundtrack album was released by Nippon Ichi Software on CD on June 26, 2020 through their online store, [40] and includes a karaoke version of the theme song and a newly recorded "full" version of the ending theme, in addition to the original soundtrack. [30] A short story based on the game is planned, which will focus on the relationship between the two highest-ranked characters in a Bokuhime Project character popularity poll that was held in May 2020. [41]
In 2020, Jobana said that he would like to develop a sequel to Bokuhime Project set in the Meiji era (1868–1912), during the founding of Yuriai Private Academy, but that he would have to finish development of another game he was working on at the time before making specific plans. [14]
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