Ladykiller in a Bind

Ladykiller in a Bind is an interesting visual novel, and a good introduction to BDSM erotica. Its plot is on-the-nose, it has few characters I could relate to, yet I was hooked by the kinky comedic writing and the originality of its mechanics. Here are some of the highlights.
Dialogue options appear progressively throughout a scene, as if the protagonist was coming up with witty comebacks mid-conversation. You get to choose when to butt in, which makes dialogue between three or more characters feel much more natural. The game is also kind enough to tell you when staying silent will unlock further options or attract suspicion.
Options are also prefixed with their tone (Diplomatic, Ruthless, Flirty, etc.), preventing the far too common problem in games like Mass Effect, The Witcher, or Baldur's Gate 3, where you select a tame line only for the character to say something overtly flirtatious or extremely racist. Ladykiller in a Bind goes out of its way to convey exactly what each choice will do mechanically and narratively.
In this game, you play as a girl pretending to be her twin brother. Acting too out of character for him will attract suspicion, and if your suspicion maxes out, the game's over. On the flip side, being especially nice to certain characters can earn your some favours, or votes for the popularity contest you're all taking a part in. The game clearly identifies which options will earn you votes and suspicion, or unlock/abandon a character's route, so it's up to you to decide if you just want to work your way into someone's bed, do anything to win the competition, or just stay out of trouble.
These mechanics tie into the game's exploration of BDSM during some erotic scenes. At night, you can let a certain someone do whatever she wants with you to lower your suspicion, and you can take advantage of a certain someone else to earn more votes. This gives a certain transactional aspect to all the sexual encounters in this game, and exploring how that makes you feel is the whole point of the game.
That said, this game's visuals don't get much steamier than what you see in the trailer. The art is only there to assist the immersion. If you're used to explicit smut made to provide cheap thrills and appeal to the male gaze, you might want to adjust your expectations. Here, it's all about the foreplay, the roleplay, and the aftercare.
PS: I haven't played this game recently, but I figured I ought to write a review for it since it has been sitting in my favourites for a while.

This game is simply wonderful. I have to say that just the core conceit is a stroke of brilliance in terms of its' capacity for empathy building while maintaining a high level of personal engagement. You are roleplaying as a butch lesbian who is roleplaying as her insufferably self-important ostensibly-straight brother, and within that extremely abstract famework, the primary narrative is one of the underlying butch lesbian accidentally discovering a specific way in which she enjoys expressing herself in a more femme way, through the lens of power exchange.

And, on a more surface level, the art is just top tier. Even if you're not personally much into the anime aesthetic, it is impossible not to appreciate the beauty of the characters and especially their clothes. It is also straightforwardly funny in a way I found quite endearing.

It is a game that engages directly with sexuality in a way most games do not, but it is not a fap game. And importantly, it is very interested in the ways in which sexuality can help us discover parts of ourselves we might not otherwise have confronted. It is probably the best example I have found of a work that uses video games as a medium to engage with sexuality in a way unique to and strengthened by the medium.

This is one of the best games I've ever played. The characters are all likeable in their own ways and their designs are fantastic. The writing had me laughing my ass off and I was invested in both the story and its characters. Full of nerdy references that made me squeal and I think I even had more fun on the second time around.

I liked this game a lot. I played this through it four times because I wanted to try different play styles/ choices.
This game draws you into it's quirky story telling and makes tough choices fun.

Holy shit this visual novel is good. Like, really good. The entire piece is brimming with truly sensual queerness and some amazing introduction to bdsm/sexual power dynamics. I cannot express how much I love it all.
This the single best part of this game is the way it actively shows what key components of good safe sex, and particularly the nessesary parts of kinky and BDSM sex are. Both you and some of the more mature characters make clear the importance of things like making sure there is true consent and that participating parties are enthusiasticly enjoying themselves. To be fair, there is shit that does not follow this but it is also obvious that those actions would be fucked up in real life and that fiction is a safer space to explore them. And for all of that and more, I really fucking love this game.
That said, there is a need to know what you are signing up for. There are parts that could definitly activate tramua tho they kind of fits the theme of it all. Just, its fiction and is exploring dynamics that are interesting and can be so good but may be some of the most fucked up shit ever if it were real.
Remember that you can always always go into the settings and turn on the option that makes a lil button appear in the upper corner to skip any sex scene.
And lastly, you have the power. You can always always close the game.
(Originally written at 8 hours into the game. Now at 17 hours this game has caused me to cry sevral times. Take that as you will)

An incredibly empathetic, character-driven, and beautifully crafted game. It lets you shape your own journey and personality, immersing you in a richly woven narrative. The experience is brimming with humor, seduction, deceit, consent, emotional challenges, and so much more. With deeply impactful choices, the player feels truly empowered. A prime example of how a video game can elevate the storytelling of a graphic or written novel. 10/10. Time to dive into alternative storylines!

I guess i like being topped by girls who are a little scary now.