Software:Love and Deepspace

From HandWiki
Short description: 2024 Otome mobile game
Love and Deepspace
Developer(s)Papergames
Publisher(s)
  • CHN: Papergames
  • WW: Infold Games
SeriesMr. Love[1]
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Android, iOS
Release18 January 2024
Genre(s)Otome, gacha, action role-playing game
Mode(s)Single-player

Love and Deepspace [lower-alpha 1] is a Chinese mobile game developed by 叠纸网络 (zh) (with publishing outside mainland China under Infold Games). The game is a spin-off of Software:Mr Love: Queen's Choice and released as the next installment of the Mr. Love series. It was released on Android and iOS on 18 January 2024. The game has received generally positive reviews and achieved commercial success.

Gameplay

Love and Deepspace is an otome game rendered in 3D graphics.[2][3] The player takes control of a female Deepspace Hunter, whose name, appearance, and voice can be customized by the player.[4][5] The game is a live service game that uses a gacha system known as "wishes", where the player is able to randomly draw cards known as "memories" featuring each of the five companions.[6][4][7][8][9] While the game is free-to-play, in-app purchases can be made for extra currency and character costumes.[7] The story is told in a visual novel format, with several fully-voiced 3D cutscenes included.[5]

The player is able to interact with the companions in the game through "dates", which consists of the Kitty Cards and claw machine mini games, as well as special audio and visual stories unlockable through acquiring specific memories.[8][10] Special types of stories, known as "myths", are only accessible through limited-run memories and reveal important plot points related to the protagonist's personal history with the companions.[11] Affinity with the companions can be raised through leveling up memories, reading and listening to their stories, and interacting with their messages.[8] In addition to dates, the player can also spend time with any companion in real-time with activities such as studying and exercising. The version 3.0 update on 18 January 2025 introduced a menstrual cycle tracker.

The player can engage in combat with one of the companions through action role-playing gameplay elements to fight extraterrestrial beings called Wanderers.[2][9] Combat is integrated into the main story of the game and offers rewards during events.[12] Combat is also used to farm items to upgrade memories,[12] as well as optional story missions in listed in the UNICORNS Operations and Abyssal Chaos sections.[13] Teams are built using the Stellactrum system, where memories of one companion are equipped based on color compatibility with the field.[14] A maximum of two Solar type memories can be chosen.[14] Certain Solar memories form a Memory Pair that allows for more battle capabilities.[14] Rare, limited-run memory pairs allow the player to partner up with a more powerful version of one of the companions.[9][11][14] Companions can be powered up through equipping and leveling up Protocores.[12]

The version 5.0 update on 31 December 2025 introduced a fully customizable home that can be decorated by the player and visited by the love interests.[15]

Synopsis

Setting and characters

Love and Deepspace takes place in the fictional Linkon City, where in the year 2034,[16] a Deepspace Tunnel opened up in the area, leading extraterrestrial beings known as Wanderers to ravage the area in an event known as the Chronorift Catastrophe. In response, the Hunters Association was established and has protected the city ever since, using special abilities called Evol to defend themselves.[16] The main antagonist in the game is EVER, a biotechnological research organization.

The female protagonist is a newly inaugurated Deepspace Hunter working on the UNICORNS team with the Resonance Evol, which allows her to amplify other people's Evol skills and perform team attacks. The love interests in the game consist of Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, and Caleb,[17] who all have their own Evol and a personal conflict against EVER. Special stories unlocked through achieving certain memories reveal that each of the companions were lovers with the protagonist in several of her past and future lives.[11]

Xavier is a Deepspace Hunter and the protagonist's co-worker, who she meets on the first day of her job, using the Light Evol to fight.[16] Xavier is later revealed to be from the future and the prince of the planet Philos.[18] He is also a member of the Backtrackers, a group of Philosians from the future who had traveled back in time to find solutions to prevent Philos and his version of the protagonist from dying.[18] Zayne is the protagonist's childhood friend and primary physician with the Ice Evol;[16] though he has no memories of his previous lives, he regularly has nightmares from a parallel version of himself called Dawnbreaker.[19] He is also an emissary of the god Astra.[19] Rafayel is a painter with the Fire Evol who employs the protagonist as his bodyguard.[17] He is later revealed to be a Lemurian, an ancient race of merfolk, who are hunted by humans.[20] Rafayel is also a sea god who created a bond with one of the protagonist's previous incarnations; because he can only revive the Lemurian civilization by killing and taking her heart, he actively attempts to find ways to revive it without her death.[20]

Later updates in Love and Deepspace added Sylus and Caleb as love interests. Sylus, introduced in the version 2.0 update, is the leader of the crime organization Onychinus who resides in N109, a crime-infested location outside of Linkon City that was destroyed from the Chronorift Catastrophe.[17] He uses the Energy Evol. Sylus is revealed to be part of a race of dragons who is cursed to kill the protagonist.[21] Caleb is the protagonist's adopted older brother with the Gravity Evol.[lower-alpha 2] He was initially seen early in the story as a non-playable character in the main story campaign and seemingly dies shortly after his introduction.[23] The version 3.0 update reintroduces him as a love interest, where he is the colonel of the Farspace Fleet.[23] As a child, Caleb remembers that he and the protagonist were both part of EVER's human experiments, leading him to designate himself as her protector.[24] Since being revived by EVER, Caleb has a Toring Chip implanted in him, which the protagonist feels is related to his change in personality.[23]

Plot

14 years after the Chronorift Catastrophe, the protagonist is initiated as a new Deepspace Hunter and begins fighting Wanderers, who leave behind energy crystals called Protocores. Shortly after, the protagonist's family home is bombed, killing her adoptive family. Her adoptive grandmother, Josephine, leaves behind secret files revealing that she had been involved in illegal human experimentation, where a piece of a rare and powerful Protocore called the Aether Core had been fused to the protagonist's heart. The protagonist learns that she has become a target by EVER, who aim to use the Aether Core to explore the Deepspace Tunnel and seek immortality.

Resolving to learn more about the Aether Core experiments, the protagonist investigates N109. With the help of Sylus, she learns that it was once inhabited by the Gaia Research Center. After returning to Linkon City, the protagonist is sent on missions to safeguard more Aether Cores. During a mission to Skyhaven, the protagonist discovers that Wanderers were once humans who were infected by the Protocore Syndrome.

Concerned about EVER, the Hunters Association decide to move their Spatial Core, a powerful Aether Core, to a different location, but they are attacked by EVER operatives and the protagonist accidentally absorbs it into her own body. Curious about her origins, the protagonist returns to N109 to investigate the Gaia Research Center, where she finds Dimitri, one of Josephine's former co-workers. Dimitri reveals that the protagonist is an astral being born from the Deepspace Tunnel; her birth was the cause Wanderers appearing and the Chronorift Catastrophe. When he attempts to kill her and send her back through the Deepspace Tunnel, the protagonist realizes she is connected to the life cycle of the planet. Sylus rescues her, and Dimitri is killed.

Development and release

Papergames first announced that Love and Deepspace was in development on 23 October 2020 through a promotional trailer.[16] Pre-registrations for the game opened on 2 November 2023,[25] and a closed beta test was offered to a limited audience from 15 December 2023 to 21 December 2023.[26] Love and Deepspace was released globally on Android and iOS on 18 January 2024. The game was released as a spin-off to Software:Mr Love: Queen's Choice and as the second installment to the Mr. Love series.[26][27] Papergames also marketed Love and Deepspace as the "first 3D otome game" in China.[7][28][29]

Lizi, the creator of Love and Deepspace, stated in 2025 that the original objective of Papergames was to create a 3D game that "would be well-received."[3] In creating Love and Deepspace, Papergames decided on a science fiction setting, as it was popular in 2018 and 2019, but also decided to add romance elements to create an "interesting clash" of genres.[3] The game uses 3D capture to make the characters "life-like" and a love interest generally takes around two years to design.[3]

In order to create a more "immersive" experience, Papergames included as many activities as possible that were similar to real-life romantic experiences, such as chatting with a love interest and playing games together.[30] Lizi also stated that the combat system was integrated into Love and Deepspace as the idea of "fighting side by side" was "crucial" in the concept of the game.[30][13] She stated that the idea came from how people in relationships view themselves as equals,[30] and that it represented the experience of "two people facing life's challenges together."[13]

Version 2.0, subtitled "Opposing Visions", was released as part of Love and Deepspace's half-year anniversary on 15 July 2024 and introduced Sylus as a playable character.[17] Version 3.0, subtitled "Cosmic Encounter", was released on 31 December 2024 as part of the game's first-year anniversary, with Caleb introduced as a playable character on 22 January 2025 during the second update, "Cosmic Encounter Part 2".[17][31] Version 4.0, subtitled "Witnessed By Deepspace", was released on 3 July 2025.[13] Version 5.0, subtitled "2nd Anniversary", was released on 31 December 2025.[15]

Music

The version 1.0 theme song of Love and Deepspace, which inspires the game's title, is sung by Sarah Brightman. Brightman describes the song as "exud[ing] a mysterious and ethereal ambience ... tinged with a little bit of melancholy." According to Brightman, she "adopted the perspective of a cosmic observer, or you could say a wandering poet, infusing it with a sense of cosmic mystery and the notion of transcending the river of time".[1] The version 2.0 theme song titled "Visions opposées", is sung by Mikelangelo Loconte and produced in collaboration with the original creators behind Mozart, l'opéra rock.[32][33] The version 3.0 theme song is a Chinese song titled "Cosmic Encounter", performed by vocalist 吴碧霞 (zh).[34] The version 4.0 theme song titled "Witnessed by Deepspace", is performed by Angela Zhang.[35]

Reception

Reception
Review score
PublicationScore
Pocket Gamer4/5[36]

Love and Deepspace has gained popularity worldwide since its global launch. Its download numbers surpassed 10 million by the third day of its launch,[38] and by 2025, 50 million players were registered worldwide.[39] GameSpot listed Love and Deepspace as one of the best games of 2025, praising it for its interactivity.[40] Famitsu praised the inclusion of the home feature in the version 5.0 update.[41] However, IGN criticized the game for the lighting issues for dark-skinned character customizations.[42]

Commercial performance

In Japan, Sensor Tower reported that it was the most downloaded and highest-grossing interactive story game from January to September 2024, amassing nearly $30 million.[43] As of March 2025, the game has an accumulated global revenue of over $500 million on the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store, with markets outside of China accounting for 40% of the total revenue, based on data from analytics firm Sensor Tower.[2] Studies attribute the success in revenue to both the blend in 3D and ethereal games elements, as well as the 'SHEconomy', since the game is realistic and caters to women's needs and desire for equality, respect and independence.[7][28]

Accolades

Love and Deepspace won the Best Mobile Game in 2025 Gamescom Awards.[44] This marks the first time in history that an otome game has been nominated for and received an award at Gamescom.[45] At the 2025 NYX Game Awards, Love and Deepspace received two honors in the Mobile Game category: Best Experience (Grand) and Best Game Design (Gold).[46]

On 26 August 2024,[47] Papergames issued a statement demanding the removal of a diss track by Chinese rapper Pact, which it said contained unauthorized use of gameplay footage with distorted and derogatory remarks,[48] and would take legal actions on this matter.[47] After the statement, Pact deleted the video and re-released a version with no gameplay footage, though the video would be deleted again later.[49] This first court session was conducted on 14 January 2025 at the Yangpu District People's Court of Shanghai.[47]

Notes

  1. ↑ Chinese: 恋与深空; pinyin: Liàn yǔ Shēn kōng
  2. ↑ The original version and Asian-language localizations refer to Caleb as the protagonist's adopted older brother;[22] however, the English localization refers to him as her childhood friend.[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Culwell-Block, Logan (18 January 2024). "Sarah Brightman Finally Travels to Deepspace... in Mobile Video Game". Playbill. https://playbill.com/article/sarah-brightman-finally-travels-to-deepspace-in-mobile-video-game. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Young Chinese women find virtual love in 'Deepspace'". Agence France-Presse. 2025-03-21. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250320-young-chinese-women-find-virtual-love-in-deepspace. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lamb, Joshua (2025-09-03). "Love And Deepspace's Creator Discusses The Mobile Game's Success". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshualamb/2025/09/03/exclusive-love-and-deepspaces-creator-discusses-the-mobile-games-success/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jarrett, Miranda (22 March 2024). "Why otome is the new go-to for gaming collaborations in China". https://daoinsights.com/opinions/why-otome-is-the-new-go-to-for-gaming-collaborations-in-china/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Csaki, Eva (2025-03-07). "Love And Deepspace: How To Change Your Appearance". https://www.thegamer.com/love-and-deepspace-how-to-change-your-look. 
  6. ↑ Jones, Rebecca (2026-01-06). "Love and Deepspace banners: Current banner, next banner, and a complete list of past banners". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-banners. Retrieved 2026-01-06. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Tang, C (25 October 2024). "Consumer-Oriented Marketing Strategy of Chinese Domestic Otome Games: A Case Study of Love and Deepspace". Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences 117 (1): 19–25. doi:10.54254/2754-1169/117/20242055. https://www.ewadirect.com/proceedings/aemps/article/view/15986. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Csaki, Eva (2024-09-07). "How To Raise Affinity In Love And Deepspace". https://www.thegamer.com/love-and-deepspace-how-to-increase-affinity/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Low, Samantha (2025-02-01). "Gaming's feminine side is starting to make big bucks". The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/02/01/digital/dating-sim-dress-up-games-profit/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  10. ↑ Csaki, Eva (2025-02-01). "How To Go On Dates In Love And Deepspace". https://www.thegamer.com/love-and-deepspace-all-date-types/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Csaki, Eva (2025-03-07). "How To Get Myth Shards In Love And Deepspace". https://www.thegamer.com/love-and-deepspace-myth-completion-guide/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Csaki, Eva (2024-10-01). "How To Get Protocores In Love And Deepspace". https://www.thegamer.com/love-and-deepspace-how-to-complete-core-hunt/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Cogswell, Jessica (2025-08-06). "The Death Of Your Love Interests In Love And Deepspace Isn't Off The Table". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-death-of-your-love-interests-in-love-and-deepspace-isnt-off-the-table/1100-6533741/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Jones, Rebecca (2025-12-02). "Love and Deepspace Memory Pairs explained". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-memory-pairs. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Rin (2025-12-31). "［プレイレポ］「恋と深空」Ver5.0「2周年盛典」先行体験。ホームで深まる日常と，全宙帝国を舞台にした思念の物語". 4Gamer.net. https://www.4gamer.net/games/535/G053594/20251224062/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Saga (2020-10-23). "「恋プロ」のSF版!? スマホ向け新作3D恋愛アクションゲーム「恋与深空」が中国で発表に" (in ja). 4Gamer.net. https://www.4gamer.net/games/535/G053594/20201023024/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Honmaru Neko Zaemon (2024-01-18). "あなたに恋して，もう1年が経ちました。「恋と深空」の奇跡の軌跡をたどるアニバーサリー特集！" (in ja). 4Gamer.net. https://www.4gamer.net/games/535/G053594/20250114017/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Jones, Rebecca (2025-05-14). "Love and Deepspace Xavier: His lore and backstory explained". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-xavier-lore-backstory. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Jones, Rebecca (2025-05-15). "Love and Deepspace Zayne: His lore and backstory explained". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-zayne-lore-backstory. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Jones, Rebecca (2025-05-16). "Love and Deepspace Rafayel: His lore and backstory explained". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-rafayel-lore-backstory. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  21. ↑ Jones, Rebecca (2025-05-14). "Love and Deepspace Sylus: How to unlock him, and his lore and backstory explained". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-unlock-sylus. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  22. ↑ Honmaru Neko Zaemon (2025-01-22). "マヒルの引力に抗えない……！ 「恋と深空」1周年アプデで待望のお兄ちゃんが実装!!" (in ja). 4Gamer.net. https://www.4gamer.net/games/535/G053594/20250121024/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Csaki, Eva (2025-01-29). "Who Is Caleb In Love And Deepspace?". https://www.thegamer.com/love-and-deepspace-caleb-lore-backstory-explained/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  24. ↑ Jones, Rebecca (2025-05-16). "Love and Deepspace Caleb: How to unlock him, and his lore and backstory explained". VG247. https://www.vg247.com/love-and-deepspace-unlock-caleb. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  25. ↑ Bashō (2023-11-02). "「恋とプロデューサー」の世界観を継承した「恋と深空」，事前登録受付を開始。彼と一緒に未知なる敵との戦いに挑む" (in ja). 4Gamer.net. https://www.4gamer.net/games/535/G053594/20231102028/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Love and Deepspace's limited Android Regional closed beta test begins December 15th". Big Games Machine. 2023-12-15. https://www.biggamesmachine.com/client-news/love-and-deepspace-cbt-dec-2023/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  27. ↑ "叠纸发布「恋与」系列第二作，居然是一款3D恋爱动作游戏？" (in zh). 23 October 2020. https://www.sohu.com/a/426864516_204824. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 He, S (19 December 2024). "Analysis of the Marketing Strategy of Chinese Otome Game Industry - Taking Love and Deep Space as an Example". Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences 129 (1): 70–75. doi:10.54254/2754-1169/2024.18386. https://www.ewadirect.com/proceedings/aemps/article/view/18386. 
  29. ↑ Wu, Jessie (2024-01-24). "First 3D otome game Love and Deepspace triggers fierce competition in China around female-centric romance gaming". https://technode.com/2024/01/24/first-3d-otome-game-love-and-deepspace-triggers-fierce-competition-in-china-around-female-centric-romance-gaming/. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Honmaru Neko Zaemon (2024-01-17). "［インタビュー］乙女ゲームのトップランナー対談が実現！ オトメイトと「恋と深空」のInfoldgamesが語る，ときめきの作り方とは" (in ja). 4Gamer.net. https://www.4gamer.net/games/535/G053594/20240110030/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  31. ↑ Tan, Amanda (2025-01-10). "Love and Deepspace just added a period tracker to the game — plus shocking dark Caleb reveal". One eSports. https://www.oneesports.gg/gaming/love-and-deepspace-period-tracker-caleb/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  32. ↑ "Love and Deepspace gets its biggest update yet as 'Opposing Visions' introduces a mysterious new character, Sylus". 15 July 2024. https://www.gamespress.com/Love-and-Deepspace-gets-its-biggest-update-yet-as-Opposing-Visions-int. 
  33. ↑ "Love and Deepspace's 'biggest update yet' arrives with Opposing Visions". 15 July 2024. https://www.pocketgamer.com/love-and-deepspace/opposing-visions/. 
  34. ↑ "Love and Deepspace celebrates first anniversary with new update". 22 January 2025. https://www.pocketgamer.com/love-and-deepspace/first-anniversary-and-cosmic-encounters-part-two/. 
  35. ↑ "Love and Deepspace's Version 4.0 update lets you sleep with its love interests". 3 July 2025. https://www.gosugamers.net/entertainment/news/75928-love-and-deepspace-s-version-4-0-update-lets-you-sleep-with-its-love-interests. 
  36. ↑ "Love and Deepspace review - "Absolute eye candy and unapologetic romance"". 26 January 2024. https://www.pocketgamer.com/love-and-deepspace/review/. 
  37. ↑ "Love and Deepspace". 13 April 2024. https://www.rpgfan.com/review/love-and-deepspace/. 
  38. ↑ ""我玩乙女游戏，不是因为想恋爱"". The Paper. 29 January 2024. https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_26164648. 
  39. ↑ Wong, Calista (11 April 2025). "Virtual romance, real money: Why some S'poreans spend 4 figures for love in Deepspace". The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/virtual-romance-real-money-why-some-sporeans-spend-up-to-4-figures-to-find-love-in-deepspace. 
  40. ↑ Diaz, Ana (2025-12-29). "How Love And Deepspace Became A Viral Phenomenon In 2025". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-love-and-deepspace-became-a-viral-phenomenon-in-2025/1100-6537076/. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  41. ↑ Mastocyte (2025-12-31). "『恋と深空』半年で同棲解消した私が「今度こそは」と、彼をつなぎとめられる部屋を模索したら、庭に風呂ができていた" (in ja). Famitsu. https://www.famitsu.com/article/202512/61468. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  42. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (2025-10-31). "Love and Deepspace Devs Respond to Player Complaints That Their Dark-Skinned Custom Characters Are Invisible in Cutscenes". Famitsu. https://www.ign.com/articles/love-and-deepspace-devs-respond-to-player-complaints-that-their-dark-skinned-custom-characters-are-invisible-in-cutscenes. Retrieved 2026-01-04. 
  43. ↑ "Infinity Nikki developer's mobile hit Love and Deepspace makes chart-topping profits in Japan". 11 December 2024. https://automaton-media.com/en/news/infinity-nikki-developers-mobile-hit-love-and-deepspace-makes-chart-topping-profits-in-japan/. 
  44. ↑ "gamescom award 2025". https://www.gamescom.global/en/program/gamescom-award. 
  45. ↑ "创造历史！沪产游戏《恋与深空》获德国科隆展最佳移动游戏奖" (in zh). Shangguan News. 22 August 2025. https://www.jfdaily.com/staticsg/res/html/web/newsDetail.html?id=969537. 
  46. ↑ Awards, NYX Game. "NYX Game Awards" (in en). https://nyxgameawards.com/winner.php. 
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 "说唱歌手炮轰乙女游戏后续：叠纸游戏诉歌手派克特侵权将开庭" (in zh). Southern Metropolis Daily. 17 December 2024. https://m.mp.oeeee.com/a/BAAFRD0000202412171035418.html. 
  48. ↑ Jiaohao, Li. "Mobile game operator threatens legal action against rapper PACT" (in en). https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2408280998/. 
  49. ↑ "网易腾讯纷纷下场，与嘻哈歌手激烈对战的乙女游戏究竟啥来头". Southern Metropolis Daily. 30 August 2024. https://m.mp.oeeee.com/a/BAAFRD000020240830994641.html. 

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