Visual novels are well-known for their ability to enamor audiences with deep world-building and complex characters, all while holding a more intense narrative. However, while famous additionslike theFateseriesare far more popular overseas, few worlds have enamored audiences as much as the world ofUtawarerumono.
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Withfascinating fantasy-like elementsand incredibly suspenseful twists, the world of theUtawarerumonovisual novelshas built something of a cult following. That said, as is often the case of video games that stray through different types of media, many fans are confused about the order that they should play the games and watchthe accompanying anime.
What Is Utawarerumono?
TheUtawarerumonoseries was created back in 2002 by Leaf. Naturally, the series has a variety of entries, with most falling intothe visual novel-RPG genre. Among these entries, there have also been several different types of alternate media to enjoy the story ofUtawarerumono. Here’s the right order to experience them in, in order to get the full story.
Game Order
Without a doubt, theUtawarerumonogames are the more popular media in the series. As visual novels with RPG gameplay, theUtawarerumonovideo games are perfect for viewers that want an interactive experience. At the current moment, there arethreemain games in theUtawarerumonoseries,with two additional side serieshack and slash gamesthat offer a different way to enjoy the series' storyline.
Prelude of the Fallen
TheUtawarerumonoseries has two main protagonists: Hakuowlo and Haku. The first game in the series,Utawareru: Prelude of the Fallen, tells the story of Hakuowlo. Canonically, this is the first game to occur in the series' timeline, so players should start here if they want to start at the very beginning.
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The story ofUtawarerumono’sfirst installment focuses on Hakuowlo, a mysterious amnesiac man found unconscious in the forest, and Eruruu, the animal-like girl that nurses him back to health. Together, the two will learn about the world around them, as well as the mysteries of the mask glued to Hakuowlo’s face.
Mask of Deception
After the first game, the series changes protagonists. This time,Utawarerumono: Mask of Deceptiontells the story of Haku and Kuon. If players want to go in chronological order, they should opt to playMask of Deceptionafter they playUtawarerumono. That said, either can be played and enjoyed as stand-alone stories.
Mask of Deceptionmarks the first appearance of Haku, another amnesiac man, who is found by the daughter of a nearby village named Kuon. Little does Haku know, he is crucial to the legends of the world. Meanwhile, his partner Kuon has more to her than meets the eyes.
Mask of Truth
The final installment of theUtawarerumonotrilogy,Utawarerumono: Mask of Truthmarks the dramatic conclusion of Haku and Kuon’s story afterMask of Deception. That said,Utawarerumono: Mask of Truthis not really a stand-alone game that can be played without any context, at least not for players that enjoy a conclusive plot. In order to have a full grasp of everything occurring in the game, players are recommended to playUtawarerumono: Mask of Deceptionbefore theypick up the sequel.
Utawarerumono: Zan Side Games
Of the two side games currently in the series,Utawarerumono: Zanwas the first to be released back in 2018. Unlike the visual novels that make up the core games in the series,Utawarerumono: Zanis a hack-and-slash game filled with thrilling gameplay; players that didn’t enjoy the visual novel elements of the other games may enjoyUtawarerumono: Zanmore. For players looking to playZaninstead of the main series games, it adapts the events ofUtawarerumono: Mask of Deception.
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Much like its predecessor,Utawarerumono: Zan 2takes to telling the story of another one of the main series games in a different medium. In this case, it’s a hack-and-slash retelling of the events inUtawarerumono: Mask of Truth. Overall, the experience of these two side games may be better for fans that enjoy action more than strategy.
Monochrome Moebius: Toki no Taika
Unlike the other entries in the series,Monochrome Moebius: Toki no Taikahasyet to be released. Still in development, the game is expected to releasesometime during 2022.Fans of theUtawarerumonoseries should keep an eye out, asMonochrome Moebiusis expected to set a precedent for the series moving forward.
Anime Order
In addition to the games,Utawarerumonoalso has had multiple anime adaptations: an original made in 2006,Utawarerumono: The False Facesin 2015, andUtawarerumono: Mask of Truthset to release in July 2022.
Utawarerumonoadapts the first game in the series,Prelude of the Fallen.Utawarerumono: The False Faces,though the name may suggest a different story entirely, adapts the second entry in the series,Mask of Deception.Naturally,Utawarerumono: Mask of Truthadapts its namesake, the final installment in the series.
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Altogether, fans do not need to watch the anime series to fully grasp the plot of the games, nor vice versa. Instead, viewers can choose whichever medium suits their tastes better: an interactive video game series, a laid-back anime series, or perhaps both.
Manga and Other Media
In addition to the video game series and the subsequent anime adaptation, there have also been two manga releases for theUtawarerumonoseries, both focused on the characters foundPrelude of the Fallen. That said, for an English-speaking audience, these adaptations maybe a little bit more difficult to get a hold of than the video games or anime. Nonetheless, should fans manage to get ahold of theUtawarerumono, they will find a more lighthearted set of stories, which can be read separatelyfrom the main series' plotline.
In addition to the manga adaptations ofUtawarerumono, the series also released a variety of drama CDs and other forms of distributed media. Characters from the series also made an appearance in Aquaplus’sAquapazza: Aquaplus Dream Matchfighting game along with characters from various other Leaf games.
Utawarerumono: Mask of Truthis available on PS3, PS4, PS Vita, and Microsoft Windows.
