1991 · Gainax · Simulation · Adventure

Princess Maker

After defeating an evil demon, the player is in charge of raising a war orphan, Maria. There are 74 possible endings in which the daughter can grow up to work anything from a humble job such as a soldier or a mason, to a prestigious job such as Archbishop or Prime Minister, to a "dark side" job such as prostitute or crime lord.

Released: 21 May 1991
Platforms: Dreamcast MSX PC-9800 Series PlayStation PlayStation 2 Sharp X68000 TurboGrafx-16 WonderSwan Color
Genres: Simulation Adventure
Developers: Gainax
Publishers: Gainax
Modes: Single-player
Themes: Fantasy

About

Princess Maker (プリンセスメーカー, Purinsesu Mēkā), commonly abbreviated in Japanese fan usage as PuriMe (プリメ), is a series of raising simulation bishōjo games in which the player assumes the role of a parental figure raising a young girl. The series was produced by the video game and anime production company Gainax.

Gameplay across the series centers on scheduling the daughter's activities over a fixed span of in-game years, from childhood to adulthood. Players allocate time and money to activities, which in turn shape her abilities. At the conclusion of the game, these accumulated choices determine one of many possible endings, ranging from royalty to ordinary professions or more troubled futures.

Keywords

life simulation
multiple endings

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Reception

Princess Maker is recognized as the progenitor of the "raising simulation" genre, sparking a wave of games focused on nurturing virtual characters. In 1995, Game Conference highlighted how the game's premise of raising a child in a simulation format resonated with societal shifts, especially in the context of Japan's declining birth rate and the growing sense of loneliness in modern households.

In Taiwan, Princess Maker is described as having left a lasting impression on players of the 1990s. In South Korea, Princess Maker is described as an early PC game that also attracted a significant female audience during the 1990s. The series was popular at the time. The series has had a lasting impact in Chinese-speaking regions, where Princess Maker gained popularity and continues to influence titles such as the Nikki series and Volcano Princess.