Sweet Ange (Japan)

Sweet Ange is a Japan-exclusive Game Boy Color game from KOEI, part of the Angelique series. Released only in Japan around the late 90s, this title blends cooking simulation with light dating sim elements. It takes place years before the first Angelique game, so the characters are younger and the setting is Smallney Academy, a school focused on culinary arts.

You start by picking one of four protagonists: Angelique Limoges, Rosalia de Catargena, Angelique Collet, or Rachel Hart. Your main goal is to win the Rose Contest, Smallney Academy's cooking competition. To succeed you must learn recipes, collect ingredients, and build relationships with the Sweet Knights - each associated with a confection or drink category. The dating sim part comes from spending time with these characters, which can unlock new recipes or boost your contest performance.

The core loop involves exploring the school, talking to characters, and cooking dishes. Menus are entirely in Japanese, so a translation guide or knowledge of the language is helpful. Experiment with ingredient combinations and pay attention to the hints each Sweet Knight gives. Save often and don't be afraid to restart if you make a mistake - the contest is forgiving but rewards preparation.