Collar x Malice is a visual novel developed by Otomate, originally released in 2016 for PlayStation Vita and later brought to Nintendo Switch. The story centers on Ichika Hoshino, a police officer on patrol in Shinjuku, Tokyo, who is ambushed and fitted with a poison-filled collar. The attack draws her into the unfolding X-Day Incident, a case being pursued by five former police officers. Players navigate Ichika's involvement in the investigation across multiple narrative routes, with the threat of the collar serving as a constant source of tension throughout. The game belongs to the otome visual novel tradition, structuring its story around Ichika's relationships with the five investigators as the mystery at the heart of the incident gradually comes to light.
