Visual novels often get a bad rap as cliché anime games that feature scantily clad schoolgirls and steamy romance scenes, and while adult content is never far from this medium, it’s certainly not all it has to offer. In fact, there are plenty of visual novels that deliver impactful stories without relying on fan service to keep its audience invested.
The visual novel industry is huge in Japan and it’s now more accessible than ever. Originally western audiences had to rely on fan patches or purchase sketchy bootleg copies to enjoy the best titles, but the medium has become increasingly popular overseas. As a result, we’re starting to see popular titles and more niche novels getting officially licensed English releases. However, choosing which visual novels to read can be rather intimidating, so we’ve put together a handy list of the very best the medium has to offer.
Note: We’re only including visual novels that are legally available and don’t rely on Japanese imports or fan patches.
Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate is one of the most successful visual novels to be released outside of Japan and it has all the twists and turns that you’d expect from a good sci-fi thriller. The story follows protagonist Rintaro Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad-scientist who spends his days conjuring up wacky inventions with his childhood friend and an otaku hacker. However, one day Okabe and his pals discover the means of changing the past via a rudimentary time machine. The rag-tag group eventually begin altering time through their various actions and they are plunged into tangled time loops and warped world lines. This time travel tale quickly takes a dark turn and all the characters are thrown into unforeseen situations that Okabe must desperately avoid. You can change the outcome of certain events simply by responding to phone calls or text messages, so you’ll get to see every character in a variety of ways. Steins;Gate is a must play for those looking for a rollercoaster ride of thrills and chills.
The Nonary Games (Zero Escape series)
This spine-tingling visual novel first hit the shelves back in 2009 with the Nintendo DS classic Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. There are currently three games in the series and two of them were ported to PC last year, as a remastered bundle called The Nonary Games, while Zero Time Dilemma currently stands on its own. In each game, nine people are locked in a venue by a mysterious figure called Zero, and are forced to play a game of life and death in order to escape. The gameplay is divided into novel sections, where the games' characters and stories are fleshed out, and escape sections, where the player must solve puzzles in various escape room scenarios. Some contraptions and puzzles look like they have come straight out of Saw, especially when characters die in particularly gruesome ways. If you enjoy puzzles with a gruesome twist, then the Zero Escape series could be what you’re looking for.
The Fruit of Grisaia
The Fruit of Grisaia sees Yuuji Kazami joining a school that only has five other students enrolled, but Mihama Academy is not your average learning institute. Upon entering the school Yuuji finds that every student is rather eccentric and he begins to uncover the reasons behind their strange personalities. Things get a little dark and listening to each character’s problems can make you feel like a psychiatrist at times, but the comical moments, strong characterization and overall quality of the translation make it one of the most popular visual novels available. While Grisaia features very few choices throughout its 50+ hour campaign, there are plenty of plot twists that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Danganronpa series
Danganronpa shares gameplay similarities to Zero Escape and Phoenix Wright, as it combines visual puzzle solving, evidence collecting and a courtroom trial. The games mostly revolve around a bunch of high school students who are forced to take part in a murderous battle royale. In order to escape this nightmare, a student must murder another and then survive a courtroom trial. However, if the player can successfully figure out who murdered the victim, the culprit alone will be executed. Unfortunately, if you guess incorrectly, the culprit will be able to leave the school and everyone else will be executed. To avoid this bloodbath you must gather evidence, collect clues and solve the various mysteries that will lead you to the culprit. The series’ dark humor, colorful cast and addictive gameplay never fails to deliver.
Higurashi When They Cry
Higurashi takes place in the quiet little village of Hinamizawa and protagonist Keiichi Maebara finds that life in the countryside isn’t as idyllic as he had been led to believe. Darkness lurks underneath the village’s seemingly peaceful exterior and its denizens are hiding a dirty secret. The story takes place in 1979 and revolves around a series of deaths and disappearances that are connected to the village. As more and more bizarre events occur, you’ll be left constantly second guessing and wondering who you can really trust. Nothing is as it seems in Higurashi and it constantly defies your expectations at every turn. To say anything more would ruin the experience.
Clannad
Clannad is one of the most popular visual novels ever – spawning an anime, a film, several manga, and even various internet radio shows. If you hate the stereotypes of cheesy rom-coms and high school dramas, then it’s best to avoid Clannad, but if you can get past the numerous clichés that define the game, you’ll be in for a real treat. Clannad really shines thanks to its strong writing and interesting characters, and numerous works have tried to emulate its success for well over a decade. The story revolves around Tomoya Okazaki, a high school senior who doesn't take his studies seriously, is always late for school, and doesn't particularly like his mundane life. However, his attitudes soon change as he learns how to make his own happiness with the help of those around him. Clannad may not have any of the bells and whistles of recent releases, but it does deliver a touching tale that’s well worth investing in.
Katawa Shoujo
Unlike every other visual novel on the list, Katawa Shoujo is 100% free. If you haven't read a visual novel before, it’s certainly not a bad place to start. Katawa Shoujo revolves around Hisao Nakai, a boy living with arrhythmia. Nakai’s condition causes his heartbeat to become irregular and his parents decide that he would be better off enrolling in a school for disabled children. Katawa Shoujo is a story about living with disabilities and it handles each with great care and understanding. Each route explores various disabilities and shows how each of the characters break the stereotypes usually given to them without making it the very thing that defines them. Surprisingly thoughtful, given it started out on one of the boards in notorious internet hive of scum and villainy: 4chan.
Muv-Luv
Judging from the cutesy art style and often cliché themes, you’d be mistaken to write Muv-Luv off as another romantic comedy, but this visual novel delivers an action-packed saga full of emotional twists and bleak scenes. The Muv-Luv series is considered by many to be the gold standard by which the visual novel genre is judged, partly due to its complex story, deep characterization and excellent mecha design. If you can make it through some of the visual novel’s weaker arcs, you’ll be rewarded in the finale. Muv-Luv isn’t afraid to tackle some dark themes, so don’t be fooled by its innocent looks.
The Devil on G-String
The Devil on G-String's story revolves around Kyosuke Azai, the adopted son of Gonzo Azai, a yakuza leader. Kyosuke works under Gonzo in order to pay off the loan taken out by his biological father, while also helping with the costs of his raising. However, when a girl named Usami Haru appears in town along with an international criminal known as Maou, a deadly game of cat-and-mouse quickly ensues. This visual novel is filled with plotting, political intrigue and layer upon layer of interlocking traps as the characters duke it out in this epic battle of wits. If you like stories with mystery, then The Devil on G-String is sure to sate your tastes.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
You don’t have to be a fan of visual novels or anime to enjoy Phoenix Wright. In fact, the Ace Attorney Trilogy is the most accessible series on this list and is a great choice for all ages. In Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney you play as the eponymous Wright – who must defend the innocent even though the evidence points heavily towards them. On your quest for justice, you’ll investigate crime scenes for clues and use them to poke gaping holes in witness testimonies to find the true perpetrator. Nearly every case will have you on your toes and will throw curveballs that constantly subvert your expectations. Just don’t blame us if you get addicted to yelling “OBJECTION!” at every passing opportunity.