The visual novel game can be considered a genre that is in a league of its own as it features little to no actual gameplay. Think of it as interactive fiction in digital form that spans all kinds of genres, from romance to horror. It features a lot of text expounded with static images, which means tons of reading. This genre is quite popular in Japan and has steadily made waves internationally during the last couple of years.
If you are interested in diving into the vast library of visual novel games that are available on all platforms, you might find yourself completely overwhelmed by the number of options at your fingertips. To ease you into this storytelling treasure trove, several visual novel games are recommended that you first dip your toes into to test the narrative-heavy waters to see if this is something you can truly sink your teeth into.
8 Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni
Another widely popular visual novel game that has expanded into other mediums, such as fan-favorite anime, Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni is a mystery-horror VN set in 1980s Japan, specifically the sleepy village of Hinamizawa. It follows Keiichi Maebara as he moves into the quiet village and finds out that people mysteriously disappear or die every year during the Watanagashi Festival.
It is up to him and his group of new friends to figure out the dark secrets that the town is hiding.
A word of warning, though, as Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni is quite violent and disturbing, with graphic depictions of gore. This one is certainly not for younger players.
That said, the multiple branching plot lines and endings make this classic VN game a must-play.
7 Katawa Shoujo
Katawa Shoujo is a sub-genre of VN that is classified as "nakige," which translates to "tear-jerker." That should give you an idea of what to expect from this popular and free VN game.
Katawa Shoujo is a perfect VN introductory game for those who love the drama genre. You play as Hisao Nikai, a teenager recovering from a severe heart attack episode who is transferred to a special high school that provides special healthcare for students with disabilities.
He will meet several other characters who are trying to cope with and recover from their health conditions.
Another reason for beginners to try Katawa Shoujo is its relatively short length. Each play-through for one of its five routes can be completed within six hours.
The writers also did their due diligence regarding research on the various conditions depicted in the game. Every character is handled with care and respect, but take note that this is a game with an Adult-Only rating as well.
6 Clannad
A list of notable visual novel games, whether for beginners or longtime fans, cannot be complete without mentioning Clannad. Clannad is one of the most popular series in this genre and is the first VN game for a lot of people.
It is a love story that doesn’t shy away from the harder aspects of relationships, especially in the sequel, Clannad: After Story.
As a must-have for romance genre fans, Clannad is narrative-heavy and is only broken up by the occasional decision-making that will branch out the story and lead you to different endings. Clannad is a must-play if you love visual novel games, and the sequel further pushed the genre as it touched upon elements that are not normally shown in VN games like this.
5 Steins Gate
Since being adapted into an anime series, Steins Gate’s popularity has grown exponentially within the gaming and anime communities. That is not surprising, as Steins Gate is one of the best VN games today with its intriguing story and vibrant cast of characters.
The art style is also one of Steins Gate’s most alluring elements, with its colored sketch aesthetic and characters that are drawn in such a highly detailed fashion that they almost feel alive. The combination of an absorbing story, likable characters, and a remarkable art style makes Steins Gate a great entry point for those interested in visual novel games.
4 Danganronpa
The Danganronpa series is one of the more mainstream entries into the visual novel market, as it has made a solid foothold outside of Japan. The story of Danganronpa is quite insane and over-the-top, as is the case with most Japanese fiction, wherein 16 students are inexplicably trapped within their high school by a strange black and white bear and forced to participate in various sadistic games until only one is left standing.
You are probably already aware of this visual novel series, as it has been widely featured by a lot of YouTube Let’s Players. This horror murder mystery has enjoyed amazing success and now spans several sequels and spinoffs.
3 Go! Go! Nippon! My First Trip To Japan
A rather off-beat VN game designed to be in highly digestible form is Go! Go! Nippon! My First Trip To Japan It is a great option if you are merely curious about visual novel games and want something that you can pick up and play without really pouring too much time into the narrative or lore. You play as a tourist who travels to Japan and meets two sisters who will take you to various landmarks around Tokyo, and rom-com hijinks ensue.
The game is a pretty straightforward romance VN that will take around three hours to complete and around six hours to obtain 100% completion. Fun, vibrant, and simple – Go! Go! Nippon! My First Trip To Japan is an excellent VN for anime lovers who want to try out this particular game genre.
2 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
If you are looking for something similar to Danganronpa that offers more than text and the occasional decision-making feature, then the Phoenix Wright series is a good VN game to start with. Developed and published by Capcom, with the first entry of the series debuting on the Game Boy Advance back in 2001, Phoenix Wright has become quite a beloved series and now has over a dozen sequels, spinoffs, and rereleases for various platforms.
The gameplay aspect is divided into two stages: investigation and trial. You will need to gather as much evidence as you can before the trial commences, which is when you will defend your client.
The Ace Attorney series is an incredibly fun game, especially if you enjoy solving mysteries.
1 All TellTale Games
Quite possibly the developer that offers the most beginner-friendly VN games today, Telltale Games is narrative-heavy and features multiple storyline routes and endings, all of which are key elements of visual novel games. While not traditionally what you would think a VN game would look like, Telltale games check all the boxes.
Its flashier presentation that utilizes 3D models rather than static 2D images and animation, giving you more chances to interact with the outcome, should ease the shift from traditional games to visual novels.
Additionally, Telltale Games has developed a bunch of games based on different popular franchises such as The Walking Dead, Batman, Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park, and Guardians of the Galaxy, to name a few. You have an assorted selection to choose from depending on your preferred genre.