Visual Novel is an Interactive genre of video game, introducing static visuals, often using live action stills, and anime-style art, originated in the 1990s in Japan. Visual Novel Games comprise narration and have some interactive and adventure elements, a form of adventure video game which may involves puzzle-solving and other kinds of gameplay. The genre is distinguished from other game types by its minimal and generally gameplay. The player interaction in these games is limited to clicking to keep the text, sound moving and graphics, while selecting the choices along the way to advance through the plot. Most games have several storylines and offers multiple endings, depending on the choices made by the player. The gameplay style is similar to interaction-fiction, shorter or less detailed books. Most Visual Novels are based on Drama, themes involving family or romance, but visual novels focused on fantasy fiction, sci-fi, and horror fiction. Visual Novel games are famous for their immersive gameplay and enable the players to assume the lead the role in the story, giving the player a personal fell when playing.
#1 ACE Academy
ACE Academy is a Visual Novel, Role-playing, Anime-based, and Single-player Dating Simulation with an emphasis on Adventure elements developed and published by PixelFade Inc. The game takes place in the futuristic year 2049, where mechanized robots called GEAR were created for military and used them in the sports industry and commonplace. The massive use and the popularity of the robots have built a new academy called Cenorobotics. According to the story, the protagonist finds himself transferring to ACE Academy, a school for robot studies in fictional Japan. The primary objective of the player is to locate a team who accept him, and his old generation gear to use in the tournament. In front of advanced technologies, the research of the protagonist is hopeless. The game mixes the romance, sci-fi, and visual novel elements to offers a brilliant gameplay with hundreds of choices. Explore the storyline, interact with non-player characters, make the decision and select the choice to progress through the story. The game introduces multiple ending systems, depending on the action or decisions taken by the player. With superb gameplay and brilliant graphics, ACE Academy is the brilliant video game to play.
#2 Roommates
Roommates is a Visual-Novel, Adventure-based, Romance and Single-player Dating Simulation created and published by Winter Wolves. The story of the game follows Anne and Max their 1st year of college in which they share the so-called Latin house with other roommates and experiences different scenes in his daily life such as Halloween party, spring break and other special occasions, etc. At the beginning of the game, the player can select his playing character between Anne and Max. After choosing his character, the game allows the player to get into the game world. Roommates offer a brilliant combination of classic novel gameplay with dialogues communications and another choice to make. It allows the player to plan his activities for the week and raise States in order to get the good ending. It is one of the best novel-based video game that immerses himself deep into the brilliant game world. Roommates offer Ultra-HD visual details, fantastic game mechanics, quite impressive gameplay and dynamic background music.
#3 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is an Adventure, Visual Novel and Single-player video game developed and published by Spike Chunsoft. It is the 2nd marvelous title in the series of Danganronpa and the sequel to Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. The story of the game centers on a team of high school students who stuck on a remote Island by their headmaster named Monokuma, who is a crazy scientist. The player has to kill one of his companions and not be captured in the investigation to escape the Island. It offers the similar gameplay to its previous entry and lets the player select his character to dive into the fun-filled game where he has to fulfill a variety of quests to get freedom otherwise he has to face death. The player has to explore the environment, find clues, interact with NPCs and solve the mystery of the Island to make an escape. To unlock achievements, the player has to survive as long as possible and earn lots of points to unlock further content. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair offers prominent features such as Deadly Island, Lots of Levels, Challenging Gameplay, Survival Elements and more. It is the best game as compared to other Visual Novel games.
#4 Katawa Shoujo
Katawa Shoujo is a Single-Player Visual Novel, Nakige and Life/Dating Simulation video game by Four Leaf Studios. The game takes you to the fictional setting of Yamaku High School for Disabled Children in Japan and tells the story of a young boy named Hisao Nakai whose life changes dramatically because of Cardiac Arrhythmia and because of transfer to a new school where he avails the chance of making new friends and falling in love. Katawa Shoujo offers a choice-based gameplay in which it allows you to read the text that appears on the screen and make decisions to initiate and end all the possible events or long and short dialog and conversations. Because of a Choice-based gameplay, Katawa Shoujo offers multiple endings of the game all based up on the decisions and choices you make during the gameplay. With all the amazing stories and options for you as the main character Hisao Nakai, the game offers five female characters and allows you to make your own love stories and enjoy a brilliant gameplay. With a wonderfully appealing story, great visuals and choice-based game-play, Katawa Shoujo is a brilliant game to play and enjoy.
#5 Cinders
Cinders is an Adventure, and Visual Novel video game based on the story of the Cinderella developed and published by MoaCube for Mac and Windows. The game offers four multiple endings and lets the player to reads the story and makes the decisions or select the choices at crucial points to change the outcome of the story. It enables the player to watch variations including ends again. There are up to eight trophies available for the player to gather during the gameplay. The game features different characters such as Cinders, Sophia, Gloria, Lady Carmosa, Madame Ghede, The Fairy, and more. According to the story, the protagonist Cinders is a young woman, living with her overbearing stepmother and her two ugly daughters. The game deals with a story about balancing dreams and freedom with harsh reality. It features more than 120 decision points, up to three-hundred choices to select from, and different endings, Cinders offers you a full control of the primary character’s personality and her story. With exciting gameplay, cool features, and well-written story, Cinders is the best game to play.
#6 Sunrider Academy
Sunrider Academy is a mix of Visual Novel, Romance, Anime-style, and Dating Simulation elements developed by Love in Space and published by Sekai Project for multiple platforms. The game lets you step into the shoes of the protagonist named as Kayto Shields, serving as the ordinary man who throws into an extraordinary adventure. According to plot, it was the first day of the protagonist as the vice president of the Sunrider Academy student council when the president of the class selected him to be the manager of school. The game supports Single-player mode only and revolves around Management Simulation gameplay, where the player must manage the clubs on the student council. It comes with new character casts, dozens of line of dialogue and more. The player can interact with NPCs, find his love and can romance to engage in the management simulation. Sunrider Academy offers an epic story, beautiful environment anime-based characters, and more. Try it out, and you’ll like it.
#7 Alone with You
Alone with You is an Adventure, Visual Novel, Pixel Graphics, Romance and Single-player video game created and published by Benjamin Rivers Inc. The game takes place in the science-fiction environment where the protagonist is trying to escape a doomed space colony with the assist of troubled AI (Artificla Intelligence) companion and four emotional holograph. The game embarks you on the epic missions to scan the clues, solve tricky puzzles, and find the fates of more than two-dozen of former colleagues and their lives. You must explore the beautiful, adventure-style environments as you search for important items for clues and solving puzzles. The game comes with dozens of multiple endings, depending on the decision taken by you during the gameplay. Alone with You includes prominent features such as Dynamic Sound Effects, Love Letter, Experience the fully-realized World, Interact with NPCs, and more. With addictive gameplay, superb mechanics, and smooth controls, Alone with You is the wonderful game to play and enjoy.
#8 Emily Is Away Too
Emily Is Away Too is a Visual Novel, Romance, and Single-player Adventure video game created and published by Kyle Seeley for multiple platforms. The game serves as the spiritual successor to Emily is Away, released in 2015. It takes place in an instant messaging chat client, set during the last year of high school of the protagonist. During the gameplay, the player interacts with other non-player characters by choosing the response, and specific choices affect the output of the story in the game. The game extends the story past the chat window with Facebook profiles, YouTube links, and file transfers. Now, the player can change the colour of the text to lime green, so everyone comes to know that the player is the coolest kid in school. Emily Is Away Too offers prominent features such as Buddy Icons, Dialogue Decisions, Customizable Profile, Multiple Paths, Multiple Endings, and more. Try it out, if you love playing Visual Novel games.
#9 Emily Is Away
Emily Is Away mixes the Visual Novel and Romance elements developed by Kyle Seeley for Windows and supports Single-player mode only. It offers the linear gameplay, where the player is unable to change the plot’s course through the game. It takes place in the mid-2000s, and follows the story of the protagonist’s relationship with a beautiful girl named as Emily from the high school to the senior year of college. During the gameplay, the player has an option to change his avatar at any time with whatever was famous. In the senior year, the player can use a chat client to communicate with Emily. Both discuss about their high school days and a fellow named as Brad, who keeps sending the messages of Emily. The player change the text color, emoji, and more. The game comprises up to five chapters and each chapter explore the unique part of the protagonist’s life. It introduces a dialogue system that the player uses during the conversation with his love. Emily Is Away offers prominent features such as Buddy Icons, Decision-based Narratives, Five Chapters, Computer Sounds, and more. Try it out, and you’ll love the game.
#10 Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club is an Adventure, Visual Novel and Single-player video game created and published by Team Salvato. The storyline focuses on a student of the male high school who recently joins the literature club and hangs out with its four female members of the group. It introduces a non-linear plot, which various scenes and multiple endings, depending on the choices taken by the player during the gameplay. The gameplay revolves around a psychological horror element that introduces the use of breaking the 4th wall. According to the story, the protagonist is invited by his childhood buddy named as Sayori to join the literature club of the high school. There the protagonist encounters other members of the club such as Natsuki, Yuri, Monika, and more. As the game advances, the player starts to participate in the activities of the club such as sharing poetry, writing, and more. It has various levels, and the player must make the decisions by selecting the choices to progress through the storyline. With superb gameplay, brilliant mechanics, and smooth controls, Doki Doki Literature Club is the best game to play.
#11 Wild Season
Wild Season is a Japanese Role-playing, Visual Novel, Romance and Single-player Simulation developed and published by Quickfire Games. The game combines the Farming, Adventure, and Role-playing elements and offers a brilliant gameplay, in which you receive a call from a real estate agent selling a farm in the south and you have enough money to purchase the farm outright. You as the protagonist makes a decision to leave the city in hopes of starting your farming career. Soon, you stuck in a storm, your car has been sold, and you found yourself in a foreign town with some strange people you have ever seen. You must explore the world from an isometric perspective, interact with non-player characters, grow different crops to earn money, and effort to unearth the secrets of the foreign town. There are a variety of quests and each quest contain a variety of tasks that you must complete at any cost to move on to the next level. The game rewards you with experience points and you can use these points to unlock additional content. Try it out, and you’ll love the compelling gameplay.
#12 Crush Crush
Crush Crush is an Adventure, Idle-Clicker, and Single-player Dating Simulation incorporating with Visual Novel, Psychological Horror and Romance elements developed and published by Sad Panda Studios. The game takes place in the stunning environment and offers the flirty gameplay for those who love playing Romance and Dating Simulation with Idle Clicker twist. In the game, you take on the role of the protagonist with a task to win the hearts of the ladies of your town while completing various quests, and upgrading your character. To progress through the game, you have to build your stats, earn lots of money to unlock new jobs, and find your love to date and romance in the amazing place. To earn points, you have to click as fast as possible and select your job to advance your career. There are different jobs available such as Fast Food, Lifeguard, Programmer, Janitor, Gambler, and more. Try it out, and you’ll really enjoy the game.
#13 Dandelion: Wishes brought to you
Dandelion: Wishes brought to you is a Single-player Dating Simulation published by Cheritz and developed Sujin Ri. The game has an exciting gameplay, revolving around a female character named as Heejung Kim, who moved out from the house of her mother and obsessed with her education. She is trying to find out her real dream life and thinking that everything would go well. The protagonist is worry about her future and looking for something better. One day, she awakes due to animal sounds and discover a mysterious animal in her room. The strange animals comprises two three cats and two rabbits. She don’t know where they come from while everything like door, windows, etc. are properly locked. The game is a mixture of visual novel, dating and romance elements. The player assumes the role of the female protagonist and his primary task is to interact with non-player characters, find her true love and decide the place for date and romance. With excellent gameplay, brilliant graphics, and smooth soundtracks, Dandelion: Wishes brought to you is the best Dating Simulation to play and enjoy.
#14 Magical Diary Horse Hall
Magical Diary Horse Hall mixes the Anime-based, Visual Novel, Adventure and Dating Simulation elements created and published by Hanako Games. The story follows a young girl, a magician at a magical school. The game takes place in the fantasy-based world with Romance elements. According to the gameplay, the player’s character has been invited to join a magical school where she makes new friends, face exams in the dungeon, learn magic spells, interact NPCs and find a date to romance. There are several students available and are split into Magical Halls including the Butterfly Hall, the Horse Hall and the Snake Hall. Boys are split into Wolf Hall, the Toad Hall, and the Falcon Hall. The game introduces multiple ending systems, depends on the decision taken by the player. In the beginning, the player can create his or her avatar of a female character to explore the environment full of puzzles. Magical Diary Horse Hall offers prominent features such as Customization, Design your Character, Romance with Female or Male characters, Seventy Spells, different Outcomes, and more. Try it out, and you’ll love it.
#15 Date Warp
Date Warp combines the elements of Otome-based, Visual Novel, Adventure and Dating Simulation. It supports single-player mode developed and published by Hanako Games. The story of the game revolves around an Indian American college young girl who goes on a date and never returned. The game offers exciting gameplay, in which you assume the role of the female protagonist who is trapped in a strange mansion with five unknown guys. The game begins with Bradley and Janet, who reaches at a mysterious mansion after their car accident. They locate a shelter and encounter a group of handsome guys staying at the strange mansion. After one night, the story takes many surprising turns that the player will enjoy. The game includes different characters and each character has its unique story and multiple ends depend on the decision and action which is taken by the player. The ultimate task is to progress through the story and complete objectives, and take decisions carefully. Date Warp offers the similar gameplay like My Candy Love and includes core features, exciting gameplay, and brilliant mechanics. Try it out and you’ll enjoy it.
#16 Long Live the Queen
Long Live the Queen is a Female Protagonist, Visual Novel, Anime-based, and Single-player Role-playing Simulation developed and published by Hanako Games. The story of the game centers on the beautiful princess who is training to become the ultimate queen after her mother’s death. According to the story, the Queen Nova has died and her daughter, who is fourteen years old princess named as Elodie, leaving her school life to become the queen. Lots of people in the Kingdom are trying to take advantage of the queen’s death and struggle to kill the young girl before she becomes queen. The main task of the game is to keep the Princess Elodie alive for next forty weeks until she turned fifteen and became a queen. The player must explore the story and schedule the weekly lessons for the protagonist including foreign affairs, self-defense, expression, logistics, economy, doublespeak, and more. The game features multiple ending systems based on the decision taken by the player. With the superb story, addictive gameplay, and wonderful visuals, Long Live the Queen is the best game to play and enjoy.
#17 Seduce Me the Otome
Seduce Me the Otome is an Anime-based, Visual Novel, Romance and Single-player Dating Simulation developed and published by Michaela Laws. The game takes place in the stunning world based on High School and puts you in the role of the senior with your two fellows named as Suzu Cappini and Naomi Patterson. You are the Harold Anderson’s granddaughter, who is the founder and CEO of Anderson Toys, a company, offering amazing products for children. Suddenly one day, you are called to attend the funeral of your grandfather. After the funeral, you come to know that you have inherited his massive estate. Your father advise you to move into your estate immediately. On next day, when you arrives into your estate, you discovers five injured, a very handsome man on the floor. A mysterious group of misfits attacked on them and run to locate shelter. Progress through the story, unearth the secrets, and solve mysteries. Seduce Me the Otome offers prominent features such as Changeable Characters, Original Soundtracks, Twenty-two Possible Endings, and more. Try it out, if you love playing Visual Novel Simulations.
#18 Nova: Synthesis Creaturum
Nova: Synthesis Creaturum is an Adventure, Visual Novel, and Single-player Dating Simulation available to play on Windows, Mac and Linux. The game takes place in the kingdom of Diolacov threatened by the monsters. The story revolves around the female protagonist who is a student named as Merona. The behavior of the monsters are mystery and the people are finding a solution to control them. One day, the female protagonist encounters a massive monsters while gathering plant for study. At the horrible moment, she successfully manages to rescue herself by turning the vicious monsters into a cute animal. The game puts Merona on an epic journey with a team of companions to traverse around the Kingdom’s Forests to discover about monsters and how people can transform them. There are a variety of levels, and you have to complete each one at any cost. With well-written story, addictive gameplay, prominent features, and wonderful graphics, Nova: Synthesis Creaturum is the best game to play and enjoy.
#19 Locked Heart
Locked Heart is an Otome-based, Visual-Novel and Single-player Simulation created and published by Visual-Wordplay. The game takes place in the strange mansion and it cast you in the role of the female protagonist named as Aura. According to the story, the protagonist is trapped in the mansion full of strange toys. The ultimate task is to explore the mansion, interact with objects, find clues and find a way out. You have to find the reason behind the strange force, stopping you and them to the mansion. The game features multiple ends depends on your decisions. As the story progress, the game becomes more challenging. Solve puzzles and earn points and use them to unlock useful items. Uncover the truth behind the mansion and find a way out as soon as possible to survive. You are not alone in the mansion there someone else who notice your moments and keep an eye on you. With horror story, challenging puzzles, and detailed graphics, Locked Heart is the best game to play.
#20 Frozen Essence
Frozen Essence is an Otome-based, Visual Novel, and Fantasy Simulation by Unbroken Hours. The game includes four different characters and lets the player select one of them to start the game. The story of the game revolves around the female protagonist named Mina who is escaped from her crystal prison. She completely lost her memory and followed the order from the Oracle and keeps protected by the bodyguards. The journey of Mina begins with the guidance and protection from the Oracle. There are different characters, and each character has its unique story with multiple ends. It combines the elements of romance and date and lets the player explore the game world, interact with objects and NPCs, date cute guys and find his/her, love. The ends of the game depend on the decisions or actions that are taken by the player. Frozen Essence offers core features such as over 12 different Endings, more than75 CGs, dynamic Soundtracks, Four main Guys and more. Try it out, and you’ll enjoy it.
#21 Analogue: A Hate Story
Analogue: A Hate Story combines the elements of Visual Novel, Romance, and Dating Simulation by Love Conquers All Games. The game takes place in the Sci-fi world and supports Single-player mode only. It has a superb story, in which the humans launched a spaceship into the deep galaxy with a task to establish a first colony on an unknown planet. The ship lost his destination and disappeared. After thousands of year, the ship has been found. The story revolves around an unnamed investigator, and his task to find the reason behind the disappearance of an interstellar ship. The plot focuses on NPCs, relationship, and challenging issues and primary follows the elements of traditional marriage, transhumanism and more. Select the character and dive into the game world where you can interact with NPCs, go to date, and make relation with a handsome guy. It has multiple endings and depends on the actions that is taken by you during the gameplay. With addictive gameplay, and superb mechanics, Analogue: A Hate Story is the best game to play and enjoy.
#22 RE: Alistair
RE: Alistair is an Otome-based, Visual Novel, and Single-player Simulation created by Sakevisual and available to play on multiple platforms such as Windows, Mac, and Linus. The game lets the player get into the role of the protagonist who is a female named Merui Lucas. It offers an exciting story, in which is the protagonist loves playing video games. Merui Lucas often plays Massively Multiplayer Online game known as Rivenwell Online with her online fellow named Fiona. A boy (Alistair) steals ancient items from Merui Lucas in the game and forces her to get it back. She wants to take revenge from him. The game lets the player assume the role of protagonist and finds the boy who steals her rare item. In the game, the player will discover three boys with the same name in her schools such as Shiro, Travis, and Derek. Explore the game world complete objectives to progress through the game and earn points. With exciting features, immersive gameplay and stunning visuals, Merui Lucas is the best game to play and enjoy.
#23 Gender Bender DNA Twister Extreme
Gender Bender DNA Twister Extreme is a Visual Novel, Single-player and Dating Simulation created and published by Transcendent Games. The game takes place in the fantasy-based world and revolves around a group of characters that have flipped their genders due to unforeseen circumstances. The player can select his character from a group of cast and follow his story as he explore the world to find romance and experience a transformation. Each character has its unique story, and personality and the game offers a set of levels and it has dozens of ending depends of on actions taken by the player. It includes over thirty location to explore and visit. Thirty Characters, Dozens of Endings, Multiple Interests, over 40 Hours, different Locations, etc. the key features of the game. With addictive gameplay, brilliant mechanics, and superb visuals, Gender Bender DNA Twister Extremes is the best game to play and enjoy.
#24 To Be or Not To Be
To Be or Not To Be is an Adventure, Female Protagonist, Visual Novel and Single-player video game created and published by Tin Man Games for multiple platforms. The game puts the player in the role of the female protagonist named as Hamlet, who must manipulate the story, and revenge her father’s death. During the gameplay, the player can also assume the role of Ophelia and effort to make scientific discoveries. He/she assumes the role of the King Hamlet Sr. and can die in the first chapter. The player will discover sweet art as the player play from more attractive artists, including Anthony Clark, Kate Beaton, Mike Krahulik, and more. The game rewards the player with experience points which he can use to unlock additional content. There are three characters such as Hamlet, Hamlet Sr., and Ophelia each with unique adventures and abilities. The player has to select one of three characters to start his/her adventure. He/she can travel through time, fight against pirates, and kill bad guys to advance through the story. To Be or Not To Be offers core features such as Bring the Evil King to Justice, Multiple Stories, Learn new things, and more. Try it out, and you’ll like it.