I don’t know that it really qualifies as a VN (because there’s some RTS - and I guess Adventure - aspects to it), but 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Can’t express how much I love Aegis Rim! Id definitely consider it a VN but with an actual game in there aswell.
Cannot recommend enough!
VA-11 Hall-A! One of my favourite VN if my instance url didn’t give it away. It’s not too long, listen to the start telling you to get cozy and then mix drinks and change lives.
Ghost Trick Ghost Trick Ghost Trick
technically a puzzle game at the same time but that’s an ace attorney pic so you’re probably cool with it
To anyone who isn’t interested in Japanese-style visual novels, I’d recommend Scarlet Hollow. It’s an “immersive horror-mystery” illustrated by Abby Howard (of The Last Halloween fame). It’s an episodic title (the first episode is free on Steam) and it is not finished yet.
I love horror mysteries! Thanks for dropping the link… hope it gets finished!
If you haven’t played the non-mainline Ace Attorney games they’re well worth a look. Ace attorney investigations 1&2, The Great Ace Attorney 1&2)
I also enjoyed the Steins;Gate series, but I like the goofy sci-fi stuff they do.
Zero Escape trilogy:
- 999
- VLR
- ZTD
Infinity series:
- Never7 is very slow and more romance than sci-fi
- Ever 17 is better than Never7 but the pacing is still quite slow
- Remember 11 is the best of the infinity series, it is more sci-fi mystery horror
I’m two chapters in to House in Fata Morgana and that has been great so far. Rather dark and moody (to say the least) but a really good read so far.
Hatoful Boyfriend is one of my favorites, but be sure to play all the routes to get to the second half of the story!
Steins; Gate 1 and 0 Daganronpa series Clannad Ace Attorney Great Ace Attorney
danganronpa, ddlc :)
Taimanin Asagi
If you’re okay with a very long linear story with no gameplay: Higurashi (I recommend using the 07th mod that adds voice acting and animated sprites)
Do you reckon it’s worth getting all the way through? I played a few episodes and enjoyed it, but the way the story repeats with every chapter was wearing on me.
Since you enjoyed it, you might as well try to complete the 4 first chapters and see if things get more interesting. Chapter 4 is pretty different from the previous ones. Chapter 5 and onwards get much more interesting since we start getting some explanations, plus there’s much less repetition. There are still some slow parts here and there though.
Yeah, Chapter 4 seemed like a completely different perspective from what I played. Getting some answers to all the weird mysteries going on would be nice
Puzzle/mystery VNs that are my favourite: 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 doors; Virtue’s Last Reward; AI Somnium files.
STEINS;GATE and Higurashi are both great. It really depends on the genre you want though.
https://vndb.org/v is a good resource
Loved the anime of steins gate. Think I’ve got the elite version of the VN but thinking maybe i should of got the OG. The frozen anime frames look a tad weird to me
I’m two chapters in to House in Fata Morgana and that has been great so far. Rather dark and moody (to say the least) but a really good read so far.
