Visual Novels are a genre that concentrates on telling a story and allowing the player to experience interesting and detailed plots. Some novels have branching paths with several different ending, while others are a linear story. No matter the type of visual novel, though, there is no doubt that the genre has been seeing a surge in popularity in the last decade.
Some visual novels have become cult classics, while others have taken other Steam as being some of the most played and popular games upon release. To help you get into the world of visual novels or even find a few favorites, we have compiled a list of the ten best visual novels of all time, according to Steam users.
10 Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Picking up a few years after the first game left off, Danganropna 2: Goodbye Despair opens up with a whole new class of quirky characters. Set on a deserted island, a group of students soon learn that they are trapped, and the only way to escape is to begin trying to kill one another.
Driven crazy by the intent to murder, the class starts to slowly kill each other in disturbing and creative ways in order to escape the island. The game forces players to search for clues and participate in class trials to help uncover the murderers.
9 STEINS;GATE
STEINS;GATE has not only become a hit game, but it has an anime that is just as big and has pulled in tons of fans from all over the world. The game follows the antics of a scientist as he messes with time travel and has several spin-offs, including a newer visual novel that is a dating simulator. The story can be convoluted at times and requires players to pay special attention to the events going on inside the novel.
If you're looking for a more adult-targeted story with little focus on the romantic aspects that many visual novels are famous for then, this is a must-play.
8 Nekopara: Vol 1
Nekopara is a visual novel that has become popular in the last few years. This visual novel allows you to choose from several different girls to date. The only catch is that every girl in the game is half cat and acts as such.
In the game you play as a young man opening his own sweets shop, he ends up finding two cats that his family is raising, and the three begin to live together and run the new shop. Nekopara, at its heart, is a romantic comedy and is known for its charming girls and light-hearted storytelling elements.
7 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Phoenix Wright originally debuted on the Nintendo DS. Since then, the series has spawned a huge fan base and, like many other novels on this list received a tv adaptation. The visual novel follows the daily life of Phoenix Wright as he solves mysteries in order to win court cases. Instead of the dark and gritty scenery seen in most detective games, though, Ace Attorney has a bright art style with uniquely drawn characters.
The Ace Attorney Trilogy gives you everything you need to get started in the series and has three games for one single price.
6 Planetarian ~the reverie of a little planet~
Planetarian is an older visual novel; it was first released in 2004 and made by the same team behind Clannad. The story starts when a young man finds a still operational robot in a planetarium who hopes to show him a star show using an old projector. After learning it is broken, the two begin working together to fix the projector. As they junker helps the young girl out, though, the two begin to form a close bond.
Planetarian is known for its stunning visual art and great voice overs. The novel is linear, so there are no choices that can affect the ultimate outcome of the novel.
5 Everlasting Summer
Everlasting Summer features a plot similar to many anime from the isekai genre. The main character Semyon falls asleep while riding a bus only to wake up in a strange new place. The story revolves around him trying to figure out how he got there and slowly getting to know the other members of the cast.
As you explore the various route, you will learn more about the world and even can pursue one of the many love interests. The best part about Everlasting Summer is that it is free-to-play so that everyone can enjoy the novel's story
4 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
It's no surprise that Danganronpa is the second most popular visual novel on Steam. The series is incredibly popular and features unique artwork that still stands out in the anime world even today. The story opens up when a group of students possessing ultimate talents wake up inside of their school with amnesia.
Before long, a teddy bear named Monokuma appears to let them know that they are all trapped and must successfully get away with murder in order to escape. The game lets you play as Makoto, who must solve multiple murders to ultimately help his friends escape.
3 Analouge: A Hate Story
Analouge is another sci-fi adventure that fans of mysteries will enjoy reading. This time you assume the role of a character unraveling the mystery of a missing colony ship. The game features multiple routes that will help you unlock the dark secrets behind the history of the ship while allowing you to romance several different characters.
Interestingly enough, this game has a much different presentation than most standard visual novels. Instead of relying on intricate backgrounds, the game focuses more on the characters and the archived logs from the ship.
2 VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Va-11 is a visual novel with an interesting premise that adds new life to the genre. The mechanics of the game don't revolve around decision making through dialogue choices. Instead, you must learn to properly prepare the drinks that will lead down the route you want.
The story is set in a dystopian and gritty cyberpunk world that experienced players of sci-fi games will instantly be drawn to. As you play the game, you will encounter many characters as they patronize your bar, and over time you will even learn what types of beverages they love.
1 Doki Doki Literature Club
Doki Doki Literature Club is another free-to-play title that exploded in popularity when it was released in 2017. The game follows the story of a protagonist who ends up joining a literate club; despite its appearance, the game has a linear story. You will date each girl, but at the end of their story, tragedy befalls them, your job is to figure out what's really going on in this twisted horror novel.
Despite its free status, the game features amazing artwork that rivals many other novels and fun storytelling that leaves players on the edge of their set.