Otaku who want a change of pace from the usual manga and anime experience are likely to appreciate the gaming angle of visual novels. After all, visual novels (VNs) go beyond the usual storytelling niche of light novels through choices. In turn, VNs provide a unique replay value for readers by letting them choose their favored outcome to a story.
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However, this “choose-your-own-adventure” gimmick can lose its luster in stories with rather long opening arcs. While a long exposition can become a dealbreaker to storytelling fans, some VNs do offer a huge payoff by the time they go full-throttle. Just which visual novels offer a crazy ride by the time readers finally grasp the narrative?
Updated on June 01, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam:With visual novels coming in 2022 such as Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax shining light into other acclaimed games in their respective franchises, fans might want to get to know other visual novels that could pique their interest. Among recommended visual novels include stories revolving around death games, a serial murder, a haunted house, or even a cyberpunk bartender. With these games offering their fair share of intense stories and odd minigames, which of thesevisual novels are must-playsfor players regardless of their rough opening hours?
15Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Fans of the “death game” concept will find something similar inDanganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, especially with its premise. Ordinary student Makoto Naegi thinks he’s out for greatness after enrolling at Hope’s Peak Academy, only for a murderous bear named Monokuma to subject him and his classmates to death games. With their lives on the line, Makoto would have to investigate just who Monokuma is.
Thing is, the game tries to get away from thetypical visual novel formulaand instead uses a whodunit approach to identify the killer through various minigames. Some players out for serious stories might find this concept a bit disconcerting, but spending a few hours into the game can make the mini-game-fueled murder mystery quite a gimmicky approach to the genre, makingDanganronpaa rather unique take that players who love the genre may want to give a shot.
14Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
In an alternate take on the death game, players ofZero Escape: Virtue’s Last Rewardtake control of the character Sigma as he and other abducted victims try to investigate the nature of their disappearance. Unfortunately, they need to survive the Nonary Game first, which is a game that puts them in life-or-death situations that test their perseverance.
Similar toDanganronpa,Zero Escapehas escape sections featuring puzzlesthat players need to complete to “survive” the Nonary Game, and there are novel sections where players can read through the story. While the game’s story is something of note, the rather immersion-breaking nature of the escape sections can make it a challenge for players to appreciate the game to its fullest. However, players who try to push through despite these segments can findZero Escapea thrill to enjoy.
13VA-11 Hall A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Players looking for a change of pace in the visual novel genre might appreciateVA-11 Hall A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, which its developer Sukeban Games made primarily as a non-linear adventure title. Unlike other visual novels where players traverse a storyline through dialogue, players simply prepare various drinks for their patrons and progress through various storylines based on how well they create these drinks.
While the unorthodox nature of the game can attract some fans, this rather open-ended formula can make it seem likeVA-11 Hall Adoesn’t have a concrete storyline. However, players who go with the flow and start playing through the game’s everyday routine can find themselves enjoying the stories of Jill’s many patrons - and especially how subtle details of their adventures seem to connect.
12The House In Fata Morgana
In a rather unique twist in the visual novel concept,The House In Fata Morganais set in a mansion across alternating time periods. Starring an amnesiac spirit, they meet a Maid who helps them explore their past, with the players in charge of helping the spirit regain its lost memories through time.
While thescattered timeframescan definitely make players a bit confused on the get-go, playing casually through the story can help players piece together relevant details that cement the personality of their amnesiac spirit. And while some story elements seem to be missing, out of intentional storytelling, players can findThe House In Fata Morganaa more complete experience once they give the game the opportunity to complete itself.
11The Silver Case
Despite the rather old age ofThe Silver Case, it’s arguablyone of the more compelling visual novelsever released on the market. Set in contemporary Japan,The Silver Casetakes place in a city called 24 Districts at a time when a string of weird murders will have players take on the role of two detectives to solve the case. Soon, they’ll realize that the murders are linked to the enigmatic Kamui Uehara, a supposedly-dead serial killer.
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The game is unique in its combination of visual novel elements on top of interactive segments, point-and-click mechanics, and other mini-games. And while some might complain about how these mini-games can hurt the immersion in the story and the way players can fully explore the plot, going with the flow and engaging the game in these mini-games for the first few hours will be worth the while, especially whenThe Silver Casebegins unfolding its more surprising twists.
10Muv-Luv
Fans of VNs might seeMuv-Luvas the typical light-hearted tale. In it, protagonist Takeru Shirogane wakes up to find a woman sleeping in his bed. Things escalate hilariously as Takeru, his childhood friend Sumika, and the sleeping woman Meiya get embroidered in a love story where the two women compete for Takeru’s heart.
Despite its rather quick 40-hour story, frustrations can arise from fans who realize that the more interesting parts ofMuv-Luvhappen in its sequelUnlimited, and final partAlternative.It’s only by playing the three-part story that players can make sense of this light-hearted story, which evolves intoan alien invasion.
9Fate/Stay Night
Being part of the massive Nasuverse franchise,Fate/stay nightis just one of many entries in an interconnected series. Essentially,Fateis set in an alternate reality where a secret conflict called the Holy Grail War takes place. In it, mages calledMasters contract the service of heroic spirits called Servantsin a clandestine city-wide death battle, with the winner being granted a wish. Unfortunately, protagonist Shirou Emiya accidentally summons the female Servant Saber and has to survive the ordeal - or die trying.
Unlike other VNs,Fatedoesn’t demand a lot of interactions on part of the player. Despite the slow uptake before it sets its stakes, the heavy modern fantasy narrative will require Shirou - also the narrator - to establish concepts on the get-go. However, players will appreciateFate’s story by the time they reconcile all the story arcs to arrive at its true ending.
8Tsukihime
Written by the same person who wroteFate/stay night,Tsukihimeis regarded as one of Kinoko Nasu’s most prominent works. Its story, taking place in an alternate timeline separate from the Holy Grail War, talks of the story of Shiki Tohno, a high schooler who can see “death lines” that can destroy things and people when touched. His life changes afterencountering supernatural creatures, as his powers seem to be intrinsically tied to facing them.
As withFate,Tsukihimedoesn’t demand a lot of interactions from the reader. Fans of the supernatural will appreciateTsukihime’s premise, but still admittedly is a slow burn throughout its 50-hour story.
7The Fruit Of Grisaia
When Yuji Kazami gets into Mihama Academy, he’s surprised to discover the prison-like academy only contains five female students. Despite his “cool” and laid-back nature, Yuji eventually becomes involved in each of the girls' lives. Soon, he realizes that behind each girl’s cheerful persona is a tragic and traumatizing past.
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Players who leisurely playGrisaiacan easily get 95 to 100-hours' worth of gameplay by completing each route. However, by the timeGrisaiastarts to gain momentum, players might get dragged into each girl’ssurprisingly grisly backstories, remarkably violent bad endings, and surprising resolutions to their respective story arcs.
6Code: Realize - Guardian Of Rebirth
Granted, fans who seeCode: Realize - Guardian of Rebirthfor the first time will love its steampunk visuals andtake on alternate history. In the story, Cardia, following her father’s wishes, lives isolated as her skin melts or rots anything she touches. However, Cardia’s life changes when her father disappears and the authorities attempt to capture her. For some unknown reason, the legendary thief Arsene Lupin breaks her away. And thus begins her journey to look for her father.
Despite its short 30-hour run,Guardian of Rebirthhas quite a slow burn for its few opening hours. Fans who want a compelling romance tale will appreciateGuardian of Rebirthupon finishing, but only if they have the patience to manage it.
