Favorite Visual Novels?

[kouriichi]

Well, in recent time, i managed to get a few of my friends to try Katawa Shoujo.
Now sadly, their all addicted to graphic/visual novels. ((luckily, the NON-perverted kind.))

So i figured, for the sanctity of my sanity, and the curiosity i have myself, What are some great Japanese Visual Novels?

What are your favorites? How many have you played? Why did you enjoy them?

Is there hope for the world and all of its people? <-Unrelated but a good question none the less.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

I've only played one Visual Novel before but I really did enjoy it and I do look forward into trying out Katawa Shoujo soon enough when my Prelim Exams are done. It's called Kira Kira and while it is classed as an Eroge it only has two sex scenes near the end for each route you take and they're more or less tastefully done. It's about a group of Highschool students who form up a Punk-Rock band during a school festival and then take it further to tour around the country. I'm more used to action-games or atleast where you actually DO something but the plot in Kira Kira definately kept me interested and the soundtrack was quite nice aswell and definitely was not a waste of my week (I played it in the evenings, my family wouldn't let me live it down if someone in during the sex scenes)

Should definitely try recommending that one to your friends.

 

[Alterego-X]

Kira Kira seconded.

I also played "Fate/Stay Night", "Clannad", "Higurashi no naku koro ni", "Ever 17", "ef: A fairy tale of the two", "G-senjou no Maou", "Cross Channel", Saya no Uta", "Wanko to Kurasou" and "Shuffle".

Qality in descending order. I would recommend the first 6 to anyone.

 

[Zyst]

The best visual novel I have played in my life ( Seriously, you haven't played anything if you haven't played this one ) is Kana Little Sister. Katawa Shoujo being an awesome exception. But yes, try Kana Little Sister. Some endings are ridiculously soul crushing. I stopped playing everything like... 2 months after that game, just out of respect.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I've never played one although I came here expecting another term for graphic novel...

 

[Alterego-X]

Visual novels, gaming section of forums....am i missing something?

Well, they ARE games, even in their genre names, like eroge, utsuge, or nukige, the -ge part is coming from engrish for "game".

Maybe they are not exactly part of the more strictly defined "video game" medium, though.

 

[Duruznik]

Katawa Shoujo is the only one I've played, but I loved it. The depth of the characters was truly amazing.

Does anyone know of similar games? I'd prefer something with a smiliar artstyle, but maybe I'm just asking for too much.

 

[Something Amyss]

This is actually the first I've heard of 'em. Are they commonly translated to English?

their

They're.

 

[Lost In The Void]

Seems most people are going to put Katawa Shoujo and I'm one of those.

I also recommend Saya no Uta or Saya's Song if you can find an English version. Warning its easily 18+ because it has a lot of sexuality in it but a solid premise, good narrative and all that. Doesn't have near the choices that say KS has so don't be looking for that kind of experience, its just a lot of reading

 

[Alterego-X]

Does anyone know of similar games? I'd prefer something with a smiliar artstyle, but maybe I'm just asking for too much.

Check out screenshots at vndb.org, the visual novel database, for the art styles of the previously mentioned VNs.

 

[Alterego-X]

This is actually the first I've heard of 'em. Are they commonly translated to English?

There are several thousand of them in Japan, but most of these are smut.

Several dozen of the best, plot-based, famous ones are translated by fans, though those aren't legally available in english. Only a few are legall translated.

 

[Zyst]

This is actually the first I've heard of 'em. Are they commonly translated to English?

There are several thousand of them in Japan, but most of these are smut.

Several dozen of the best, plot-based, famous ones are translated by fans, though those aren't legally available in english. Only a few are legall translated.

Most game companies in Japan agree that if you buy their game and use an english patch they are totally fine with it, you are just going to have to be willing to buy them like that. But you can find a lot of used ones in ebay and such. Amazon Japan is also an awesome source, since they do send anywhere.

 

[Necroid_Neko]

I've read Ever17 and Remember11 of the Infinity series, and I'm anxiously awaiting Never7 and 12Riven from the same line. They're ncredibly good - well drawn, well written, well translated - and I very, VERY highly recommend Ever17, they're almost entirely clean too (only one sexual encounter between them and that's only hinted at), they're a lot more intellectual than your average 'dating sim' visual novel.
Choas;Head is pretty good too although it features the 'typical' perverted hero (no sex here either though, nor proper nudity) and I've heard good things about Steins;Gate too, still waiting for the English patch to be releaased on that one though.
In summary; read Ever17. It's amazing.

 

[Mariner]

The ones I recommend would be Fate/Stay-Night (has a +18 and non 18 version), Ever17 (no +18 scenes, but has [at the time] very accurate theoretical levels of science).

If you like to cry the a little wuss though you should try Muv-Luv Alternative. Unfortunately for you to get the maximum impact you need to play the first two games of the series, which are the generic Japanese VNs smut and all, to understand the back story of MV Alt. Word of warning though while all the series are +18, MV Alt also has content that justifies it (you can guess.)

TL;DR: Try the Muv-Luv series by playing the bland first two vns and finishing it with MV Alt and start crying as if your entire family was slaughtered or your puppy kicked.

 

[G-Force]

My favorite VNs favor strong plots, if there are sex scenes involved they have proper context, emotional build up and are few in numbers so they can be skipped if they make you feel uncomfortable.

Highly Recommended

Tsukihime
Fate/Stay Night
Sharin no Kuni
G Senjou no Maou
Planetarian (Kinetic Novel aka no choice)
Ever17
Remember11
999
Swan Song
Saya no Uta (Disturbing imagery and scenarios are present by still an engaging read)

 

[imnot]

You mean comics right? because mine is batman:Hush, mainly because

Spoiler

It's got the Riddler being riddley in it

EDIT: oh wait it appears I have been confused by your crazy words, darn you you rotten cad! Darn you!

 

[The_Merchant]

Fate/stay night and its sequel and prequel.

I am the Plot of my Story
Still image is my body and text is my blood
i have clicked through over a thousand dialogues
Unknown to CoD fans,nor known to the casuals
Withstood impatience to endure many bad ends
Yet these eyes will never read anything
So as i auto-forward,UNLIMITED NOVEL WORKS

 

[Wintermoot]

I have been planning to get into them but the only one I really played is Kanon (I do have Saya No Uta somewhere on my HDD)

 

[StorytellingIsAMust]

I've played the Phoenix Wright games, Hotel Dusk: Room 215, and 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors.