The best visual novels

A narrator, much like a helper in a video game, guides you through the story to explain things to you outside of the plot and characters. Some can be amusing like Deadpool’s hilarious fourth-wall breaks. Others simply pop in and add a few comments.

Visual novels also add voiceovers from principal characters. But, oddly enough, sometimes the narrator or main protagonist doesn’t get a voice.

What makes these narratives so popular?

Branching storylines and you can participate, not just influence, the outcome. 

Just like you can choose Passage A or Passage B in your Super Mario Bros. game, you can have your characters choose an outcome

You also may need to solve puzzles, play music, or answer questions along the way.

So visual novels are not quite as intense as video games, but they offer more to the narrative than a book you simply read or listen to. 

You get to participate in the story, as if you’re a character, without frantically pushing a series of buttons to defeat the next boss

These visual novels do lean heavily on anime and manga-style influences. So if you love Japanese animation, you’ll adore this kind of entertainment.

Does anyone remember those Choose Your Own Adventure novels from the ‘80s and ‘90s? This is the next generation of those secret path novels that kids loved.

Even better, you can play these on your phone or tablet.

1. Mysterious Forum and 7 Rumors

Mysterious Forum and 7 Rumors

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This award-winning visual novel follows how three characters try to solve mysteries (posted as rumors in a forum) brought forth by fellow high school students.Calling themselves “The Newspaper Club,” you get to witness how the characters track down the source of rumors and solve mysteries.This visual novel isn’t necessarily for younger kids, as the first rumor is about someone who seems to have murderous intentions towards a classmate at the schoolYour part in the action is that you post rumors on the forum. And then those rumors come true. With each episode in the visual novel, you get closer and closer to solving the mystery of why the rumors come true.

2.

Underworld Office: Visual Novel, Adventure Game

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3.

How to Sing to Open Your Heart

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4.

ALLBLACK Phase 1 Visual Novel

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5. Argo’s Choice

Argo's Choice: Visual Novel

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Play as Argo’s conscience as he navigates through seven days of a dark and twisted underbelly of society.In order to resurrect himself, Argo must make a startling choice as he finds out who he must kill.You get to tell our protagonist what to do during mundane and critical junctures of the story. By the time Argo unravels what he must do, he faces a seemingly impossible option!But is he noble in what he must do? Is he being merciful or egotistical? You decide in this chat-style visual novel.Argo’s Choice has a prequel, too, if you enjoy this one. It unlocks after you finish the first visual novel.

6.

PARQUET

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