Best Visual Novels for PC

[Karnik]

What is the best visual novel for Windows that you have played/read? Please don't mention the nukige genre which is disgusting and perverse, for depraved people. Take into consideration above all the plot, the bgms, the voice acting, the general atmospheres, the drawing style. Obviously some hentai scenes may be present here and there, but they usually have ancillary and insignificant value. As for me, I will nominate Fate Stay Night, in the translation of the legendary Mirror Moon, with graphic patch and voice acting from the ps2 version.  Yu-No, with the voice patch from the Saturn version applied;  Animamundi - Dark Alchemist; Remember11 and  Ever17; Togainu no Chi; Saya no Uta. Regarding visual novels with gameplay, I prefer certain AliceSoft's tactical-rpg games: Sengoku Rance, Kichikuou Rance, Rance VI,  Daibanchou. Finally  Utawarerumono, Tears to Tiara and Eternal Aselia. Others I will name later, as I remember them. And yours?

 

[Waffles]

Easy choice:

I was on the verge about counting it, but Google seems to agree that it fits the genre.

 

[Karnik]

Easy choice:

Nah chief, it has nothing to do with the topic. A visual novel has anime characters, as far back as the PC-98 when this genre was born. Next time don't stop at the thread title, but at least read the OP post.

 

[Orpheous]

Seconding Animemundi - the Dark Alchemist, loved that game! Its in the "this has a few sex scenes but youll wish it didnt" camp. Its wild to me that most of these fucked up psychological horror queer stories seem to be marketed at young Japanese women. They just built different I guess.

Buried Stars, I also enjoyed, tho the translation can be a bit (or a lot) spotty at times, especially when it comes to "less important" conversations; its a nice meta-commentary on korean idol culture tho, that doesnt glorify it to high heavens. The plot kept me highly engaged, and it had some twist I genuinely never saw coming.

Zero Escape series is neat, tho I vastly prefer the first game over the others.

 

[Ícaro Oliveira Santos]

Umineko When They Cry is amazing, my favorite visual novel of all time.

 

[chrismas]

Nah chief, it has nothing to do with the topic. A visual novel has anime characters, as far back as the PC-98 when this genre was born. Next time don't stop at the thread title, but at least read the OP post.

428 Shibuya Scramble and Otogirisou (among others) would like to have a word with you... Though in all seriousness the thread should be limited to Japanese works for the moment. That said...
You've already listed every really great (and old) VN for the PC. What I can think of off the top of my head is either too new (Chaos;Head, Steins;Gate, well C;H may actually fit the bill since its a late 00s game) or is a little too flawed (Tsukihime [2000] is a personal favorite, but its well known that Nasu and Takeuchi ran out of time making the VN, which reflects in the poor final route). I've liked my time with To Heart 2 (mid 00s) but I haven't gotten that far into it.

 

[Yousef]

Umineko When They Cry is amazing, my favorite visual novel of all time.

I’ll have to second this.

Post automatically merged: Friday at 7:34 PM

What is the best visual novel for Windows that you have played/read? Please don't mention the nukige genre which is disgusting and perverse, for depraved people. Take into consideration above all the plot, the bgms, the voice acting, the general atmospheres, the drawing style. Obviously some hentai scenes may be present here and there, but they usually have ancillary and insignificant value. As for me, I will nominate Fate Stay Night, in the translation of the legendary Mirror Moon, with graphic patch and voice acting from the ps2 version.  Yu-No, with the voice patch from the Saturn version applied;  Animamundi - Dark Alchemist; Remember11 and  Ever17; Togainu no Chi; Saya no Uta. Regarding visual novels with gameplay, I prefer certain AliceSoft's tactical-rpg games: Sengoku Rance, Kichikuou Rance, Rance VI,  Daibanchou. Finally  Utawarerumono, Tears to Tiara and Eternal Aselia. Others I will name later, as I remember them. And yours?

You have a really great selection there. Don’t have much I can expand on haha. The best I can give is Air, which is more slice of life-y, no mystery, you just romance the girls. Although it’s my favorite VN ever so there’s that.

 

[Karnik]

Seconding Animemundi - the Dark Alchemist, loved that game!

I'm glad you like it: few men appreciate it because of the "yaoi" label that has been attached to it: beautiful, twisted and engaging main storyline, even the bad endings are exciting. The jpn voice acting is very expressive. The protagonist's descent into hell and his suffering ascent through purgatory are memorable, reminiscent of the Divine Comedy.

 

[Anim8rDude]

I/O is one the best experiences I've had with the genre & is rarely mentioned. The vndb description does justice, & is as interesting & complex as it sounds. It's really quite something, & is hentai-free which is a bonus, since at no point does it cheap-out in any way. Should 100% be played by anyone who even remotely likes visual novels.

 

[Gorse]

Many, many years ago, I did some QA testing work on this freeware visual novel called One Thousand Lies. It's a really adorable, funny little game by a (very nice) Spanish developer with some strong character designs and a few touches of emotion, steeped lovingly in mid-2010s culture. All the characters – not just the girls! – are written wonderfully and are extremely likeable, even for a curmudgeon like me.

I would never be interested in a non-JP VN otherwise, but – and I say this in a completely biased way – I really do like this one, and highly recommend it. It's completely free and has 1100+ positive reviews on Steam, so don't take my word for it!

 

[Karnik]

I/O is one the best experiences I've had with the genre & is rarely mentioned.

I started reading it some time ago, but I remember an english that was too technical and sophisticated for my tastes, with constant references to abstruse scientific (or perhaps pseudo-scientific) concepts of quantum physics, theory of relativity and the like: what a headache!

 

[Cu-Neo]

Tsukihime it's a classic that I always recommend

 

[Ícaro Oliveira Santos]

The House in Fata Morgana is absolutely beautiful, Amazing story, characters and visuals.

 

[Karnik]

Tsukihime it's a classic that I always recommend

If the original one, nice plot, but barely sufficient artwork and without voice acting, alas.

The House in Fata Morgana is absolutely beautiful, Amazing story, characters and visuals.

Yeah, they say it's compelling, but it lacks the sense of immersion that voice acting brings.

 

[Ícaro Oliveira Santos]

Yeah, they say it's compelling, but it lacks the sense of immersion that voice acting brings.

I disagree, I don't mind if visual novels don't have voice acting, in my opinion it doesn't ruin the experience

 

[Karnik]

I disagree...

 

[Ícaro Oliveira Santos]

but I do respect your opinion, don't worry.

Post automatically merged: Friday at 8:30 PM

Anyway, I also like Higurashi When They Cry.

 

[Karnik]

Umineko When They Cry is amazing, my favorite visual novel of all time.

Beautiful and compelling in the action and horror moments, but it often lingers, slowly and inexorably, in tedious banal dialogues and childish jokes. For now I have only read the first story (dragging it around for months) on my dear pink DS Lite, via VNDS.

 

[TheWanderer]

Tbh I only enjoy VN that has mystery in it ,
So
Danganronpa series
999 series
Ai sominuim files
Raging loop
Paranomasight
Yurukill
I like it when my brain keep working on speculating about the plot or uncovering a mystery

 

[Yousef]

Many, many years ago, I did some QA testing work on this freeware visual novel called One Thousand Lies. It's a really adorable, funny little game by a (very nice) Spanish developer with some strong character designs and a few touches of emotion, steeped lovingly in mid-2010s culture. All the characters – not just the girls! – are written wonderfully and are extremely likeable, even for a curmudgeon like me.

I would never be interested in a non-JP VN otherwise, but – and I say this in a completely biased way – I really do like this one, and highly recommend it. It's completely free and has 1100+ positive reviews on Steam, so don't take my word for it!

man This looks like a really wholesome game thanks for bring it to my attention

 

[Karnik]

Phantom of Inferno just came to mind, a (DVD player) thriller game by Nitroplus whose plot is vaguely reminiscent of Nikita (film and TV series). Also published by the late Hirameki, as Animamundi. Among its other titles only Exodus Guilty is noteworthy. You may have noticed that I only mention the oldest and most classic titles, those that have made the history of the genre.

 

[Anim8rDude]

with constant references to abstruse scientific (or perhaps pseudo-scientific) concepts of quantum physics, theory of relativity

lol sounds like what I remember. But hey! Different strokes for different folks. Actually kinda fits in with everything that TheWanderer mentioned above. I/O just deserves more attention.

Completely forgot I played Paranomasight. That game deserves some respect. Honestly came out of nowhere, from Square-Enix of all people.

 

[Karnik]

I incredibly forgot three touching and tear-jerking titles, not to be missed for sensitive and dreamy souls, all by legendary D.O. (which already published titles for the PC-98): Kana Okaeri (remake with voices of Kana Imouto), Kazoku Keikaku (Family Project) and Crescendo. Moreover unforgettable background melodies. I recommend these three wholeheartedly, especially to the younger ones; try them to believe, you won't be disappointed.

 

[RetroLaw]

Easy choice:

I was on the verge about counting it, but Google seems to agree that it fits the genre.

Never heard of that one, seems pretty interesting, added into Steam's wishlist

428 Shibuya Scramble

I disagree, I don't mind if visual novels don't have voice acting, in my opinion it doesn't ruin the experience

I agree, I mean "novel" is in the title of the genre and I don't think voice acting is absolutely necessary to get into it.

 

[Waffles]

Never heard of that one, seems pretty interesting, added into Steam's wishlist

Enjoy, dude!

I'm glad that at least someone is happy that I brought it up.