When it comes to video games, many people have their own personal preferences. Sometimes, fans will appreciate the innovative platformers like Mario or Sonic The Hedgehog. Sometimes for RPGs, many would play games like Elder Scrolls Skyrim or Dragon Quest XI. However, there is a type of video game that is more or less an interactive book. One that has gotten a lot of praise from many fans and is growing more popular with time. Visual Novels. Of course, with any genre, there are good and bad games. This list will only show a taste of that as there are many games that could've potentially been missed out.
With that being said, here are the five best and worst visual novels according to Metacritic.
10 Best: Clannad For PC - 83%
Clannad is a Japanese visual novel created by Key Studios for Windows. Releasing back in 2004, the story follows a boy named Tomoya Okazaki as he meets up with people during his last year of high school. Along the way he starts to help the problems of five specific girls.
Clannad's general gameplay revolves around a series of branching paths. Each scenario offering a new type of problem that the main character has to deal with. Clannad is currently quite critically acclaimed with many fans all over the world. The game totals up to around 65 hours.
9 Worst: Amnesia Memories For Playstation Vita - 72%
Amnesia Memories is a visual novel that is developed by Idea Factory. Released only on the Playstation Vita, the game is classified as an otome game. A genre where the player controls a female character as she chooses her male love interest. After the heroine receives amnesia through colliding minds with a boy named Orion, the player has the chance to pick their choices over what to do in order to regain her memories back. The game was generally favourable overall.
8 Best: Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair For PC - 83%
The sequel to the original Danganronpa, this game takes place on a tropical island. Following a group of students, they are tasked on killing their peers in the hopes of leaving the island. The game similar to its predecessor is split between the school life and the class trials. The game was praised for its incredibly engaging plot that is also full of emotion that grips the player. The game was able to sell a total of 69,000 copies. Recently the game has received mobile ports.
7 Worst: Hatoful Boyfriend For PS4 - 72%
A digital Otome novel that came out back in 2011, the game takes place in an alternate version of Earth where birds have become the dominant species. A unique dating sim, the player takes control of a human girl who gets to choose her love interest. In spite of the limited budget and promotion, Hatoful Boyfriend has garnered good commercial success, with fans and critics praising the writing in particular.
6 Best: Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies For iOS - 85%
Taking place roughly eight years since Phoenix Wright was last in the court of law canonically, the character has made a triumphant return. Although the game was able to have all of the quirks and unique traits the franchise is known for, this is the first time the games have ever gone fully 3D. Not only that but accompanying Phoenix Wright this time around is Athena Cykes who has the ability to use her Mood Matrix. The game is considered a strong port from its 3DS counterpart.
5 Worst: Another Code: Two Memories For DS - 70%
Also known as Trace Memory in North America, Another Code: Two Memories is a point and click adventure game that is also a visual novel. It follows a 13-year old girl named Ashley Mizuki Robbins as she looks for her father who was last found in Blood Edward Island. In spite of the story being generally praised along with the artwork, the game was criticized for the short length and the puzzles being not that good.
4 Best: Code: Realize Guardian Of Rebirth For Playstation Vita - 86%
Code: Realize Guardian Of Rebirth is an Otome game that takes place within a steampunk setting. Containing a host of characters from the historical to literature, Code: Realize Guardian of Rebirth is definitely a unique game for any fan of the genre. The game was generally well-received overall with two fan discs under its name. Not only that, but the series eventually got its own anime adaptation.
3 Worst: Disgaea Infinite For Playstation Portable- 64%
A spin-off of the Disgaea franchise, Disgaea Infinite is a visual novel where the player takes on the role of Prinny. Looking over the investigation on the attempted murder of Laharl, it eventually culminates into them travelling back in time where the player has to possess characters from the franchise in order to figure things out. Although it was a decent change of pace from what fans were used to, Disgaea Infinite was criticized for being repetitive.
2 Best: Steins;Gate For PC- 87%
Steins;Gate is a game that has become quite legendary for both gamers and anime watchers. The main protagonist is Okabe Rintarou as he and his team create the first time machine. As they continue to do more experiments, things start to get more terrifying.
A visual novel that is filled with multiple routes, Steins;Gate is a science fiction game that is praised for its characters, lore and terrifying thrills that really shows how awful time-travel can truly be. Let alone what it's capable of. The game went on to spawn anime adaptations and other forms of media surrounding it. Including a potential live-action show.
1 Worst: Again For DS- 52%
Fully known as Again: Interactive Crime Novel, it is an adventure game created by Cing studios. The game follows a string of murders that have been brought out again after nineteen years. The player controls J with the ability to solve puzzles using his vision ability.
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The game utilizes the DS's dual screens to its advantage, exploring everything through a first-person perspective. Many critics claimed that the games concept, art style and controls were good. However it was heavily panned for the mechanics and story beats.