Visual novels almost always have R-18 content, but there are still a number of VNs that omit such content. They are perhaps the most interesting medium to come out of otaku culture, as they read like full length novels where reading time can range from a couple short hours to an upwards of 50 or more hours, yet also have background visuals, character sprites, music, and sometimes basic animations, voice acting, or mini-games. While some read as straightforward stories, it is more common in VNs for readers to sometimes make their own choices, influencing which path the game takes. This almost always means the game following a different heroine’s route. However, while this can sometimes be simply used to appeal to everyone’s different interest with different stories and archetypes, oftentimes a VN has a “true route,” deemed to be the real ending to the story and is sometimes far more plot driven than one might expect. Below are some of the staff’s recommendations for VNs which represent the best parts of the medium.
Ever17: The Out of Infinity (Ever17: The Out of Infinity)
Little Busters! (Little Busters!)
Narcissu (Narcissu)
Planetarian (Planetarian)
Rewrite (Rewrite)
True Remembrance (True Remembrance)
When the Seagulls Cry (Umineko no Naku Koro Ni)
Witch on the Holy Night (Mahoutsukai no Yoru)
Note on acquiring VNs: Some small visual novels are created and released by small groups legally and for free. Others have been translated into English and released using some sort of mainstream distribution platform, such as iOS or Steam. Beyond those two options, visual novels must be purchased in their original form and then patched using fan-made translation packs. We have provided links to either download or purchase the game in completely legal form, as well as the appropriate English translations if necessary.
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Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Co-written by legendary writer Kotaro Uchikoshi, responsible for the Zero Escape series and for many other visual novels/games that straddle the line between brilliance and madness, Ever17 is partly responsible for bringing the VN medium to where it is today. By pioneering the idea of multiple branching paths that converge into a “true” route, Ever17, despite some of its apparent flaws, has made some of the other VNs on this list possible and made the very medium competitive in the scheme of intelligent fiction by allowing writers to create stories that were previous impossible in books, movies, and everything in between. It may not be the best out there, but it is still an amazing read, and worth reading simply because of its significance.
~Kaze
(2002 ~ KID)
Length: ~30-50 hours
Voiced: Yes
Routes: 5
Biblical Themes:
(+) Sacrificial love
(+) Exploration of the supernatural
(+) Existence of a higher and connected being
Content to Look Out For:
(-) Suggestive themes
(-) Mild language
Purchase here (Amazon)
*Note that it has an official English release, though is extremely difficult to find and thus very expensive.
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Little Busters!
Little Busters!
If Clannad is a story about family, then Little Busters! is a story about friendship. When Riki was a child, his parents died, leaving him alone and in despair. It was then that the Little Busters a group of 4 people befriended him, saving him in his time of need. As their fun life continues on into high school, they decide to form a baseball team and Riki begins to recruit to fill the needed spots. However, everything is not as happy as it appears to be. Little Busters! is often considered Jun Maeda’s masterpiece as a work which has brought countless people to tears. Although all the routes are widely considered to be between poor and average, it is the true route Refrain which more than makes up for them as the heart of the story.
~Kaze/Japesland
(2007 ~ Key)
Length: ~50-60 hours
Voiced: Yes
Routes: 6 + true route
Biblical Themes:
(+) Sacrificial Love
(+) Working to become a stronger person
Things to Look Out For:
(-) Brief mentions of child abuse
(-) Occasional partial nudity
(-) Coarse language
*Although Little Busters! is technically rated “All-Ages”, it situations and images that are risque in nature. All are safe for television, ranging from humorous dialogue to a non-sexual panty shot. Despite this, we have deemed the edifying majority of the VN to greatly outweigh this content. Regardless, reader discretion is advised.*
Read articles about Little Busters!
Purchase Little Busters! here (Amazon)
Download fan translation here (Tlwiki)
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Narcissu/Narcissu: Side 2nd
Narcissu/Narcissu: Side 2nd
If there is one VN a Christian should read, it is without a a doubt, Narcissu: Side 2nd. It is better to read its original story Narcissu to gain some perspective, but Side 2nd provides far more amount of satisfaction from a Christian view. It is a story about young girls who are merely “waiting to die,” due to medical conditions beyond anyone’s control. Several characters are of Catholic faith background, and the church is portrayed surprisingly accurately. More importantly, this story delves into the serious topics of death and falling away from faith in a way that is both respectful and thought-provoking.
~Kaze/Japesland
(2005/2007 ~ Stage-nana)
Length: ~3-5 hours
Voiced: Yes
Routes: 1
Biblical Themes:
(+) Personal exploration of faith
(+) Respectful atheist perspective of Christianity
Content to Look Out For:
(-) Issues surrounding death may be uncomfortable
Read articles about Narcissu
Download legally for free here (Neechin) or here (Steam)
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Planetarian
Planetarian ~Chiisana Hoshi no Yume~
One of the few examples of a Key VN which does not have an anime adaptation. It is a short read, but it still manages to retain all of the standard elements one might expect from Key. Due to its length, simplicity, and quality, it is a highly recommended read to anyone who wants a glimpse into the VN medium. Set in a post-apocalyptic time, a nameless “junker” stumbles into the decrepit remains of a planetarian. There, he meets a girl who will change his cynical view of the world he lives in.
~Kaze/Japesland
(2004 ~ Key)
Length: ~2-3 hours
Voiced:Yes/No (depends on game version)
Routes: 1
Biblical Themes:
(+) Kindness toward others
(+) Sacrificial love
Things to Look Out For:
(-) Mild language
Read articles about Planetarian
Guide to purchase Planetarian for PC here (Insani)
Download English patch here (Insani)
Purchase Planetarian for iOS here (Apple)
Purchase Planetarian on Steam here
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Rewrite
Rewrite
The VN company which created popular titles such as Air, Kanon, Clannad, and Little Busters! heads in a very different direction by switching the master tearjerker storyteller Jun Maeda with the renowned Romeo Tanaka. What begins as a seemingly cliched high school story with comedic antics quickly develops into an epic tale of adventure. In terms of story writing, it is one of the best of the medium with very likable characters despite being on different sides. Furthermore, some of the later plot twists reveal some very interesting parallels or insights into Christianity, God, and the Holy Spirit.
~Kaze/Japesland
(2011 ~ Key)
Length: ~50-60 hours
Voiced: Yes
Routes: 5 + 2-part true route
Biblical Themes:
(+) Parallels to God’s intimate interaction with human events
(+) Parallels to God’s existence outside of time
(+) Hope in the face of a bleak future
(+) God’s foreknowledge
Things to Look Out For:
(-) Supernatural elements such as magic and summoning
(-) Small amount of ecchi or lewd jokes
Purchase Rewrite here (Amazon)
Download fan translation here (Amaterasu)
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True Remembrance
True Remembrance
While the Narcissu series is considered to be the staple of indie visual novels in the English-speaking community, due to its ready availability in the language for a long time, True Remembrance is considered to be a staple of the visual novels in the Japanese community. Taking place in a psych ward disguised as a city, humanity has, in the near future, been undergoing an epidemic of depression called the Dolor. In order to “medicate” this condition, which has led to mass suicide, mnemonicides (memory-killers) are trained and housed in this city by the government to treat the patients who can pay for treatment. All of this setup leads to an extraordinarily interesting and thought-provoking story that leads to numerous ethical dilemmas and discussions, healthy for anyone seeking to solidify their beliefs in ethics and related-philosophy.
~Japesland
(2004 ~ Shiba Satomi)
Length: ~5-10 hours
Voiced: No
Routes: 1
Biblical Themes:
(+) Contemplation of the importance of undergoing suffering
(+) Ethical analysis of the sanctity of life
Things to Look Out For:
(-) Prevalent themes of suicide (though suicide is never shown)
Download legally for free here (Insani)
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When the Seagulls Cry
Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (Chiru)
Ushiromiya Kinzo, the head of a rich family, is on his deathbed. When his family gathers on his private island for the annual family conference, a series of murders begin to take place as a typhoon isolates them from the outside world. Who is the culprit behind these murders, or is it truly the work of the mysterious witch Beatrice? An amazing story of tricks and misdirection as the truth is slowly revealed.
~Kaze
(2007 ~ 07th Expansion)
Length: ~100-130 hours
Voiced: No
Routes: 8 parts split into 2 games
Biblical Themes:
(+) An individual’s faith
(+) Insight into religious debate (both for and against)
(+) Perseverance through difficult times
(+) Depictions the danger of greed (love of money)
Things to Look Out For:
(-) Some descriptions of murders can be gruesome
(-) Magic, witches, demons, and other supernatural depictions
Purchase links and English patches can be found here (Witch Hunt)
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Witch on the Holy Night
Mahoutsukai no Yoru
A prequel of sorts (considering the Nasuverse is more of a multiverse) to several of Type-Moon’s previous works. It features the adolescent life of magician in training Aozaki Aoko, the younger sister of Aozaki Touko of Kara no Kyoukai and the briefly mentioned “teacher” of Tono Shiki of Tsukihime. Currently, only the first of the trilogy has been released, but it marked itself as having some of the best animation in a VN. Coupled with beautiful artwork, an amazingly perfect soundtrack, and Nasu’s trademark lovable yet awesome heroines, Mahoyo is an engaging, exciting, and even sometimes a comedic read.
~Kaze
(2012 ~ Type Moon)
Length: ~5-10 hours
Voiced: No
Routes: 1
Biblical Themes:
(+) Not judging others by appearances
(+) Sibling rivalry and family inheritance
Things to Look Out For:
(-) Heavy use of magic
(-) Poor depiction of the Christian Church
Purchase Witch on the Holy Night here (Amazon)
Download fan translation here (Commie Subs) [Translation done. Editing in progress.]
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