Visual Novels are interactive story games, usually accompanied by anime-inspired visuals. Fans of this increasingly popular medium know that there are amazing stories embedded in these games. Steam has a varied library of visual novels in 2020 that fans of all genres can enjoy.
RELATED: 5 Best-Rated $60 Games on Steam (& 5 Worst)
Due to the overwhelming number of visual novels on Steam, it is difficult for fans to know where to start. To get readers started, here are the top 10 visual novels on Steam. These rankings are based on the quality of the story, characters, and visual/audio presentation.
Updated April 10th, 2021 by Adriano Valente: The visual novel genre continues to explode in popularity, as what was once a niche interest is slowly becoming more integrated into the modern gamming landscape. Though they’ve been popular in their native Japan for years, the visual novel medium has only recently caught on in Western circles. With so many unique and varied titles for players to discover, there’s a little something for everyone. Ranging from light-hearted subgenres such as slice-of-life, romance and adventure, to more intense ones like psychological horror, mystery and drama, VN’s offer creators a diverse medium in which they can relate their narratives to the player.
15 Doki Doki Literature Club!
As far as visual novels go, none have been as deceptively mundane and serene as Doki Doki Literature Club! The freeware title developed by Team Salvato was released back in 2017 and quickly gained popularity when word of its duplicitous narrative spread.
The story follows a protagonist who joins his childhood friend’s literature club, where he meets and interacts with three other heroines. The game seems to be a standard dating sim, but the routes unfold in rather unsettling and inconceivable ways.
14 Higurashi: When They Cry
Similar to DDLK, Higurashi presents itself as an innocent slice-of-life adventure before turning things around on the player. Higurashi creator Ryukishi07 masterfully utilizes an assortment of anime tropes to lull players into a false sense of security, before gradually undoing the pleasant veneer that initially covers the troubled village of Hinamizawa.
Higurashi follows Keiichi Maebra who after moving to the idyllic village of Hinamizawa, soon learns of a series of mysterious deaths attributed to the town deity, all of which revolve around the village’s annual Watanagashi Festival. As players learn more about Hinamizawa’s dark past, everything about the village – including Keiichi’s new friends – starts to raise suspicion. The series is split into individual question and answer arcs, with the former presenting players with the bulk of the main mystery, and the latter utilizing the clues spread throughout the narrative to gradually connect the dots. Fans can either buy the complete collection on Steam for $53.93, or buy the arcs individually for a lower price.
13 Umineko: When They Cry
Unlike Higurashi, which carefully utilizes elements of psychological horror to unnerve players, Umineko instead presents them with a series of murder mysteries that seem impossible to solve. The story follows the events of the annual Urshiromiya Family gathering on the remote island of Rokkenjima. A devastating typhoon leads way to a series of occult murders, with Battler Ushiromiya, the sole survivor forced into a game of wits with the apparent culprit; Beatrice The Golden Witch.
RELATED: 10 Longest Visual Novels (& How Long They Take To Read)
Umineko also makes use of various question and answer arcs to develop the various narrative threads and character arcs throughout the 50 plus hour long mystery. True to form, Ryukishi07’s story is filled with twists and turns that invites the player to do their best in solving the seemingly inexplicable mystery at large. Fans can either buy the complete collection on Steam for $79.97, or buy the arcs individually for a lower price.
12 The Silver Case
Grasshopper Manufacture might be more well known for games like Killer Is Dead, Lollipop Chainsaw and No More Heroes these days, but they got their start with The Silver Case back in 1999. Possesing all the early trademarks of an early Suda game, The Silver Case places players in control of different characters in two separate scenarios, both revolving around a gruesome murder investigation.
The Silver Case didn’t get a worldwide release until 2016, and has since been ported from the PC to the Switch and PS4. It stands out as one of the most unique visual novels Steam has to offer, and the obscurity of the title makes it a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered. Fans can get it on Steam for $19.99.
11 Chaos;Child
Serving as a thematic sequel to 2008’s Chaos;Head, Chaos;Child doesn’t necessarily require that you played the original, though a certain knowledge of its world and lore would certainly make for a much more enjoyable experience.
The game follows Takuru Miyashiro and takes place six years after the events of the original. Just as in Chaos;Head the narrative revolves around a series of bizarre murders which draws the main character into a world of deception and mystery. Chaos;Head has tons of replay value, as it forces players to complete its main route before unlocking subsequent paths which help uncover elements of the overall mystery later on. Fans can get it on Steam for $34.99.
10 Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk
Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk is an Otome visual novel that is a sequel to Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly. Otome (maiden games) are aimed at a female audience and allow the player to romance the male cast. The story follows Jed, a young woman who is raised as a man because of her red-colored eyes. Red eyes in the world of Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk are a sign of a witch that brings misfortune. Follow her through her journey to hide her identity and survive the old Salem reminiscent town where she lives.
Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk is ten to thirty hours long and can be found on Steam today for $29.99. Fans of mystery and romance will enjoy this story the most.
9 Raging Loop
Raging Loop is a mystery/horror visual novel where a young man finds himself trapped in a strange, remote village with bizarre traditions. Follow the protagonist as he struggles to stay alive when murders begin to occur, and villagers say it is due to a mythical deity. Find out why these murders are happening, and if this tragedy is being caused by gods or humans. Fans of this game know that it keeps you on the edge of your seat as you anticipate what could possibly happen next.
Raging Loop is thirty hours long and can be found for $29.99 on Steam today.
8 AI: The Somnium Files
AI: The Somnium Files is a sci-fi/mystery visual novel. The protagonist, Date, is a special police officer who becomes wrapped up a serial killer case nicknamed the Cyclops Killer. Date obtains the ability to explore other characters' dream worlds as short, timed puzzle segments.
RELATED: The 10 Best Puzzle Games of All Time (According to Metacritic)
This visual novel has a notably beautiful presentation with gorgeous and moving 3D models instead of still images. AI: The Somnium files takes thirty hours to complete and can be found on Steam for $59.99.
7 The Fruit of Grisaia
The Fruit of Grisaia is a psychological drama/romance visual novel. The main character, Yuuji, is a transfer student to a small school with only five students. Yuuji and the other students all have their own "unique circumstances" that require them to be there. The main female characters are all romanceable and have their own unique story routes.
The Fruit of Grisaia is very long, with over 50 hours of story, and has two direct sequels to enjoy after completion. It can be found on Steam for $39.99.
6 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa is one of the more well-known games on this list. It is known for the crazy characters that inhabit its world and its thrilling mystery story. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is the first game in this series of "killing" games. The story of Danganronpa begins with Hope's Peak Academy, a school of elite students all with their own ultimate ability.
RELATED: Danganronpa: 5 Reasons V3 Ruined The Series (& 5 For Why It Made The Series Better)
The main character, Naegi, is on his way to his first day at Hope's Peak Academy when he loses consciousness and awakens in one of the classrooms under strange circumstances. He realizes that he is trapped there with a group of other students. Then, a strange game begins where the classmates are told they must kill each other if they want to ever leave the school. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc takes twenty-five to thirty hours to complete and is $19.99 on Steam today.
5 Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate is another well-known visual novel, particularly adored by anime fans. This visual novel is a sci-fi/mystery, and the second game in the Science Adventure series. Okabe Rintarou, a "mad scientist," is the main character, who figures out a way to time travel with only his microwave. As funny as this premise may sound, the story becomes more gripping and less humorous over time as the consequences of time travel become apparent. Steins;Gate is forty hours long and can be found on Steam for $29.99.
4 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games includes the first two games in the Zero Escape series. These two games are 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, and Virtue's Last Reward. These games are mystery/puzzle visual novels. There is a lot to enjoy here with interesting and likable characters, a compelling mystery, and brain-testing puzzles.
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games will take you around forty hours to complete, and is on Steam for $29.99.
3 Clannad
Clannad is a romance/drama visual novel by Key. The main character, Tomoya, is depressed and lost at the beginning of the story. Follow Tomoya as he finds his purpose through the people he meets and the romances he pursues.
RELATED: Every Possible Hawaii Date in Persona 5, Ranked
Clannad has many branching character routes, one for each of the main female characters. Clannad is eighty hours long and is $44.99 on Steam.
2 Little Busters!
Little Busters! is another romance/drama game by Key, the same creators of the previous entry, Clannad. The main character is a weak young man with narcolepsy named Riki. The story follows his daily life with his childhood friends. However, the player soon finds that not everything is as it seems in this peaceful world. There are many different endings to uncover in this game and the player needs to replay the game multiple times to grasp the entirety of the story.
Little Busters! is eighty hours long and is $34.99 on Steam today.
1 The House in Fata Morgana
The House in Fata Morgana is a game with a story that is impossible to forget. The main character is a man with amnesia who finds himself in a mansion. In this mansion, a nameless maid tells him a story that allows him to uncover the mysteries of both the mansion and himself. There are many twists and turns in this story and the experience ends up being an unforgettable one.
With gorgeous gothic visuals, a chilling soundtrack, and an epic, beautiful narrative this visual novel stands out as the best on Steam. It is thirty-five hours long and can be found for $24.99 on Steam.
NEXT: Every Game Of The Year Winner From the Past Decade, Ranked (According to Metacritic)