Otaku who want a change of pace from the usual manga and anime experience would appreciate the gaming angle of visual novels. After all, visual novels (VNs) go beyond the usual storytelling niche of light novels through choices. In turn, VNs provide a unique replay value for readers by letting them choose their favored outcome to a story.
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However, this "choose-your-own-adventure" gimmick can lose its luster in stories with rather long opening arcs. While a long exposition can become a dealbreaker to storytelling fans, some VNs do offer a huge payoff by the time they go full-throttle. Just which visual novels offer a crazy ride by the time readers finally grasp the narrative?
10 Muv-Luv
Fans of VNs might see Muv-Luv as the typical light-hearted tale. In it, protagonist Takeru Shirogane wakes up to find a woman sleeping in his bed. Things escalate hilariously as Takeru, his childhood friend Sumika, and the sleeping woman Meiya get embroidered in a love story where the two women compete for Takeru's heart.
Despite its rather quick 40-hour story, frustrations can arise from fans who realize that the more interesting parts of Muv-Luv happen in its sequel Unlimited, and final part Alternative. It's only by playing the three-part story that players can make sense of this light-hearted story, which evolves into an alien invasion.
9 Fate/Stay Night
Being part of the massive Nasuverse franchise, Fate/stay night is just one of many entries in an interconnected series. Essentially, Fate is set in an alternate reality where a secret conflict called the Holy Grail War takes place. In it, mages called Masters contract the service of heroic spirits called Servants in a clandestine city-wide death battle for the prize of any one wish. Unfortunately, protagonist Shirou Emiya accidentally summons the female Servant Saber and has to survive the ordeal - or die trying.
Unlike other VNs, Fate doesn't demand a lot of interactions on part of the player. Despite the slow uptake before it sets its stakes, the heavy modern fantasy narrative will require Shirou - also the narrator - to establish concepts on the get-go. However, players will appreciate Fate's story by the time they reconcile all the story arcs to arrive at its true ending.
8 Tsukihime
Written by the same person who wrote Fate/stay night, Tsukihime is regarded as one of Kinoko Nasu's most prominent works. Its story, taking place in an alternate timeline separate that from the Holy Grail War, talks of the story of Shiki Tohno, a high schooler who can see "death lines" that can destroy things and people when touched. His life changes after encountering supernatural creatures, as his powers seem to intrinsically tied to facing them.
As with Fate, Tsukihime doesn't demand a lot of interactions from the reader. Fans of the supernatural will appreciate Tsukihime's premise, but still admittedly is a slow burn throughout its 50-hour story.
7 The Fruit Of Grisaia
When Yuji Kazami gets into Mihama Academy, he's surprised to discover the prison-like academy only contains five female students. Despite his "cool" and laid-back nature, Yuji eventually becomes involved in each of the girls' lives. Soon, he realizes that behind each girl's rather cheerful persona are tragic and traumatizing pasts.
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Players who leisurely play Grisaia can easily get 95 to 100-hours' worth of gameplay completing each route. However, by the time Grisaia starts to gain momentum, players might get dragged into each girl's surprisingly grisly backstories, remarkably violent bad endings, and surprising resolutions to their respective story arcs.
6 Code: Realize - Guardian Of Rebirth
Granted, fans who see Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth for the first time will love its steampunk visuals and take on alternate history. In the story, Cardia, following her father's wishes, lives isolated as her skin melts or rots anything she touches. However, Cardia's life changes when her father disappears and the authorities try to capture her. For some unknown reasons, the legendary thief Arsene Lupin breaks her away. And thus begins her journey to look for her father.
Despite its short 30-hour run, Guardian of Rebirth has quite a slow burn for its few opening hours. Fans who want a compelling romance tale will appreciate Guardian of Rebirth upon finishing, but only if they have the patience to manage it.
5 Higurashi: When They Cry
Fans with a flair for murder mystery will appreciate Higurashi: When They Cry. Its story takes place in 1983, around the time when the fictional remote village of Hinamizawa experienced bizarre events that will change the lives of a group of youngsters forever.
Given its murder mystery nature, Higurashi isn't clear with its story on the get-go. In turn, the first four Higurashi "games" present themselves as question arcs, designed to establish mysteries in separate timelines. Meanwhile, its latter four stories serve as answer arcs, designed to resolve the stories. Granted, its air of mystery might be enough to captivate some readers. However, having to get through four question arcs before the game starts to unravel its true plot can become a drag early on.
4 Umineko: When They Cry
As with Higurashi, Umineko: When They Cry falls under the purview of murder mystery. This time around, Umineko takes place in 1986, when dying patriarch Kinzo Ushiromiya sends for his family to gather on the prominent family's island to discuss his belongings. Soon enough, the legend of the "Golden Witch" and her treasure resurfaces. However, when a storm locks up the 18 guests in the manor, murders occur that correspond to a legend attached with the Golden Witch.
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Given its more typical murder mystery premise, Umineko sends players straight to its "murder" element on the get-go. However, its rather long exposition and the continuous "human tricks versus supernatural" debate can leave players wanting out of this remarkable story.
3 Steins;Gate
At its core, Steins;Gate is a time travel story that boasts quite a gripping narrative despite its humorous premise. After self-proclaimed "mad scientist" Okabe Rintarou gets into an argument with research Makise Kurisu in a black hole conference, he finds her dead on the premises. Thing is, she's perfectly fine the next day. To make things weirder, Okabe, Kurisu, and his friends eventually get involved with conspiracy theories, bananas that turn into goop, and a cellphone that sends messages back in time.
Granted, Steins;Gate has the narrative punch guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. That is, if they get past a few hours of funny quips, an extended albeit necessary exposition and basic quantum physics that would have players reread every few lines.
2 Little Busters!
Why just settle for a slice of life story when it can have its own version of saving the world? At its core, Little Busters! takes from other slice of life VNs where narcoleptic Riki and his high school friends try to form a baseball team in their school called the Little Busters. To go beyond the narrative-heavy trends, Little Busters! also relies on some minigames to diversify the presentation experience for readers to enjoy.
Sadly, some readers might find the 75-ish hours' worth of story a bit dragging while exploring each heroine's story. However, readers who get the patience to persevere will get to a riveting and compelling second act that adds a flair of heroism and going against the odds to make for an unforgettable experience.
1 Clannad
Slice of life stories don't always appeal to everyone, but Clannad fans know that the VN has its ways of dragging readers into its riveting story. In this 2004 VN (also from the creators of Little Busters!), players explore the life of Tomoya Okazaki and his growth from adolescence into adulthood. As with typical VNs, he interacts with five girls in his last year at school, each of which will change his life in numerous ways.
The VN's first and second parts both have unique takes on the ideas of family and overcoming life's challenges. Players patient enough with its story can get to a final arc, which involves Tomoya in a dream world struggling to reconcile all his paths with the aforementioned heroines to save someone.