45 articles
9 R.I.P.
9 R.I.P. is an Otomate otome visual novel for Nintendo Switch (Japan 2023, English 2024) following Misa Isshiki through four supernatural romance routes with Godly and Heavenly endings, plus a 2025 sequel.
A Kiss for the Petals
A Kiss for the Petals (Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke o, その花びらにくちづけを) is a Japanese yuri visual novel series by dōjin group Fuguriya, first released November 25, 2006, set at St. Michael's Girls' School; its 18th entry, Remembering How We Met, was MangaGamer's 2015 English debut.
Adaptations of visual novels
Adaptations of visual novels convert branching, text-heavy games, typically Japanese, into linear media such as anime, manga, or film, requiring adapters to select among multiple routes and endings.
Amagami (アマガミ)
Amagami (アマガミ) is a 2009 PlayStation 2 romance simulation game by Enterbrain, successor to True Love Story and KimiKiss, with six heroines, an action-map schedule system, conversation topic mode, and later Ebikore+ ports on PSP and PS Vita.
Bishōjo game
Bishōjo game (美少女ゲーム), also gal game: Japanese genre of games centered on interacting with attractive anime-style female characters, mostly visual novels with branching routes; male-oriented counterpart to otome games, historically tied to eroge.
Chinese and Korean visual novels
Chinese and Korean visual novels are visual novels made in China and South Korea. Chinese originals went mainstream around 2012, while South Korea's Cheritz found success with Mystic Messenger.
Class of '09 (franchise)
Class of '09: dark-comedy visual novel franchise by Max Field (SBN3) and Wrath Club, following Nicole in a late-2000s American high school; three games (2021-2024), a Kickstarter-funded anime, and a 2026 puzzle game; unrelated to the FX series.
Diabolik Lovers (ディアボリックラヴァーズ)
Diabolik Lovers (ディアボリックラヴァーズ) is a Rejet and Otomate media mix franchise of otome games, drama CDs, and anime about heroine Yui Komori and sadistic vampire brothers, beginning as a 2011 situation CD with the first game in 2012.
Djibril – The Devil Angel
Djibril – The Devil Angel (魔界天使ジブリール, Makai Tenshi Jiburiru) is a 2004 Frontwing Windows adult visual novel about a transforming angel heroine, spawning sequels, OVAs, and the 2020 DMM browser game 電脳天使ジブリール.
Doki Doki Literature Club! (ドキドキ文芸部!)
Doki Doki Literature Club! (ドキドキ文芸部!) is a free 2017 Ren'Py visual novel by Team Salvato, a dating sim that reveals itself as psychological horror through file deletion and fourth-wall breaks; DDLC Plus! (2021) added Side Stories.
Doujin soft (同人ソフト)
Doujin soft (同人ソフト), also called doujin game, is self-published software within Japanese doujin culture, covering games and hardware, sold mainly at events like Comic Market.
Dramatical Murder (ドラマティカル マーダー)
DRAMAtical Murder (ドラマティカル マーダー, DMMd) is a 2012 cyberpunk boys' love visual novel by Nitro+CHiRAL, starring Aoba with five routes (Mink, Clear, Koujaku, Noiz, Ren), released in English by JAST on Steam in 2021.
Emily Is Away
Emily Is Away is Kyle Seeley's 2015 free-to-play Steam interactive story set in an AOL Instant Messenger recreation on Windows XP, spanning five yearly chats (2002–2006) with Emily, followed by Emily is Away Too (2017) and Emily is Away <3 (2021).
Enzai: Falsely Accused (冤罪)
Enzai: Falsely Accused (冤罪) is Langmaor's 2002 yaoi visual novel, the first BL game officially localized into English (JAST USA, 2006). Set in 19th-century France, it follows Guys, falsely imprisoned for murder, across eleven endings.
Eroge
Eroge (エロゲ) is the Japanese umbrella term for erotic video games, originating with Night Life (1982); mostly visual novels marketed to heterosexual men, with subgenres like nukige and nakige.
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star (フェイト/エクステラ)
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star (フェイト/エクステラ) is Marvelous' 2016 musou action game, the first action title in Type-Moon's Fate series, following Fate/Extra. Set in SE.RA.PH after its Holy Grail War, players capture sectors to fill a 15-key Regime Matrix across three story routes led by Nero, Tamamo, and Altera.
Fate/hollow ataraxia
Fate/hollow ataraxia (フェイト/ホロウアタラクシア) is TYPE-MOON's 2005 visual novel sequel to Fate/stay night, set six months after the Fifth Holy Grail War, structured as a four-day loop with Bazett, Avenger, and Caren; remastered in English in 2025.
Fate/stay night
Fate/stay night (フェイト／ステイナイト) is a 2004 Japanese adult visual novel by TYPE-MOON, its first commercial release. Written by Kinoko Nasu with art by Takashi Takeuchi, it follows Shirou Emiya in the Holy Grail War across three routes and launched the Fate franchise.
Hatoful Boyfriend (はーとふる彼氏)
Hatoful Boyfriend (はーとふる彼氏) is Hato Moa's Japanese pigeon-dating visual novel, an April Fools' 2011 Flash parody turned cult game, remade by Mediatonic and Devolver Digital in 2014, with the hidden Bad Boys Love dark true ending.
HuniePop
HuniePop is an adult dating sim and match-3 puzzle hybrid by HuniePot, released January 19, 2015 for PC, Mac, and Linux after a Kickstarter; censored on Steam with an official uncensor patch, followed by HuniePop 2: Double Date.
Kamigami no Asobi (神々の悪戯)
Kamigami no Asobi (神々の悪戯, Ludere deorum) is a 2013 PSP otome game by Broccoli and Nippon Ichi Software with art by Kazuki Yone; heroine Yui Kusanagi teaches gods about love at Zeus's school. Spawned a 2014 Brain's Base anime, the InFinite sequel, and a Switch Unite Edition.
Little Busters! (リトルバスターズ！)
Little Busters! (リトルバスターズ！) is Key's sixth visual novel, released in 2007, about childhood friends who form a school baseball team. Ecstasy (2008) added three routes; it was adapted into a J.C. Staff anime and manga.
Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai! (真剣で私に恋しなさい!)
Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai! (Majikoi!, Majikoi! Love Me Seriously!) is a 2009 Japanese adult visual novel by Minato Soft, scenario by Takahiro, set at Kawakami Academy; English JAST USA release 2020, 12-episode 2011 anime by Lerche.
Muv-Luv (マブラヴ)
Muv-Luv (マブラヴ) is a 2003 Japanese visual novel by âge with the Extra school-romance and Unlimited war arcs, completed by Muv-Luv Alternative (2006); English Steam release 2016, over one million series copies sold.
Narcissu (ナルキッソス)
Narcissu (ナルキッソス) is a 2005 freeware kinetic novel by Tomo Kataoka and Stage-nana about two terminally ill patients who flee a hospice; its minimalist, choice-free design, insani's first al|together English translation, and over one million downloads distinguish it from branching visual novels.
Narcissu: Side 2nd
Narcissu: Side 2nd (ナルキッソス -SIDE 2nd-) is Tomo Kataoka's 2007 kinetic novel prequel to Narcissu by STAGE NANA, set seven years earlier around hospice patient Himeko Shinohara and a 15-year-old Setsumi; free official English release, Steam 2014.
Nekopara
Nekopara (ネコぱら) is a Japanese catgirl visual novel series by NEKO WORKs and illustrator Sayori, first released December 29, 2014; over 7 million copies sold, with manga, OVA, TV anime, and the 2026 mobile game Sekai Connect.
Norn9
Norn9 (Norn9: Var Commons) is an Idea Factory/Otomate otome visual novel series set on a floating airship in Taisho-era Japan, with three heroines, nine romance routes, a 2015 Vita English release, a 2023 Switch port, and the Last Era fan disc.
Nukitashi (ぬきたし)
Nukitashi (ぬきたし), full title Nukige Mitai na Shima ni Sunderu Watashi wa Dou Surya Ii Desu ka?, is a 2018 Qruppo adult visual novel set on Seiran Island under a mandated-sex law; sequel Nukitashi 2 (2019), Shiravune English release 2023, Passione TV anime 2025.
Otome game
Otome game (乙女ゲーム) is a video game genre for women with female protagonists romancing male characters, starting with Angelique (Koei, 1994); the name spread from Japanese magazines around 2001.