AI: The Somnium Files is one of the biggest cult classic visual novels of the last decade. Coming from the creator of the Zero Escape series, Kotaro Uchikoshi, and Danganronpa developer Spike Chunsoft, AI: The Somnium Files expertly blended non-linear storytelling with investigation gameplay to deliver an experience truly unique to the video game medium. The game was even successful enough to receive a sequel earlier this year in the form of AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative.
With AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative now a few months old, fans of the series are likely wondering what other detective visual novels they should dig their teeth into next. Thankfully, AI: The Somnium Files joins a strong lineup of games in its genre, most of which are readily available to be experienced today. Here are four (technically) games AI: The Sominum Files fans should play.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
One of the most influential games in its genre, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney set the stage for games like AI: The Sominum Files and other games that will be discussed later. Originally released as a Japanese only Gameboy Advance game in 2001, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney made visual novel history with its unique blend of both humorous and dramatic storytelling with intense courtroom gameplay, all in the form of a very Japanese visual novel game.
Following rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright and his spirit medium assistant Maya Faye, the entire Ace Attorney series contains some of the best storytelling in the entire visual novel genre and while it is remembered fondly for its more outlandish moments, including many of its characters' names being derived from puns, it's serious enough to make it an easy recommendation to AI: The Somnium Files fans considering both games share these elements in common.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
As previously mentioned, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc comes from none other than AI: The Sominum Files developer Spike Chunsoft, this time helped by frequent Kotaro Uchikoshi collaborator Kazutaka Kodaka. Danganronpa follows the lineage of games inspired by Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney by blending equally intense and hilarious character writing with dramatic courtroom battles, with the series centering around a group of students who are being held captive by a villainous animatronic bear named Monokuma while being forced to participate in a Battle Royale-style killing game.
While it first launched as a PSP game in 2010, Danganronpa really came into popularity in the west when it was localized for PlayStation Vita in 2014, but now the game is available on various modern platforms such as PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and even Xbox One. The series sets itself apart from games like Ace Attorney with its more arcade-like approach to courtroom battles, which incorporate traditional video game mini-games with visual novel sequences.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Somewhat of an outlier, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is unlike the other games mentioned thus far as it does not blend courtroom drama or even detective gameplay with visual novel storytelling. Instead, Hotel Dusk is a more traditional point-and-click adventure game made by the tragically defunct Japanese studio Cing, only having ever been released for Nintendo DS. The game is inspired by the seminal 1990s mystery TV show Twin Peaks, and follows Kyle Hyde, a former NYPD detective turned salesman, as he investigates a mysterious hotel that is said to contain a room that grants wishes.
Hotel Dusk is far more of a hard-boiled detective story than any of the other games featured here, but its Twin Peaks influence lends it a bizarre sense of humor that relieves it from coming off too dramatic. The game's puzzles make great use of the entire Nintendo DS system in mind-bending ways, lending it a level of narrative and mechanical complexity that puts it in line with AI: The Somnium Files.
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Of course, it's impossible to recommend games similar to AI: The Somnium Files without mentioning creator Kotaro Uchikoshi's previous work with Spike Chunsoft, the Zero Escape series. Specifically, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors being the series highlight. Originally released for the Nintendo DS in 2009, 999 is the game that cemented Uchikoshi as the unique writer and director that he is known as today. The game is a puzzle adventure game in which nine people awaken to find themselves trapped on a sinking ship. Realizing that the ship is sinking, they are forced to take part in a "Nonary Game," which sees them solving puzzles to escape through the ship.
999 became an instant cult classic upon its release with thanks to its blend of complex, interesting characters and intense gameplay scenarios. The game still holds up today, with the Zero Escape: The Nonary Games remaster updating both the art and gameplay for modern platforms while still making the original Nintendo DS version an easy recommendation.
AI: The Somium Files is available now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
