For players that enjoy a good story, visual novels are perfect. More narrative-driven than other types of games, they involve a lot of reading. However, they're usually accompanied by great visuals, some interesting gameplay elements, and, crucially, the power to make decisions. A good visual novel will allow the player to really shape the story, changing the outcome for the protagonist.
Itch.io is a treasure trove of visual novels: with hundreds to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to browse through them. There are a few games that really stand out, from sprawling, complex worlds with a huge cast of characters, to shorter, poignant stories about death, grief, and anxiety. Whatever players are looking for in a visual novel, chances are they'll enjoy some of the following games on Itch.io.
6 Adventures With Anxiety! By Nicky Case
A deceptively moving little game, Adventures With Anxiety! by creator Nicky Case is a comedy visual novel with an important message. The player takes control of a person's anxiety, in the form of a trembling and paranoid wolf. It's the anxiety wolf's job to protect their human by planting little seeds of worry in their head. Everything from scrolling through Twitter to deciding whether to go to a party is an opportunity to create anxiety. However, trying to protect them quickly (and obviously) backfires.
While it's packed with quips and fast-paced dialogue between the human and the wolf, it has some profound observations on living with anxious thoughts, the root causes of anxiety, and how people can learn to live alongside their own deepest fears. It's a short game that packs a surprising emotional punch, and it's a relatable game for anyone that has ever suffered from anxious thoughts.
5 Doki Doki Literature Club! By Dan Salvato
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Of course, Doki Doki Literature Club! by Dan Salvato is incredibly popular: it was a huge success when it launched in 2017, and for good reason. For those who have managed to avoid spoilers so far, it starts with the player, a high school student, joining the literature club at the request of his friend Sayori. For the player, this is an opportunity to meet some beautiful and interesting girls, and building relationships with said girls will have a big impact on the story. However, as the game progresses, events become slightly more…complicated.
It takes a long time to get going, but once players reach a certain point in the story, everything changes, and it's well worth hanging on for that pivotal story moment. It has a dedicated fan base, and the original is still on Itch.io for players to enjoy for a price of their choosing. The extended version, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is available on Steam, and has some extra content for players to explore.
4 A Mortician's Tale By Laundry Bear Games
A Mortician's Tale by Laundry Bear Games is described as a visual novel, but it's also a management game. The protagonist, a mortician, must prepare bodies for burial depending on the wishes of the deceased and their family. While that sounds intense, the visuals make it much less gory than players might imagine.
In fact, much of the tension comes from human drama. The player must navigate the needs of the family, along with the expressed wants of the deceased (which are sometimes at odds with each other). It offers an interesting insight into the business side of running a funeral home and provides some information on newer developments in the death care industry. This, along with some quietly moving moments, makes it a memorable experience.
3 Our Life: Beginnings & Always By GBPatch
A detail-packed game with a huge number of choices, Our Life: Beginnings & Always by GBPatch feels like a classic visual novel. Players can create a character (with some decent options in terms of avatar creation), then steer them through 4 periods of life: childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. Our Life allows players to shape their character's personality, and it feels as though the choices made really make an impact on the storyline.
The base story has one love interest, Cole, and it's interesting to watch this love story develop depending on the way the player would like it to go. Plus, the optional DLC allows players to linger in the world a little longer if they want to. It's an interesting way to truly shape a story, and the sheer number of choices makes it a more complex visual novel.
2 Froggy Pot By Cantsumori
A beautiful little game with a deeply personal story, Froggy Pot by Cantsumori explores what happens when a person is too mired in grief to carry on their life as normal. The game opens with a cute girl in a frog hoodie, lounging in a relaxing, bubbling pot of water. The player must get the girl out of the pot before the water starts to boil, but she's reluctant to leave.
Persuading the froggy girl to get out of the pot becomes a bit meta; the player has the opportunity to share their name, and tell the girl that they come from a different world. Befriending her is key, and the player must listen as the froggy girl explains how grief has left her feeling lost, isolated, and afraid. It's sweet and sad, and an interesting exploration of loss.
1 Lake Of Voices By GBPatch
A creepy, atmospheric horror, Lake of Voices by GBPatch has a dark and foreboding atmosphere. The protagonist, Kikka the Steadfast, is a guard for a small village, on a mission to protect a neighboring area. The problem is that she must cross Sinnlos, a terrifying lake teeming with horrible creatures ready to grab and drown any humans that dare to cross.
Surviving the night - and making it safely to the other side - is a challenge, especially as Kikka isn't the only one attempting the journey. The choices the player must make are more urgent here, as they won't be given long to make them. Go left or right? Help a person stranded on the dock, risking the lives of the group, or leave them behind? Players are only given a few seconds to make these life-or-death decisions, making Lake of Voices much tenser than most visual novels.