There are thousands of genres of games that are available to play online. Hardcore gamers prefer to play sports and FPS games, ones that are time-consuming and have a steep learning curve. For casual gamers and indie lovers, meanwhile, visual novels present an interesting and charming adventure to embark on, especially for gamers who love story.
The artistic designs and adorable characters of visual novels can create memorable impacts on players when done well. These characters and stories etch heart-warming sentiments from indie game developers onto players that are new to the genre. With the support of Virtual Reality (VR) devices, people can have an immersive experience of these worlds that create an incredible impact.
10 The Midnight Sanctuary
Developed by Cavyhouse, The Midnight Sanctuary is a 3D visual novel centered around the Japanese town of Daiusu. People can explore the secluded village through the eyes of Hamomoru Tachibana, a young girl that has been invited to the village. She's enthusiastic about uncovering paranormal events, and loves to feast on Japanese dishes. Hamomoru must work with a quiet community of Christians living in Daiusu to learn about and archive its history and folklore.
The game takes place in the 1920s. With Hamomoru’s help, Daiusu seeks to become a modern village. Players can accompany Hamomoru as she discovers mysterious truths about the village and its inhabitants.
9 Spice & Wolf VR 2
Based on the light novel series, Spice & Wolf VR 2 is a family-oriented VR visual novel. It follows the story of Lawrence and Holo as they spend time together with their daughter, Myuri. Holo is a goddess that loves to eat delicious foods such as raspberries and meat. Meanwhile, Lawrence is a pelt merchant that has decided to settle down with the wolves and run a bathhouse to support his family.
The VR experience is splendidly breath-taking, as the characters come to life with every little movement they make. It’s a sheer joy to see these characters interact with each other in VR. People can also watch a few clips of the anime series at the bathhouse.
8 Laid-Back Camp – Lake Motosu
Published by Gemdrops, Laid-back Camp – Lake Motosu is a visual novel based on the popular manga series. The game takes place near Japan's Mt. Fuji, and revolves around Nadeshiko and Rin. The two friends camp together with the picturesque surroundings of Mt. Fuji in the background.
Gamers can play as Nadeshiko and interact with Rin in fun and exciting ways. From cooking dinner to taking selfies with each other, the musings of these girls are filled with endless charm. The VR game was released on March 4, 2021, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Oculus Quest, Android, and iOS.
7 Gal*Gun 2
Gal*Gun 2 is a thrilling visual novel and first-person shooter VR game. Play as an academy student equipped with the Demon Sweeper, a powerful gun that can be used to make girls happy and burst with euphoria. The game allows players to interact with various girls from school to complete missions and upgrade items.
Players must give snacks and treats to girls in Gal*Gun 2 to win them over and rendezvous with them. Injecting pheromones into the girls, ridding them of their demon possessions, and watching them react can be quite an experience, especially on the VR.
6 Custom Order Maid 3D2
Custom Order Maid 3D2 offers tons of in-game features. Gamers can play as the owner of the Empire Club and run it as a business. The Empire Club provides people with maids that can perform domestic duties such as welcoming guests, serving them food and drinks, housekeeping, and dancing.
The maids can be trained in various ways to please the guests. They are completely customizable, with hundreds of skins to choose from to enhance their head, hair, body, and clothes. The Empire Club has tons of rooms that can be customized as well, to enrich the experience for the guests.
5 Dagon
Dagon is a 3D horror game published by Bit Golem. Based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft, the game explores the deep and dangerous world drawn around the Cthulhu Mythos. Gamers play as a former ship officer on board a naval vessel, after the events of World War I.
The free-to-play horror game offers plenty of eerie and mysterious rooms that are teeming with texts and information about Lovecraftian literature. The vocal narrative of the game, combined with its outstanding 3D environment in VR, can give players goosebumps. The game takes about 30 minutes to complete, making it perfect to finish in an afternoon.
4 Mind VR Exploration
Mind VR Exploration is a learning application designed for VR. It lets people discover many enchanting aspects of Chinese culture such as its architecture, poems, and music. The dream-like world is based on the Ming Dynasty, and features loads of interactive elements.
People can choose to play Chinese checkers, fly kites, and write Chinese characters by hand. Traditional furniture can be assembled and repositioned to improve the aesthetics. There are also swans and flying whales surrounding the landscapes in the game to give players a surreal experience.
3 Tokyo Chronos
Published by Sekai Project, Tokyo Chronos is a murder mystery that takes place in the city of Shibuya, and focuses on the mysterious disappearance of its inhabitants. Gamers play as Kyosuke, a young boy determined to solve the mystery behind the missing people in his town.
The game focusea on eight childhood friends, who are the only remaining people in Shibuya. These characters are elegantly designed, and the way they display grief, suspicion, and joy truly bring them to life. Depending on the choices and decisions made by Kyosuke, Tokyo Chronos provides multiple endings to the game.
2 Angels & Demigods
Released on September 18, 2016, Angels & Demigods is a sci-fi visual novel that takes place in the 190th century on Enceladus. The futuristic game surrounds the adventures of Ashley, a genetically engineered Angel that has been awakened from its dormant state. Players are tasked with the mission to bring Ashley back to the facility.
The world of Angels & Demigods provides plenty of interactive items that are placed around the facility and outer space. It features many characters that players can interact with in unique and interesting ways. Based on the player’s interactions with the characters in the game, they will reveal information on Ashley that will help the player retrieve her.
1 Guard of Wonderland VR
Guard of Wonderland is a visual novel and VR game that was released by Wonder Games on April 17, 2018. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, the action-adventure game features characters from the novel including Alice, The White Chess Queen, the Red Queen, Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, and others.
The VR game has an atmosphere of absurdity and takes place in the land of Phantasmagoria. It features a turn-based combat system that can be used to defeat enemies such as the DoDo, Snark, and Scolopendra. Guard of Wonderland has several boss fights and multiple endings that are based on the decisions taken in the game.