Visual Novels give players a chance to take a more hands-on approach to role-playing games. Games in this genre always find clever ways to immerse players through atmospheric soundtracks, clever use of dialogue, and impactful decisions.
Doki Doki Literature Club, Needy Streamer Overload, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney are just a few examples of the genre's versatility. While romance and mystery are often key themes in visual novels, there are plenty of other unique stories to be told. Whether players are looking to wield magic, solve crimes, or even simulate life there is a visual novel for everyone.
10 First Bite
- Release Date: February 13th, 2022
- Platforms: PC
In First Bite, players will put their fates in the hands of three centuries-old vampires. First Bite is an LGBTQ+ dark comedy visual novel, that puts players in the role of Noe, a human fanfic writer. While romance is a key design in the game, players can choose to forge friendships instead.
The game features several endings, with twenty-five of those being ending in the player dying. However, if players successfully navigate the game immortality may not be far behind in some of the positive outcomes.
9 Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude
- Release Date: March 8th, 2022
- Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, and Playstation 5
Players who want to experience some of the events that lead up to those in Ghostwire: Tokyo will want to try out the prelude. Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude is a free-to-play visual novel that sets the stage for the main game.
Players will follow Detective KK and his team as they investigate a mysterious disappearance. The detective plays a key role in Ghostwire: Tokyo. In the prelude, players can build relationships with each of the team members and learn their stories. The prelude has branching paths that lead to additional secrets and nuances about the world.
8 Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
- Release Date: March 16th, 2022
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is the latest entry in the Persona 4 series. The Ultimax version includes all previously released Persona 4 Arena Ultimax content. In addition, the latest entry includes a large roster of playable characters, including fan favorites from Persona 3.
Players will continue their search for a mysterious force. In the town of Inaba, the Midnight Channel has begun to air again, resulting in an army of shadows beginning to move.
7 The Testing Chamber
- Release Date: March 28th, 2022
- Platforms: PC
The Testing Chamber is a social experiment in the form of a psychological simulation. The game also features horror and atmospheric elements.
In The Testing Chamber, players will have to answer a series of questions that are designed to reveal things about themselves. In addition, they will have to perform a variety of actions that will present different choices that must be made.
6 Princess Farmer
- Release Date: March 31st, 2022
- Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4
Princess Farmer is a match 3 puzzle and visual novel game. Players will go from being ordinary farmers to being able to raise entire rows of crops with magic.
There are three distinct play styles that players can choose between, as well as different level goals to work towards. Players will have to be strategic with how they use their character movement and stack management.
In addition, in Princess Farmer players can also team up with a friend to harvest together. Dialogue choices in the cooperative mode can also be chosen together.
5 A Hero And A Garden
- Release Date: May 2022
- Platforms: PC
Players looking to take on the role of a fairytale hero who’s good at gardening will want to check out A Hero and a Garden. In A Hero and a Garden, players will become a prince who was unable to rescue the princess from a tower.
The game features a peaceful soundtrack to listen to while tending the garden. In addition, there are monsters that want to be friends and others that don’t.
4 ValiDate: Struggling Singles In Your Area
- Release Date: August 2022
- Platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Xbox, Itch.io
ValiDate is a visual novel that centers around thirteen struggling singles navigating their 20s. There are over thirty routes players can discover. Players can make good and bad decisions and see entertaining results from some of their choices.
ValiDate takes place in Jercy City where everyone will go through their own journeys and transitions in life. Players can find romance over a variety of topics from cosplay, mixtapes, trash, and poetry.
3 Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: PC
Players who enjoyed the first episode of Coffee Talk can look forward to the second episode in the series. Episode 2 will take players back to their coffee shop where they’ll meet their customers again.
In Coffee Talk, players will mix a variety of ingredients and create warm and inviting drinks. There are plenty of secret recipes to uncover, and some drinks may even be able to change people's lives.
Humans are not the only customers players will encounter, as the game takes place in an alternate world where humans, orcs, elves, and other supernatural races coexist. Players can also create their own unique latte art to decorate their signature drinks. In addition, the game features an immersive Lo-fi atmosphere.
2 Witchy Life Story
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: PC
Players looking for a humorous game where they can live the life of a witch will want to keep an eye out for Witchy Life Story. In Witchy Life Story players must ensure the harvest festival is a success.
Players will get to know six eccentric villagers and can help them complete their festival tasks. In addition to customizing how their witch looks players can also further develop their personality with each dialogue option.
Witchy Life Story also provides players with a garden of magical herbs they can tend. Players will also be able to cast spells, perform tarot readings, and plenty of other feats.
1 Beacon Pines
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: PC
Players looking for a cute and creepy adventure will want to check out Beacon Pines. The world of Beacon Pines takes place within a mysterious storybook, and players take on the role of the book's protagonist and the reader of the book.
As they explore, players will uncover hidden truths and collect words that have the power to rewrite history. The words players find will act as charms that can change the outcomes of various encounters and unlock more branches and endings in the story.
Players can navigate between the various story branches with ease and at any point in the game. Each branch will unlock more secrets that combined can help players uncover the mystery surrounding Beacon Pines.