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For context, visual novels are basically ~novella sized stories that come with visuals like static backgrounds + a few dozen renders per character. The characte
by Frotag 2y ago
For context, visual novels are basically ~novella sized stories that come with visuals like static backgrounds + a few dozen renders per character. The character renders tend to be mostly the same, with small variations in facial expression, pose, maybe outfit.
All that to say, you probably won't like VNs unless you like reading. Don't expect much gameplay / animation. That said, the more famous stories tend to have multiple endings determined by a handful of choices you get during the story. On occasion, some games go for sandbox-style gameplay where you roam the map to grind out currency to unlock visual novel scenes.
In terms of genre I'd say at least half are dating sims, with the rest being some kind of adventure or mystery story. I'd also guess at least half are nsfw / r18. Renpy VNs tend to be made by indie devs from everywhere but Japan, which has a VN industry with in-house engines.
Writing quality tends to be what you expect from indie authors / devs. That is, filled with tropes, tending towards the wish-fulfillment types. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, you'll be surprised what you'd be willing to overlook if the premise / plot seems interesting.
- jsheard 2y ago> For context, visual novels are basically ~novella sized stories Usually, but some of them are infamously ludicrously long. Like 2-3x War and Peaces long.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- Frotag 2y agoGot curious about the actual distribution so ran some queries on vndb [1]. Looks like the median renpy novel (with 100+ votes) takes 250min to complete with the ludicrously long ones [2] bringing the average up to 503min. engine vn count avg 25% 50% 75% Ren'Py 251 503 120 251 571 KiriKiri 187 813 241 522 1143 Unity 65 871 224 452 1109 [1] https://query.vndb.org/?sql=SELECT+%0D%0A++++r.engine%2C+%0D%0A++++COUNT%28*%29+%22count%22%2C%0D%0A++++ROUND%28AVG%28l.length%29%29+%22avg%22%2C%0D%0A++++ROUND%28PERCENTILE_CONT%280.25%29+WITHIN+GROUP%28ORDER+BY+l.length%29%29+%2225%25%22%2C%0D%0A++++ROUND%28PERCENTILE_CONT%280.50%29+WITHIN+GROUP%28ORDER+BY+l.length%29%29+%2250%25%22%2C%0D%0A++++ROUND%28PERCENTILE_CONT%280.75%29+WITHIN+GROUP%28ORDER+BY+l.length%29%29+%2275%25%22%0D%0A%0D%0A--check+only+one+release+per+vn%0D%0AFROM+%28%0D%0A++++SELECT+distinct+on+%28rl_vn.vid%29%0D%0A++++++++rl_vn.vid%2C+rl_vn.id%2C+r.engine%0D%0A++++FROM+releases_vn+rl_vn%0D%0A++++INNER+JOIN+releases+r%0D%0A++++ON+r.id+%3D+rl_vn.id%0D%0A%29+r%0D%0A%0D%0A--calc+length+of+each+vn%0D%0AINNER+JOIN+%28%0D%0A++++SELECT+vid%2C+AVG%28length%29+length%0D%0A++++FROM+vn_length_votes%0D%0A++++GROUP+BY+vid%0D%0A%29+l+ON+l.vid+%3D+r.vid%0D%0A%0D%0AINNER+JOIN+vn+ON+vn.id+%3D+r.vid%0D%0A%0D%0AWHERE+true%0D%0AAND+vn.c_votecount+%3E+100%0D%0A--AND+vn.title+NOT+LIKE+%27Fate%2Fstay+night%27%0D%0A%0D%0AGROUP+BY+r.engine%0D%0AORDER+BY+%22count%22+DESC%3B&tab=t https://query.vndb.org/?sql=SELECT+%0D%0A++++r.engine%2C+%0D... [2] https://query.vndb.org/?sql=SELECT%0D%0Avn.title%2C%0D%0AROUND%28l.length%29+length%2C%0D%0Ar.engine+%0D%0A%0D%0A--check+only+one+release+per+vn%0D%0AFROM+%28%0D%0A++++SELECT+distinct+on+%28rl_vn.vid%29%0D%0A++++++++rl_vn.vid%2C+rl_vn.id%2C+r.engine%0D%0A++++FROM+releases_vn+rl_vn%0D%0A++++INNER+JOIN+releases+r%0D%0A++++++++ON+r.id+%3D+rl_vn.id%0D%0A%29+r%0D%0A%0D%0A--calc+length+of+each+vn%0D%0AINNER+JOIN+%28%0D%0A++++SELECT+vid%2C+AVG%28length%29+length%0D%0A++++FROM+vn_length_votes%0D%0A++++GROUP+BY+vid%0D%0A%29+l+ON+l.vid+%3D+r.vid%0D%0A%0D%0AINNER+JOIN+vn+ON+vn.id+%3D+r.vid%0D%0A%0D%0AWHERE+TRUE+%0D%0AAND+vn.c_votecount+%3E+100%0D%0A--AND+r.engine+ILIKE+%27ren%25%27%0D%0A%0D%0AORDER+BY+length+DESC%3B%0D%0A&tab=t https://query.vndb.org/?sql=SELECT%0D%0Avn.title%2C%0D%0AROU... title length (min) engine HEAVEN BURNS RED 12580 CRIware Rance X -Kessen- 11085 AliceSoft System4.X Shoujo Settai 10418 Kamidori Alchemy Meister 8407 Seinarukana... 6858 Lessons in Love 6819 Ren'Py Sengoku † Koihime... 6744 CatSystem2 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 6626
- optionalsquid 2y agoKeep in mind that several of these titles are hybrid VNs, i.e. games that mix visual novel narration with gameplay elements. This has a tendency to inflate the playtime disproportionately to the actual word count, though VNDB does require that a significant amount of play-time is spent reading for games listed on there in the first place. Off the top of my head, hybrid VNs on your list includes HEAVEN BURNS RED, Rance X, Kamidori, Seinarukana, and Koihime. Though as far as I know, Rance X in particular also has a very, very long script
- joaohaas 2y ago>~novella sized stories laughs in umineko and higurashi
- GloriousKoji 2y agocries in seagulls, cicadas and storks
- TheDong 2y ago[flagged]
- cardanome 2y agoThe Spooktober Visual Novel jam that happens every September is a good way to both get into VN development and also find high quality games that you can play for free on itch.io. Some if the entries really push the limits in terms visual presentation and can have a crazy amounts of animations. Plus really talented voice actors use the jam to practice their skills.
- Blackthorn 2y agoThe most popular VN is a massive franchise: Phoenix Wright.
- RobotToaster 2y agoAnd danganronpa
- soraminazuki 2y agoBaldr Sky is a perfect title for those who also want some action gaming in the mix. Also, like many great visual novels, the plot takes advantage of multiple endings very well. Unfortunately, Japan stopped making visual novels somewhere around a decade ago. Creators presumably moved on to work on gacha games. Many visual novel companies are now either gone, inactive, or pivoted to gacha games. I wish I can see more games like Baldr Sky, Steins Gate, and Aiyoku no Eustia again.