Generally, an anime begins with the publication of a manga that becomes very popular and amasses a large following. As an exception to the rule, sometimes animation houses decide to produce the anime first, and then authorize the adaptation of the story in manga format. Recently, the source material for many anime and manga is the popular light novels, which have gained much notoriety in the West in recent years.
However, there is another genre whose existence often goes unnoticed. It is about the visual novel, a very popular format in Japan and in these parts it is known as a simple video game. Visual novels put the player in situations that progress through interaction with other characters, causing events to unfold and the plot to advance. This is achieved through decision-making mechanics and consistent consequences, so it is very common for visual novels to have more than one ending (or routes).
A well-known example is the infamous School Days series, which was adapted into manga and anime. Another case is that of Bible Black. And, as you may have already noticed, these are titles for 18+; a very common trait among most visual novels. Not only because of the presence of strong scenes of a sexual nature, but also because of the violence and harshness that are very present in the final events of these games. In this case we can mention the western visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club, whose mixture of psychological horror and metafiction made it a sensation in 2017.
There are exceptions to this rule, as some titles are based on romance and are limited to being simple dating simulators. Others focus on adventure and science fiction, deviating for a more philosophical and existential development without relying on sex or violence. In short, there are several types of visual novels to satisfy fans of this genre. And the list that we present below is composed of the most acclaimed titles among otakus and that as a result were adapted to anime. Warning to the enthusiastic reader: some of these titles are for adults.
1. Steins; Gate (5pb and Nitroplus Studios - 2009)
This visual novel is available on various platforms and its plot takes place in the summer of 2010. The player plays a self-proclaimed mad scientist named Rintaro Okabe, who accidentally discovers that his research has resulted in a time machine capable of sending messages to the last. Rintaro and his friends discover that an organization called SERN, which is investigating temporary travel, is targeting them and is trying to steal their invention.
2. Grisaia no Kajitsu (Frontwing Studio - 2012)
With strong elements of harem and romance, the player takes on the role of a student transferring to the Mihama Academy. This academy is distinguished by looking like a prison and having only five students apart from the protagonist. Depending on the player’s decisions, five endings can be unlocked (for each heroine); Great care must be taken when progressing through the story, as one misstep could cause the game to end prematurely.
3. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (07th Expansion Studio - 2002)
This title is a milestone in horror visual novels and its anime adaptation has been re-released in the form of a remake. It has high doses of violence, psychological and paranormal terror, and gore. The player instructs a boy to move to live in a peaceful village in the country. His daily life, surrounded by his friends, seems to be as calm as his new home, but the situation changes drastically when the annual festival is close to taking place. The protagonist discovers that he and everyone in the village are involved in a web of fatal events that will drag them to madness and death if they do not manage to free themselves in time.
4. Clannad (Key Studio - 2004)
This romantic drama has been praised by many, who consider it one of the best visual novels ever developed. Its anime adaptation was a sensation, especially among those who played the novel. The player plays Tomoya Okazaki, a high school student from the Hikarizaka private school who has a bad reputation due to his direct and cold way of being (a consequence of his family problems). Tomoya meets Nagisa Furukawa, a shy girl who wants to be a part of her school drama club, and tends to get sick a lot. Tomoya decides to help Nagisa achieve her goal, starting with reforming the drama club, which had been closed after the graduation of the previous group of students who were part of it. During the course of the game, Tomoya will meet other girls, and the decisions he makes will define the end of the story.
5. Little Busters! (Key Study - 2007)
The most distinctive thing about this visual novel is the inclusion of several minigames that are closely related to the story. The protagonist is a boy who is part of a gang that gets involved in various street fights. At one point, the player must choose the different routes according to each heroine who presents the game. The plot revolves around themes such as adolescence and friendship. When the player must face a rival in his group, the sequence of minigames is activated, which increase in complexity as the story progresses. Each character depends on the resistance and states of him to be victorious, since the fights are managed by the computer. Another minigame is baseball, which takes place between members of the protagonist’s gang. It has an adult version called Little Busters! Ecstasy.
6. Fate / Stay Night (Type-Moon Studio / 2004)
One of the most prolific manga, anime, light novel and video game franchises was born with this visual novel whose story follows Shirou Emiya, who is embroiled in the war for the Holy Grail. In order to survive such an event, Shirou receives the help of Saber, a powerful and agile warrior who is part of a group of heroes and heroines who join the participants of the war for the Grail. Along the way, the player (who plays Shirou) must make decisions that are crucial to progress in the plot. If he loses (either by dying or causing the death of any of the heroines) the player is transported to a “rest” space where he will receive advice on how to proceed on his next attempt.
7. Kanon (Key Studio - 1999)
The protagonist of this story is taken by a very cynical student named Yuichi Aizawa. This boy is a joker, but he has a tendency to try to make others happy even if it costs him his own time and money. Yuichi meets Kanon, a mysterious girl who always carries a backpack and whose demeanor is far from feminine. However, Kanon is only the first of five girls to appear as the player progresses through the game, and he will have to choose one of them at the end. As a result, this novel also has several endings that require the correct decisions of the protagonist to reach the end.
8. Air (Estudio Key - 2000)
This adult visual novel features Yukito Kunisaki, a young globetrotter who tries to make a living out of his puppet act. Yukito meets three girls on his trip with whom he will establish a close relationship that will be very influential in the lives of young women. The player will have to progress through the story using dialogue and decision making (common in visual novels, as we have already seen), and will have the option to briefly go back in time if they perform an unwanted action. This option will not always be available, because if the player makes several mistakes and reaches the dark end of one of the different routes, they will have to restart from the last save point. Another mechanic that distinguishes it from the other titles on this list is that, once the main story (composed of the routes of the three heroines) is finished, a second scenario is unlocked, which in turn unlocks a third after completing it. In these two new “levels” the player takes on the role of two other different characters to reach the true end of the game.
9. Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two (Minori Studio - 2006/2008)
The story of this visual novel is divided into two parts and four protagonists (two for each main plot part). The first part, entitled Ef: The First Tale, and the second part, which bears the title Ef: The Latter Tale, are connected through their characters, since they have all met at some point in history and share different experiences. while the player makes the necessary decisions to advance the plot. Before reaching the true ending, the player must go through the four different routes and be able to consider their actions well, as a mistake could end the game before reaching the end. Some of the decisions that must be chosen will have a timer, being vital to progress in the story.
10. Chaos; Head (Studies, 5pb, Nitroplus - 2008)
Although many titles bet on romantic drama, some like Higurashi decide on terror and suspense. This title is the most interesting on the list due to its twisted linear history. The protagonist guides the actions of a young otaku who goes by the name of Takumi Nishijo, who suffers from hallucinations. Takumi witnesses a girl committing a brutal murder, and is horrified when he discovers that her murderer (called Rimi Sakihata) is a classmate (and friend of hers, when she appears) of hers at the school she attends. The player must progress in the plot not only by making decisions, but also by choosing what type of hallucination the protagonist should suffer, or stay well glued to reality. This mechanic is the one that decides what ending the game will have (there are three endings in total).
Personally, I would recommend watching anime if you are not a big fan of these types of games. But if you dare, I suggest Chaos; Head as a starting point because it is the one that impacted me the most. I haven’t played every one on the list (romance isn’t my thing), but Higurashi is another strong recommendation. If you have seen the anime, or are watching it, you will agree.
Social Media Author: [RonLaoHu]
