2021 has been a great year for visual novels. We’ve had a ton of great ones released in English. Shiravune has made a big splash by dropping repeated surprise releases. We’ve seen some surprisingly good indie releases too. As we roll over into 2022, we’d like to take a look back. KuroKairin, Wes Playfair, and myself […]
Currently on Kickstarter until mid-October, Dear Mom: My Letter to You is a slice-of-life social sim and romance visual novel by indie developer Mangoku418. It follows the story of Ayame Kawasaki, an 18-year-old high school student who lost her mother to suicide one year earlier. After having shut herself away during her year-long absence from Yamada Hoshi […]
Visual Novel News: In a surprising announcement, Harem Kingdom by SMEE will be published by Shiravune and is coming on September 24th. On release it will only be coming to Johren, with no official word on a Steam release as of yet. This is an isekai visual novel, where the socially awkward protagonist is told […]
Visual Novel News: Chasing Tails ~A Promise in the Snow~ has launched on Steam. Describing itself as a yuri comedy horror, it also sounds like it has heartwarming moments. It follows June as she moves to a small town, picks up a female stalker and somehow fox girls get involved. The Steam version includes six […]
Visual Novel News: Shiravune recently surprise launched Chihiro Himukai Always Walks Away on Johren. It will be coming to Steam on July 28th 2021. This short visual novel is by lead writer Hayase Yuu, who also worked on Making*Lovers and Sugar*Style. Focusing on two classmates meeting each other again in their adult life, it sparks an interesting […]
Iyashikei, often translated as “healing”, is a concept in anime and manga that refers to calming works showing characters living peaceful, everyday lives intended to have a soothing effect on the audience. Chihiro Himukai Always Walks Away might appear to fall squarely in this genre. Honestly, it’s not the type of visual novel I usually seek out, […]
I love a good sci-fi dystopia, so The Blind of the New World caught my eye. This original Korean language visual novel from TALESSHOP promises a romantic story set in a future with dystopian themes. It also explores interesting ideas about perception, reality, and connection. But does this story deliver? To find out we’ll have […]
Prepare to solve a mystery not as a detective but as a lawbreaker in Sol Dorado Heist, a short visual novel released for PC on 23 April 2021 by indie developer Megalixir Games. In this two to three hours long game, play as Alex Thorn who wakes up one morning from a vivid dream where […]
Sugar * Style is the latest visual novel from developer Smee to receive an English localization via NekoNyan. Smee, who also developed well-received visual novels Fureraba and Making*Lovers, are known for their lighthearted comedy and sweet romance. And with a title like Sugar * Style you’d expect nothing less. Have Smee served up another tasty […]
2020 has been a great year for visual novels. We’ve had a number of English releases of highly anticipated titles. There have been some surprise announcements such as the long-awaited Kimi Ga Nozumu Eien. We’ve seen some good indie releases too. As we roll over into 2021, I’d like to highlight my top picks for […]