Visual Novel
Ongoing coverage on Visual Novel.
Latest coverage
Review – The Day I Became a Bird (PS5)
The Day I Became a Bird is a charming, hand-drawn visual novel based on a children's book, developed by Passion Games and Hyper Luminal Games. It tells a story of pure love and childhood innocence with a strong emphasis on visual storytelling due to its lack of dialogue. The game is praised for its immersive narrative, beautiful art style, and exceptional accessibility options, making it a highly recommended experience despite its short playtime.
Danganronpa 2x2 delayed to 2027
Spike Chunsoft has announced that Danganronpa 2x2 has been delayed to early 2027. Producer Shohei Sakakibara stated that while development was progressing towards a 2026 release, the decision was made to ensure the best possible player experience. The game will feature both a revamped 'Original' mode retelling Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair with updated visuals and a new 'Slayhem' mode with a different storyline.
Steins;Gate Octet of Shifting Space coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Spike Chunsoft announced the western release of Steins;Gate Octet of Shifting Space, originally a 2011 PC title. It will be included as an early purchase bonus for the physical version of Steins;Gate Re:Boot, launching October 29, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The game recreates the look and feel of 8-bit PC adventure games with text parser gameplay and classic screen-drawing visuals.
Schrödinger’s Call Is a Heartfelt Visual Novel About Moments Before Death
Shueisha Games and Acrobatic Chirimenjako have released a new accolades trailer for their visual novel, Schrödinger’s Call. The game, available on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, explores themes of human connection and empathy during the final moments before Earth's destruction. It was a finalist in The Indie Premier game showcase at Anthrocon 2026.
Cthulu Mythos ADV Lunatic Whispers & The Isle Of Ubohoth visual novel collection coming to Nintendo Switch next week in Japan[update: western release confirmed]
A collection featuring the visual novels Cthulu Mythos ADV Lunatic Whispers and Cthulu Mythos ADV The Isle of Ubohoth is set to release on Nintendo Switch in Japan on October 9, 2025. Originally released on iOS, Android, and PC, these titles combine visual novel storytelling with tabletop RPG elements like dice rolling. Western releases have also been confirmed for the holiday season.
Love Finds A Second Chance – In Fair Spirits
In Fair Spirits, a visual novel developed by ebi-hime and published by Ratalaika Games, is now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The game tells an emotional, character-driven story spanning centuries, blending romance, reincarnation, and personal healing for £8.79.
Praise for heartfelt narrative adventure shown off in new Schrödinger’s Call trailer
Shueisha Games and Acrobatic Chirimenjako have released a new trailer for Schrödinger’s Call, highlighting its critical acclaim and finalist selection for The Indie Premier Awards. The narrative adventure game, available on PC and Nintendo Switch, recently achieved a 90 Metascore on Metacritic and earned the 'Must Play' badge.
Review: Coffee Talk Tokyo (Nintendo Switch 2)
Coffee Talk Tokyo is a cozy visual novel and the third installment in the barista simulator series, set in Tokyo with a new cast of supernatural characters. Players take on the role of a barista who serves drinks and listens to the relatable issues of patrons, with drink-making gameplay influencing character relationships and story endings. The game offers a short, engaging experience with strong character stories and minimal gameplay, making it a delightful addition for fans of the series.
Decollate Decoration Review | TheXboxHub
Decollate Decoration is a retro-styled visual novel from KEMCO that deviates from the company's typical RPG fare. The game follows a deceased young girl who seeks to kill her love interest, featuring a simplistic gameplay loop centered around making choices over 49 days to achieve multiple endings. Despite its short length and minimal presentation, the narrative is described as surprisingly engaging and effective.
Indie Selects for July 2026: Gameplay That Will Make Summer Pop
Xbox highlights five indie games for July 2026: Mina the Hollower, Realm of Ink, Bellwright, Coffee Talk Tokyo, and NBA The Run. These selections feature strong personalities, rewarding progression, and distinct worlds, offering a variety of genres from action-adventure and roguelites to survival and visual novels.
and Roger Switch 2 review – short and bittersweet
The indie visual novel 'and Roger,' originally released in 2025, has now launched on Nintendo Switch 2 and mobile platforms. This award-winning game uses a series of symbolic minigames interspersed with short dialogue sequences to convey its narrative about a young girl named Sofia. Despite its short runtime and lack of replay value, the game is praised for its subtle storytelling, emotional impact, and low price point, making it a highly recommended interactive experience.
This week in PC games: a new King's Field-like RPG, an American Revolutionary War sim, and a dreaming megacity full of cool architecture
This week's PC game releases include a King's Field-like RPG called Forgotten Blood, an American Revolutionary War simulation, and Lullabies Made of Static, an exploration game set in a megacity. Other notable titles are the puzzler The Message from Deep Space, the fighting game Ninja Masters, and the bullet heaven game Mycofall.
Visual novel Coffee Talk Tokyo serves up an image of 'Cool Japan,' but not much more
Coffee Talk Tokyo, the latest entry in the visual novel series, is criticized for its superficial engagement with Japanese culture and societal issues. While set in Tokyo, the game relies on 'Cool Japan' aesthetics rather than exploring the realities of Japanese society, unlike its predecessors which grounded their commentary in Seattle's context. The article argues that the game avoids deeper themes like overwork and cultural identity, opting for a rose-tinted, orientalist portrayal of Japan.
Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga Launches July 10 on Steam
Overlap Games announced that the visual novel Be Missed and Remembered: The Letter from Mayoiga, from Narcissu creator Tomo Kataoka, will launch on Steam for PC on July 10. The game will be priced at $17.99 and will support Japanese, English, and Chinese languages at launch, with a 10% discount available until July 19.
Alt Girl for Skoof – ALTiversary Edition’s Viral Satire Releases On Xbox And PC
Alt Girl for Skoof – ALTiversary Edition, a satirical visual novel about internet culture and modern dating, has been released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by Terletski Games and published by Samustai LTD, the game offers a quirky experience with multiple endings and has already garnered positive reviews on Steam. It is available for £6.29 as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
The Dark RPG that mixes Deckbuilder Roguelite Gameplay with Anime Visual Novel Narrative is Coming to PC on July 22
The roguelite deckbuilder RPG Annihilated, developed by Death Kumiai and published by Flashlight Games, is set to launch on PC via Steam on July 22, 2026. The game features a dark and cute art style, a narrative-driven dungeon crawler with four distinct character routes, and turn-based card battles with a focus on strategy and reflexes.
Cosmic horrors visit 1927’s New York. Omen Exitio: Hunger releases today on Steam!
2P Games and Tiny Bull Studios have released their Lovecraftian investigative gamebook, Omen Exitio: Hunger, on PC via Steam. The game is set in 1927 New York and tasks players with investigating the disappearance of a boy named Billy Gaffney, with choices impacting the narrative and leading to one of five unique endings.
Eugene Onegin vs. the Undead remaster coming this fall — MP3s & NPCs
A remastered version of the 2009 Russian visual novel game, Eugene Onegin vs. the Undead, is set to release on Steam this fall. The enhanced edition will include the bonus game Book of the Dead: The Lost Souls and will be available in English, Chinese, and Japanese for the first time. The original game was noted for its controversial blend of classical Russian literature with zombie themes.
Release Dates/Windows
Several games have announced release dates or windows. The sci-fi mystery visual novel Advent- Dawn is set for July 20. CUPID PARASITE will launch on PC on September 22. HORSE CLUB Ride West also received a teaser trailer with an October 9th release window.
Sci-Fi Mystery Visual Novel ‘Advent: Dawn’ Emerges from the Depths on July 20, 2026
Spire Games announced that their psychological sci-fi mystery visual novel, Advent: Dawn, will be released on July 20, 2026, for PC via Steam, Linux, and Mac. Players will step into the role of Dr. Atlas Everly, a neuroscientist trapped with six strangers in a collapsing cave system, where they must make choices to uncover a disturbing truth.
