Visual Novel
Ongoing coverage on Visual Novel.
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Alright, who's the joker trying to charge $100 on Steam for an almost entirely AI-generated game?
The visual novel Kryonull has drawn criticism on Steam for its $100 price tag, especially since a majority of its assets, including images and voices, were generated using AI. While the script is reportedly original, the developer NovelkaGames' use of AI for assets and the high price have led to backlash. The game is available in English and Russian, with its price in rubles still converting to a significant US dollar amount.
These 7+ PS5 and PS Plus Games Are Coming Out This Week (15th-21st June)
This week sees the release of several new games for the PlayStation 5, including The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales and EA Sports UFC 6. Additionally, a selection of titles are being added to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers, such as Final Fantasy 16 and Gitaroo Man.
Class of ’09 Puzzle Showdown announced
Developer SBN3 has announced Class of '09 Puzzle Showdown, a new entry in the Class of '09 series that blends visual novel elements with match-3 puzzle gameplay. The game will feature five story campaigns, online multiplayer, and an original soundtrack, and is available to wishlist on Steam for a July 17, 2026 release.
Vampire The Masquerade Oaths and Ashes feels like the ultimate VTM visual novel
Vampire: The Masquerade - Oaths and Ashes is a new visual novel from Revive the Spark set in the Berlin By Night universe. The preview highlights the game's mechanics, which adapt tabletop RPG elements like disciplines and the Masquerade into visual novel choices, and features two playable characters, Alice and Lenz. The demo showcases a compelling narrative with meaningful consequences, differentiating it from previous titles in the genre.
Pour One Out For The D&D-Inspired Visual Novel That Rolled An Unfortunate Direct-Day Launch
Gentle Troll's D&D-inspired visual novel prequel, Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker, launched on June 9th, coinciding with a major Nintendo Direct presentation. The game features a new cast of characters and a story set 36 years before the original Tavern Talk, focusing on serving magical drinks and influencing patron quests. It is available on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
9 R.I.P. sequel western release launches in fall 2026
Idea Factory International has announced that 9 R.I.P. sequel, the follow-up to the original 9 R.I.P., will receive a western release in fall 2026 for the Nintendo Switch. The game continues Misa Isshiki's story as she navigates high school, romance, and the consequences of her past actions, offering multiple routes and endings.
Schrodinger's Call Review - The beauty of life and death
Schrodinger's Call is a kinetic visual novel by Acrobatic Chirimenjako, released on May 28, 2026, for PC and Nintendo Switch. The game places players in the role of Mary, a young girl who wakes up with amnesia in the moments before Earth's destruction, tasked with helping spirits find peace. Despite occasional clunky dialogue, the game is praised for its emotional and heartfelt story, gorgeous gothic art style, and evocative soundtrack.
Demo now available for AENIGMA, a mind-bending sci-fi visual novel
A demo for the science fiction visual novel AENIGMA is now available on Steam, coinciding with the V3 Expo and the upcoming Steam Next Fest. Developed by solo developer NEUROMANCE, the game explores themes of identity and evolution in a future war against silicon-based lifeforms.
heaven will be mine returns to orbit with a major modernization update
Pillow Fight Games has released a major modernization update for their queer mecha visual novel, Heaven Will Be Mine, on Steam. The update enhances visual presentation to 4K, adds Steam Deck compatibility, and improves compatibility for modern operating systems. The game has also partnered with new publisher Exothermic.
Coffee Talk Tokyo Review
The review praises Coffee Talk Tokyo for its absolutely charming story from start to finish. However, it notes that the coffee-making gameplay sometimes relied on trial-and-error. The reviewer also humorously calls out a character named Ash.
Moses & Plato - Last Train to Clawville Review
Moses & Plato – Last Train to Clawville is a point-and-click visual novel spin-off from the Chicken Police franchise, developed by The Wild Gentlemen and published by Toge Productions. The game follows detective Moses as he investigates the murder of an ambassador on a train journey to Clawville. While praised for its art direction and music, the review notes that the story and culprit are predictable, and some mechanics like the Mind Garden have issues. Despite controller support, it is difficult to use, and the game feels like the weakest iteration in the franchise.
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker Released
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker, a visual novel inspired by fantasy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, has been released for PC and Nintendo Switch. The game offers players a fantasy setting to explore.
40+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Mid-Year Deals Sale
Sony's PlayStation Store is hosting a Mid-Year Deals sale featuring numerous PS5 and PS4 games until July 1st. The article highlights recommended titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Anger Foot, and Another Crab's Treasure, many of which are at their lowest prices.
30+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Mid-Year Deals Sale (North America/Europe)
Sony's PlayStation Store is hosting a Mid-Year Deals sale, offering discounts on numerous PS5 and PS4 games until July 1st. The sale includes titles like '13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim', 'Anger Foot', and 'Another Crab's Treasure', with some games reaching their lowest prices ever. Push Square has curated a list of recommended titles that have received high scores.
25+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Mid-Year Deals Sale
Sony's PlayStation Store is hosting a Mid-Year Deals sale featuring numerous discounts on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games until July 1st. The article highlights recommended titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Another Crab's Treasure, and Blasphemous, many of which are at their lowest prices ever.
CITADEL now has an official release date: 21 September 2026
The philosophical science-fiction visual novel CITADEL has an official release date of September 21, 2026, with a demo available now. The game explores themes of identity, morality, and existential discovery through meaningful choices and atmospheric worldbuilding.
In Am I Nima, you must find and fuse words to convince your mother you're really her daughter
The visual novel Am I Nima, developed by HO! Games, will be released on October 8th. Players must help the protagonist Nima convince her mother she is her daughter by finding and fusing words to form new responses. The game features a unique dialogue system and addresses sensitive themes of abuse and confinement.
Review: Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker Lets You Solve Problems With Drinking
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker, a prequel to the original Tavern Talk series by Gentle Troll Entertainment, builds upon the visual novel and simulation gameplay of serving drinks to customers. This installment introduces more interactive potion-crafting mechanics that influence character stats and quests, setting it apart from Toge Productions' Coffee Talk series. While a solid entry with RPG elements, the reviewer found the storylines and drink-mixing mechanics in Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly to be more engaging.
1997 RELOADED: Or, Whatever Happened to Andy Quinn? Drops on Steam and itch.io
The visual novel 1997 RELOADED: Or, Whatever Happened to Andy Quinn?, developed by Gaigo Studio, has been released on Steam and itch.io. The game features an alternate-history narrative set in the 1990s music scene, with over 2,000 original illustrations and a soundtrack of original Pop and Alt-Rock tracks.
Cyber Paranoia Is a Medicalcore Romance Otome with Morally Questionable Relationship Choices, Demo Out Now
The indie visual novel Cyber Paranoia, featuring a sci-fi psychological thriller narrative with morally questionable romance choices, has released a demo on Steam. Players experience a dark story within a psychiatric institution, interacting with a humanoid android therapist and making choices that shape his personality and the multiple story paths.
