Visual Novels
At visualnovels.app, our mission is to provide a comprehensive platform for visual novel enthusiasts. We aim to offer a diverse range of visual novels, from classic titles to the latest releases, and to provide a space for fans to connect and share their passion for this unique genre. Our goal is to create a community that fosters creativity, encourages discussion, and celebrates the art of storytelling. We believe that visual novels have the power to transport us to new worlds, challenge our perspectives, and inspire us to create our own stories. Our mission is to make these experiences accessible to everyone and to promote the growth and development of the visual novel industry.
/r/visualnovels Yearly
Visual Novels Cheatsheet
Welcome to the world of visual novels! This cheatsheet is designed to help you get started with everything you need to know about visual novels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, this guide will provide you with the essential information you need to enjoy this unique form of storytelling.
What are Visual Novels?
Visual novels are a type of interactive fiction that originated in Japan. They are similar to choose-your-own-adventure books, but with added elements of graphics, sound, and music. Visual novels are typically presented in a text-based format, with accompanying images and audio. Players make choices throughout the story that affect the outcome and lead to different endings.
Types of Visual Novels
There are several types of visual novels, each with its own unique style and gameplay mechanics. Here are some of the most common types:
Kinetic Novels
Kinetic novels are visual novels that have no choices or branching paths. The story is linear and the player simply reads through the text and enjoys the visuals and audio.
Dating Sims
Dating sims are visual novels that focus on romantic relationships. Players typically take on the role of a protagonist who must navigate various romantic scenarios and make choices that affect the outcome of the story.
Mystery Novels
Mystery novels are visual novels that focus on solving a mystery or crime. Players must gather clues and make choices that lead to different outcomes and endings.
Horror Novels
Horror novels are visual novels that focus on horror and suspense. Players must navigate through terrifying scenarios and make choices that affect the outcome of the story.
Getting Started with Visual Novels
If you're new to visual novels, here are some tips to help you get started:
Choose a Visual Novel
There are thousands of visual novels available, so it can be overwhelming to choose one to start with. Consider your interests and what type of story you're in the mood for. You can also check out reviews and recommendations from other players.
Install a Visual Novel Reader
Most visual novels are designed for Windows, so you'll need to install a visual novel reader to play them on other platforms. Some popular visual novel readers include Ren'Py, NVList, and TyranoBuilder.
Learn the Controls
Visual novels are typically played with a mouse or keyboard. The controls may vary depending on the reader you're using, so be sure to read the instructions carefully.
Save Your Progress
Visual novels can be quite long, so it's important to save your progress regularly. Most readers allow you to save your progress at any point in the story.
Enjoy the Experience
Visual novels are meant to be enjoyed, so take your time and immerse yourself in the story. Pay attention to the visuals and audio, and make choices that feel true to your character.
Visual Novel Terminology
Here are some common terms you may encounter when playing visual novels:
Route
A route is a specific path through the story that leads to a particular ending. Players make choices that determine which route they take.
Ending
An ending is the conclusion of a particular route. There may be multiple endings for each route, depending on the choices the player makes.
CG
A CG (short for "computer graphic") is a still image that appears during the story. CGs are often used to depict important scenes or events.
Voice Acting
Some visual novels feature voice acting, where actors provide spoken dialogue for the characters.
H-Scene
An H-scene (short for "hentai scene") is a scene that contains sexual content. Not all visual novels contain H-scenes.
Visual Novel Resources
Here are some resources to help you find and play visual novels:
VisualNovels.com
VisualNovels.com is a website that features a large collection of visual novels, as well as reviews and recommendations from other players.
Steam
Steam is a popular platform for buying and playing visual novels. It features a wide selection of titles and often has sales and discounts.
Itch.io
Itch.io is a platform for indie game developers, and features a large selection of visual novels. It's a great place to find unique and experimental titles.
VNDB
VNDB is a database of visual novels that allows you to search and filter by various criteria, such as genre and platform.
Conclusion
Visual novels are a unique and engaging form of storytelling that offer a wide range of experiences. Whether you're into romance, mystery, horror, or something else entirely, there's a visual novel out there for you. With this cheatsheet, you should have everything you need to get started and enjoy the world of visual novels. Happy reading!
Common Terms, Definitions and Jargon
1. Visual Novel: A type of interactive fiction game that features static graphics, sound effects, and music.2. Anime: A style of Japanese animation that is often used in visual novels.
3. Manga: A style of Japanese comic books that is often used as source material for visual novels.
4. Otome Game: A type of visual novel that is targeted towards a female audience.
5. Eroge: A type of visual novel that contains explicit sexual content.
6. Ren'Py: A free and open-source visual novel engine that is widely used by developers.
7. VNDB: A database of visual novels that provides information on their release date, genre, and other details.
8. Route: A specific storyline or path that the player can follow in a visual novel.
9. Choices: Decisions that the player must make in a visual novel that affect the outcome of the story.
10. Multiple Endings: Different outcomes that the player can achieve based on the choices they make in a visual novel.
11. Soundtrack: The music and sound effects used in a visual novel.
12. Voice Acting: The use of voice actors to provide dialogue for the characters in a visual novel.
13. Protagonist: The main character in a visual novel.
14. Antagonist: The character or force that opposes the protagonist in a visual novel.
15. Love Interest: A character in a visual novel that the player can pursue a romantic relationship with.
16. Harem: A type of visual novel that features multiple love interests for the protagonist.
17. Slice of Life: A genre of visual novel that focuses on everyday experiences and relationships.
18. Mystery: A genre of visual novel that involves solving a puzzle or uncovering a secret.
19. Horror: A genre of visual novel that is designed to scare or unsettle the player.
20. Fantasy: A genre of visual novel that takes place in a fictional world with magical or supernatural elements.
Editor Recommended Sites
AI and Tech NewsBest Online AI Courses
Classic Writing Analysis
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Developer Key Takeaways: Key takeaways from the best books, lectures, youtube videos and deep dives
Enterprise Ready: Enterprise readiness guide for cloud, large language models, and AI / ML
Developer Levels of Detail: Different levels of resolution tech explanations. ELI5 vs explain like a Phd candidate
Realtime Data: Realtime data for streaming and processing
Compsci App - Best Computer Science Resources & Free university computer science courses: Learn computer science online for free