The visual novel genre continues to grow, and 2021 has proven it. There are several games released in the genre with high scores across the board. These ranged from dating sims to crime novels with robust backstories.
Best visual novels of 2021
Below are the best visual novels of 2021, and with their varying themes, there's bound to be a game for you.
Bustafellows
Bustafellows places you around five high-level men who all work as repairmen in a corrupt city called Los York. The characters are fully voiced, the art is detailed, and the story itself guides you through each route, whether or not you're interested in the character it's based on. Bustafellows succeeds at what so many romance novels fail, forcing you to read all the ways.
Danganronpa Decadence
Danganronpa Decadence brings the whole story together in one game. You are thrown into a killing game, where you must uncover murders and survive high-tension class trials. The game's praised character designs and gruesome storytelling return to full screen, in a compact title that makes the famous story accessible to everyone. Danganronpa Decadence shows how to create a collection of top visual novels, without sacrificing quality.
Related: Which Danganronpa Character Are You?
The house in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition
The House of Fata Morgana has long been a popular visual novel, but the Revenants edition really helps it shine by including all three games. The visuals have a rich gothic style that takes you on an adventure through different time periods, all filled with tragedy. It's one of the most atmospheric visual novels ever released, with some of the most immersive narratives in gaming.
The Chronicles of the Great As Prosecutor
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles places you in the quirky world of Ace Attorney, but this time it's set in Victorian times. Both games give you multiple mysteries to solve, but with the added twist of working with outdated methods. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles breaks the mold of the mystery genre while proving that mystery games don't always need to have a dull backdrop.
Cupid's Parasite
Cupid Parasite puts you in the role of the true god Cupid and tries to marry off five of the worst date candidates the gaming world has ever seen. The game is fully voiced, has a cutting-edge design, and has an ending that will make you cry. Cupid Parasite is one of the only games to take five of the most hated characters and completely flip their narrative, without crushing the traits that make them hateful.
Want to know more about the best games to play? Check out the best Otome games on Pro Game Guides.
