We're not sure if there are more roguelikes in the world, or battle royales affairs, or visual novels. One things for sure though, it's the latter which are being pumped out at an astonishing rate. That's where Venus: Improbable Dream comes in.Â
l on the gaming scene as the humble walking simulator, the last couple of years have seen the genre flourish. In fact, there seems to be no let-up in the frequency that we're seeing these tales arrive on the scene, with the intriguing prospect of Nowhere Girl being the latest.
We get bombarded with movies and comics about superheroes, but what about the henchmen, lackeys and extras? What about the people who consistently get an elbow to the face, who run bravely into combat even though they are up against an Asgardian god? What motivates them? Henchman Story from Top Hat Studios looks to address the balance.Â
Visual novels are quite a passive game to play. That isn’t a criticism, it’s a fact. Lotus Reverie: First Nexus on Xbox though is different as it combines a visual novel with strategy elements and a battle mode too.
There’s a fantastic Lost-like quality to Crimson Spires, the latest visual novel from Eastasiasoft. There’s a hulking great mystery at its centre, and it’s hard to tell whether it’s man-made, supernatural or something else entirely. You are stuck in a town that’s cut off from the rest of the world, surrounded by deadly, glowing towers that encircle it. As newly transferred sheriff Erika Wright, your job - among others - is to find out what these towers are.
If there's one genre that is sure to stoke up a debate amongst gamers, it's that of the visual novel. However, should you side with what they deliver and are happy to immerse yourself into some deep tales, you'll find a host of opportunities out there. The latest is that of Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies as it launches on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.
Ever wanted to take in a mysterious visual novel on Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch in which the main thrust of the tale is fully focused on cops against vampires? Cross the Moon is that visual novel.
Ratalaika Games already have a number of visual novels in their gaming catalogue, including the likes of How to Take Off Your Mask Remastered and Autumn’s Journey, but now they’ve released another. There are a lot of mysterious goings on where we’re heading to next though. So, prepare to be whisked away to a dragon realm for this one as Angels with Scaly Wings lands on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
Ratalaika Games are building a rather extensive collection of visual novels under their publishing wing, with Syrup and The Ultimate Sweet, Roommates, Nicole, and more releasing on consoles this year. Now, Autumn’s Journey is another of its kind joining the mix to tell the tale of a wannabe knight and her two new dragon pals on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4 and - very shortly - Nintendo Switch.
