PlayStation Vita Recommends – Visual Novels

Rogue-Like

Rhythm

RPG

Metroidvania

Horror

Next up in my series of recommendations of Vita players I have chosen another genre that the PlayStation Vita is synonymous for: Visual Novels. VNs are MADE for portable systems and while many are making the move over to the Nintendo Switch, the Vita still has an outstanding library ready to be enjoyed.

The Usual

Danganronpa

There is a reason why everyone recommends Danganronpa every time people are looking for Vita games. It is a perfect series. Think Phoenix Wright meets The Hunger Games where 15 students enter a killing game where only the student who pulls of the perfect unsolvable murder can be set free. The key to Danganronpa is the shock and awe so I will say nothing more here, save that all 3 games are available both digitally and physically, though copies are becoming rarer. My personal favourite is Danganronpa V3 though perhaps I am biased as I waited so long for release.

Steins; Gate

Steins; Gate and its prequel Steins; Gate 0 are about as close to pure visual novel as you can get with little player input, yet they are still heralded as some of the greatest stories of all time. Steins; Gate tells the story of Okabe Rintaro, mad scientist who creates time travel via text message. While there was an English release of Chaos; Child of the same series for Vita digital and physical, many other releases in the series such as Chaos; Head Dual , Steins; Gate Linear Bounded Phenogram, Steins; Gate My Darling’s Embrace, Steins; Gate Elite, and Robotic; Notes Elite, only saw a release in Japanese on Vita, though they have often been ported to English on other consoles.

Zero Escape

This is possibly my favourite Visual Novel series of all time and all installments are available on PlayStation Vita.  The first two titles 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward are available as one pack titled The Nonary Games and the final installment is the stand alone Zero Time Dilemma all available physically and digitally. Visual Novel meets escape room puzzles, as the story takes multiple twists and turns depending on which path you take to escape. These games require multiple playthroughs to fully understand just what is going on, but it’s time you’ll never regret spending.

The Unusual

The Wolf Among Us

By now probably everyone knows that the Telltale Series of games The Walking Dead Season 1 and Season 2 are available physically  and digitally on Vita, but my prefered Telltale game is the excellent The Wolf Among Us. Telling the tale of Bigby the Big Bad Wolf as he has to solve a series of murders going around in the land of fairytales. To be honest all three Telltale games on Vita are definitely must haves though and I recommend them to everyone.

Digimon Cyber Sleuth: Hacker’s Memory 

Freely available digitally  and with an Asian/English physical release Digimon Cyber Sleuth Hacker’s Memory does what so many great VNs do and blends the Visual Novel with another genre, in this case RPG. You are probably somewhat familiar with the Digimon gameplay format in that it’s similar to Pokemon only you must devolve and evolve several times to reach their best forms, and every battle is a triple battle with three mons as back up. The story here revolves around a group of rebels going wild in the digital world (think Ready Player One)  and you have to go in there investigate and stop them.

Death Mark

Here I include the fabulous Death Mark and also its sequel NG which are two of the greatest assets to the PlayStation Vita’s library. Horror point ‘n’ click visual novels where you investigate different local spirits. In the first they are based around common local myths and folktales in the second they are based on children’s stories and both have a super chilling and scary vibe. If you are a fan of atmospheric games then you will definitely love these but they are very much NOT suitable for kids.

Other Recommendations

Muv Luv and Muv Luv Alternative: Also available physically this trilogy plays as a romantic high school drama and a futuristic wasteland with a load of mechs.

Code Realize: There are 3 games in this series all available physical, though the original Guardians of Rebirth should be played first. Otome romance with Europe’s dandiest bachelors.

Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition: Forgive the title but this is a great mystery VN where you play as 2 different protagonists as they try to escape, and learn who to trust in a futuristic setting.

VA-11 HALL-A: With a limited physical release in this VN you play as Jill a disgruntled bartender in the future where you make niceties with your guests mix drinks and save lives.

The House in Fata Morgana:  With a limited physical release, slowly draw back the curtain on the mystery behind the old mansion and the three former residents.

Root Letter: Available physically on the hunt for your first love and high school pen pal you try to track her down through the high school friends she described in her letters.

What do you think? Any more you’d add to the list?