Do you play visual novels? What are your favorites? Etc.

I recently played through all of Saya no Uta, which was a really memorable experience. I've gained access to Ever17 (a visual novel written by the same guy behind 999 and Virtue's Last Reward) as well. Any others I should try out?

I've played both 999 and Virtue's Last Reward, both of which rank very highly in my favourite games ever. Aside from that, I've been playing through Corpse Party recently, but I can't say I think much of it. At the very least it pales in comparison to the writing behind the Zero Escape series.

Aside from that, I can't think of any other visual novels I've played.

Aha, a friend of mine has Corpse Party. It looks awesome. Unfortunately, I don't have a PSP to play it on.

Yeah, I've also only played 999, Virtue's Last Reward and Corpse Party. Have pretty much the exact same opinions on them as @Blaze tbh. Two incredible games and one overated one (in my opinion, anyways.) I've played some adventure games, but those are pretty different from visual novels. I do need to get Ever 17. I've heard great things about it.

You do.

Also, Katawa Shoujo is surprisingly enjoyable. As is Hakuoki on PSP.

Seconding that Ever17 recommendation; it's amazing and is one of my favourites. Corpse Party can also be played on your computer, provided you don't mind the outdated graphics.

I also need to start both Shikkoku no Sharnoth and Katahane, one day. I've played Sekien no Inganock, so I'll probably like the former, but opinion on Katahane seems mixed.

I was waiting until someone made this thread. I'm going through Katawa Shoujo right now, but something doesn't feel quite right for some reason. I like the writing a lot though! I've been trying to get into Phoenix Wright too, although I can never get back on track if I've taken a break.

Are there any other good VN's in English?

@Magikarp As mentioned in the thread, Ever17 is a good one, Narcissu is both short and sad, and both Higurashi and Umineko are good mysteries (you're going to have to import the latter and patch it for English, though). I have other recommendations, though they're either 18+ or I just don't remember them.

Anybody played Steins;Gate?

so you took the plunge? I remember you talking about wanting to play it when it first came out, but I didn't know you actually went for it. I'm glad you liked it, I had a great time playing it as well — and the anime isn't bad either if you haven't had a chance to check that out. :3

Yeah, I finally got tired of waiting and grabbed it. It's as good as you made it sound, thanks. And I have not checked out the anime, I'll have to give it a looksee!

Wait, are the Ace Attorney games visual novels?

If so, I've played the Miles Edgeworth game, which I thought was pretty fun.

The first four I'd probably class as visual novels, but I find the Edgeworth games to be more like point and click games.

regarding the Phoenix Wright series, they play differently from other VNs where you tend to just make choices that affect what happens in the story, but 999 plays very similarly (move around, story, look at things, story, pick things up, do a puzzle, more story, learn stuff, move on, story, do something else, learn more stuff, story, etc), so on that basis alone, if 999 is lumped in, so is PW. however, other VN games (999 included) usually have a variety of endings depending on the choices you make as the story progresses, and the PW games only have two endings, 'good' and 'bad'. if they are visual novels, they're very linear ones.

So Professor Layton isn't a Visual Novel?

I played a few visual novels mainly the Phoenix Wright series which is one of my favorites. My absolute favorite VNs are the ones done by Telltale games. I love The Walking Dead and can't wait for the second season. The other one I played by them was Back to the Future which I enjoyed as much as the movies. I still have to check out the Jurassic Park one.

I wouldn't really consider a PW game a VN. It's pretty much a point 'n' click game with a lot of story. As are the rest of the games Tasuki mensioned. And of course Professor Layton isn't a Visual Novel. It's a Story-based Puzzle game with some Point 'n' Click Adventure elements.

Oops yeah my bad I just looked that up and they are considered point and click adventure. I thought that was what a VN was. Wow I am confused now lol.

@Tasuki
An easy way to remember is that if you can make more than 5 decisions per 20 hour play through, it's not a visual novel

Whats a visual novel?