The Most Popular Visual Novel, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the Visual Novel you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 27, 2024 06:53
In a world filled with countless interactive stories, finding the most engaging visual novel can be a daunting task. Every fan has their unique preferences, from intricate plot twists to captivating character arcs. By ranking these visual novels based on user votes, it becomes easier for everyone to see which titles consistently capture the hearts of their readers.
This dynamic ranking serves more than just a list; it's a community-driven guide to finding your next great read. Whether you're a longtime aficionado or new to the genre, seeing which titles rise to the top can help direct your next choice. Participation from each user not only fine-tunes this list but also deepens the sense of connection within the visual novel community.
What Is the Most Popular Visual Novel?
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158votes
Fate/stay night
Type-MoonThis is a popular visual novel that has been adapted into various anime, manga, and film adaptations. The story follows Shirou Emiya, a high school student who becomes a participant in a deadly game called the Holy Grail War. It has a mix of romance, action, and fantasy elements that have made it a fan favorite.Fate/stay night is a popular visual novel franchise created by Type-Moon. It combines elements of fantasy, action, and romance. The story follows the protagonist, Shirou Emiya, who becomes a participant in a deadly tournament known as the Holy Grail War. In this battle, seven mages summon legendary heroes from the past to fight for the ultimate prize, the Holy Grail, which grants any wish. Fate/stay night has spawned various adaptations, including anime series, movies, and games.- Genre: Visual novel, Fantasy, Action, Romance
- Main Protagonist: Shirou Emiya
- Setting: Modern day Japan, alternate timeline
- Holy Grail War: Deadly tournament where mages summon heroic spirits
- Adaptations: Anime series, movies, games
Fate/stay night in other rankings- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular Fate series
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226votesThis visual novel follows the story of Tomoya Okazaki, a high school student who meets a girl named Nagisa Furukawa. The two become friends and eventually fall in love, but they must overcome several obstacles along the way. The game has received critical acclaim for its emotional storytelling and character development.Clannad is a heartwarming and emotionally-driven anime series that tells the story of Tomoya Okazaki, a high school student who finds himself disillusioned with life. Upon meeting Nagisa Furukawa, a shy girl with a dream to revive the school's drama club, Tomoya's life takes an unexpected turn. As they gather a group of friends, they navigate through both joyful and challenging moments, discovering the value of family, friendship, and love along the way.
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
- Episodes: 47 (including Clannad: After Story)
- Original Run: October 4, 2007 – March 27, 2008
- Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
- Music: Jun Maeda, Shinji Orito, Magome Togoshi
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323votesThis is a time-traveling visual novel that follows the story of a group of friends who accidentally discover the ability to send messages to the past. The game has been praised for its complex storyline and engaging characters.Steins;Gate is a popular visual novel that combines elements of science fiction, romance, and thriller genres. It follows the story of a group of eccentric young friends who accidentally discover a method of time travel through the use of a microwave. As they experiment with their invention, they find themselves entangled in a complex web of conspiracies and struggle to prevent disastrous consequences.
- Release Date: October 15, 2009
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch
- Available Languages: Japanese, English
- Playable Characters: Rintaro Okabe, Kurisu Makise, Mayuri Shiina, and more
- Multiple Endings: Multiple branching paths with different outcomes
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419votes
Higurashi When They Cry
Ryukishi07This horror visual novel follows the story of a group of friends who become trapped in a time loop in a small village. The game has been praised for its suspenseful storytelling and unique characters.Higurashi When They Cry is a popular visual novel that combines elements of mystery, horror, and psychological thriller. Set in the rural village of Hinamizawa, the story follows a group of friends as they become entangled in a series of gruesome murders and supernatural events. With its nonlinear storytelling and various story arcs, players must unravel the secrets behind the curse that haunts the village. The game is known for its intense atmosphere, complex characters, and unexpected plot twists.- Genre: Mystery, Horror, Psychological thriller
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS
- Release Date: 2002 (Chapter 1)
- Number of Chapters: 8 main chapters + additional side stories
- Multiple Endings: Yes
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513votes
Katawa Shoujo
Four Leaf StudiosThis visual novel follows the story of a high school student who is transferred to a school for people with disabilities. The game has been praised for its sensitive portrayal of disability and its mature themes.Katawa Shoujo is a popular visual novel that was released in 2012. It centers around a group of disabled girls and their lives at a school for people with disabilities. The game explores themes of love, friendship, and personal growth, offering multiple branching paths and endings based on the player's choices.- Genre: Romantic visual novel
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Release Date: January 4, 2012
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Number of Routes: 5 main routes
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611votesThis is a science fiction visual novel that follows the story of a high school student who finds himself in an alternate universe where humanity is at war with alien invaders. The game has been praised for its epic storyline and compelling characters.Muv-Luv is a popular Visual Novel that combines elements of romance, science fiction, and mecha. The story revolves around the protagonist, Takeru Shirogane, who finds himself transported to an alternate reality where Earth is being invaded by extraterrestrial creatures known as BETA.
- Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Mecha
- Developer: Âge
- First Release: 2003
- Platform: Microsoft Windows
- Rating: 18+
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712votes
Little Busters!
KeyThis visual novel follows the story of a group of friends who form a baseball team in high school. The game has been praised for its heartwarming story and lovable characters.Little Busters! is a popular visual novel developed by Key. It follows the story of Riki Naoe, a high school student who becomes a member of the Little Busters, a group of friends who aim to enjoy their youth to the fullest. As they spend time together, they confront their personal struggles and discover the importance of friendship, love, and self-discovery.- Genre: Visual Novel
- Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Android, iOS
- Release Date: July 27, 2007 (Original release)
- Modes: Single-player
- Gameplay: Text-based, interactive decision-making
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810votes
Umineko When They Cry
Ryukishi07This horror visual novel follows the story of a wealthy family who is trapped on an island and forced to play a deadly game. The game has been praised for its intricate mystery and engaging characters.Umineko When They Cry is a Japanese visual novel developed by 07th Expansion. It is a murder mystery story that revolves around the wealthy Ushiromiya family, who gather on a secluded island for their annual reunion. As a series of gruesome murders begin to occur, the protagonist, Battler Ushiromiya, must unravel the truth behind the killings and confront the enigmatic witch Beatrice. The narrative combines elements of mystery, horror, and fantasy, creating a compelling and intricate storyline.- Genre: Mystery, Horror, Fantasy
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: August 17, 2007
- Length: Approximately 100-150 hours per episode
- Number of Episodes: 8 main episodes
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98votes
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Shu TakumiThis is a legal thriller visual novel that follows the story of a young defense attorney named Phoenix Wright. The game has been praised for its engaging gameplay and witty dialogue.Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a popular visual novel game series that follows the life of a rookie defense attorney named Phoenix Wright as he solves various murder cases. The game combines elements of courtroom drama, detective work, and puzzle-solving, offering an immersive gameplay experience. Developed by Capcom, the series was created by Shu Takumi and first released in 2001 in Japan. It has gained a large and dedicated fanbase worldwide. The game features captivating storytelling, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics.- Genre: Visual novel, adventure, puzzle
- Platform: Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Game Boy Advance, mobile devices
- Release Date: October 11, 2001 (Japan)
- Modes: Single-player
- Number of Games (Main Series): 6
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1010votes
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Dan SalvatoThis is a horror visual novel that starts as a cute dating sim but quickly becomes a psychological thriller. The game has been praised for its unique storytelling and innovative use of game mechanics.Doki Doki Literature Club! is a visual novel dating simulator game that takes a dark and psychological twist. It follows the story of a high school student who joins a literature club and interacts with its four female members. As the game progresses, unsettling events and deep psychological themes are revealed, creating a unique and haunting experience.- Release Date: September 22, 2017
- Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
- Genre: Visual Novel, Dating Simulator, Psychological Horror
- Game Engine: Ren'Py
- Modes: Single-player
Doki Doki Literature Club! in other rankings- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular dating sim
Missing your favorite Visual Novel?
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular Visual Novel
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StorylineVisual novels are heavily story-driven, so a strong and engaging storyline is a crucial factor that determines its popularity.
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Character developmentThe development of characters is essential in visual novels, so how well the characters are developed and how users can relate to them also plays an important role in determining popularity.
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Artwork and designVisual novels are distinguished by their stunning artwork, and the quality of art and overall design can impact the popularity of a visual novel.
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Music and sound effectsMusic and sound effects can influence the mood and tone of a visual novel, making it captivating to users.
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Translation qualityIf a visual novel was originally created in a foreign language, the quality of the translation is a crucial factor that affects its popularity.
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ReplayabilityReplayability is important, which means that the ability for the user to experience different outcomes and endings is often appreciated.
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Critic reviews and word of mouthThe opinions and reviews of other users are also essential in determining the popularity of a visual novel. If a visual novel receives rave reviews from its audience, it's more likely to gain popularity among new users.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Visual Novel. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Game is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 3719 views
- 161 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Game once every 24 hours. The rank of each Game is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular visual novel
Visual novels are a unique and increasingly popular form of interactive storytelling. Combining elements of traditional novels and video games, visual novels allow readers to make choices that affect the outcome of the story. These choices can range from simple decisions such as which character to talk to, to more complex choices that can drastically alter the narrative.
Visual novels often feature anime-style art and Japanese themes, although there are also many Western visual novels. Some popular visual novels include Clannad, Steins;Gate, and Doki Doki Literature Club. Many visual novels also include romantic elements, making them a popular genre among fans of romance stories.
With so many visual novels on the market, it can be difficult to determine which ones are the most popular. However, through the use of polls and rankings, StrawPoll has been able to determine which visual novels are currently the most beloved by fans. From classic titles to new releases, there is sure to be a visual novel that will capture your imagination and leave you wanting more.
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