The History and Allure of Interactive Visual Novels

Arranged in three specific segments, this book begins with a comprehensive overview of the visual novel (VN), a ludic video game genre that pairs textual fiction stories with anime-like images and varying degrees of interactivity. Starting with a cultural evolution that began even before 1983’s The Portopia Serial Murder Case, the book identifies how and why this modest mode of storytelling, long popular in Japan, penetrated the wider gaming industry and even inspired blockbuster series like Metal Gear Solid.

The second section explores subgenres like bishojo (cute girl games), yuri (girls’ love games), and eroge (erotic games), audiences often associate VNs with romantic and even pornographic content. The third section explores the future of the genre in both user-generated games and games that liberally borrow content from visual novels.

Whether a long-standing fan of the genre or a newcomer looking for a fresh experience, the book provides an accessible and critically-engaging overview of a genre that’s rich in storytelling yet often overlooked by Western audiences.