reading games/visual novels i've played

Definition of a reading game: a game that involves a lot of reading, but isn't a visual novel.
NEED A RECOMMENDATION? click the note i put on the title. (wip)
TOP 5: Utawarerumono Mask of Truth, Remember11, The House In Fata Morgana, Umineko When They Cry, AI The Somnium Files

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
PLAY THIS!✔️ One of Uchikoshi's best. Buy the Nonary Games collection so you can get VLR as well.
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️ It's a fine game, but in retrospect having AA5 and AA6 be both 1) bad and 2) rewrite apollo's character again and again, it almost makes this game feel really fucking pointless.
AI: The Somnium Files
AI: The Somnium Files
PLAY THIS! ✔️ I'm not sure what genre AITSF really falls into (maybe more point and click adventure). By no means is this game perfect, but it is perfect to me. Been in the AITSF hype trenches since the Tesa YouTube ARG days.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
PLAY THIS!✔️ One of Uchikoshi's best. Buy the Nonary Games collection so you can get 999 as well.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
DON'T RECOMMEND❌ L game
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️I like AAI1 enough but it's just an alright game. If you skipped this to get straight to the kino (AAI2) I wouldn't blame you.
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
ZTD is not a fantastic game, and it isn't great to look at, and honestly I really don't care for the plot, I don't uhhhhh care for most of this game but it's really great to laugh at :)
Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️I fucking hated rintaro and some of the extremely unfunny jokes but every other visual novel fan loves Steins;Gate so whatever
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Needy Streamer Overload
Needy Streamer Overload
DON'T RECOMMEND❌i ufcking hate this shit
Coffee Talk
Coffee Talk
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice
DON'T RECOMMEND❌bad
Umineko no Naku Koro ni
Umineko no Naku Koro ni
AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative
AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative
DON'T RECOMMEND❌ THIS GAME FUCKING BLOWS LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCKING HATE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
The House in Fata Morgana
The House in Fata Morgana
Gyakuten Kenji 2
Gyakuten Kenji 2
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️An interesting idea for a game that I feel like falls apart the more you play it/get to the ending reveals. Genuinely I fail to see what everyone liked about it, it might be the nostalgia talking.
Play the sequel Last Window, it is 5000% better than this.
Professor Layton and the Last Specter
Professor Layton and the Last Specter
The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
if i paid for this shit on the 3ds in 2015 or whenever it came out i would have been so pissed. this is absolutely not a standalone title and as someone who played it as a standalone title years later before the official english release i really did not like it. but in the two-pack of tgaa it's alright!

so, TLDR, PLAY THIS! ✔️
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.1 Onikakushi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.1 Onikakushi
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
PLAY THIS! ✔️ It's a pretty great AA game.
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.2 Watanagashi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.2 Watanagashi
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
DON'T RECOMMEND❌naurrrrr
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.3 Tatarigoroshi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.3 Tatarigoroshi
Muv-Luv
Muv-Luv
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.4 Himatsubushi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.4 Himatsubushi
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.5 Meakashi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.5 Meakashi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.6 Tsumihoroboshi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.6 Tsumihoroboshi
Trace Memory
Trace Memory
PLAY THIS! ✔️ It's not groundbreaking but it's 4 hours long.
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.7 Minagoroshi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.7 Minagoroshi
428: Shibuya Scramble
428: Shibuya Scramble
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.8 Matsuribayashi
Higurashi When They Cry Hou: Ch.8 Matsuribayashi
Fate/Stay Night: Réalta Nua - Fate
Fate/Stay Night: Réalta Nua - Fate
Witch on the Holy Night
Witch on the Holy Night
Class of '09
Class of '09
Gnosia
Gnosia
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
PLAY THIS! ✔️ Last Window rules and I'm sick of no one talking about it. It sidesteps all the issues I had with Hotel Dusk and is genuinely a great time.
Raging Loop
Raging Loop
DON'T RECOMMEND❌this game sucks ass
Amnesia: Memories
Amnesia: Memories
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
DON'T RECOMMEND❌I think the version on the DS is better....
2064: Read Only Memories
2064: Read Only Memories
Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth
Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth
PLAY THIS! ✔️ EASILY one of the greatest vns of all time. A nonstop incredible story that will leave you breathless and sobbing also.

You will need to play Utawarerumono Mask of Deception in order for this game to be great, and Utawarerumono/Utawarerumono Prelude to the Fallen for this game to be kino. They are both great, please play the whole trilogy.
Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen
Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen
Dramatical Murder
Dramatical Murder
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️to be frank DMMD is really not that great story-wise but it has a ton of unique design/ways it plays with the concept of the game. Hard to explain. Also contains gay sex.
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
DON'T RECOMMEND❌If you're someone who's played Uchikoshi's modern works (999 and after), you may be tempted to try this game out. It is honestly very boring for 80% of its runtime and I don't recommend it unless you want to see how Uchikoshi grew as a writer rather than be enthralled by a great story.

Play Ever17 Himmel Edition if you're trying this!
Fate/Stay Night: Réalta Nua - Unlimited Blade Works
Fate/Stay Night: Réalta Nua - Unlimited Blade Works
Fate/Stay Night: Réalta Nua - Heaven's Feel
Fate/Stay Night: Réalta Nua - Heaven's Feel
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy
DON'T RECOMMEND❌You will like this game if you are 5-9 years old. If you aren't you will not like this game. If you are, what are you doing on this website
Time Hollow
Time Hollow
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
Class of '09: The Re-Up
Class of '09: The Re-Up
Remember 11: The Age of Infinity
Remember 11: The Age of Infinity
PLAY THIS! ✔️ The greatest Infinity game. Anyone who disagrees just didn't get it. Do not let anything stop you from playing this game and letting it consume your every thought like it did for me.

Play Remember11 Gestalt Edition if you're trying this out!
Analogue: A Hate Story
Analogue: A Hate Story
Another Code: Recollection
Another Code: Recollection
PLAY THIS! ✔️ I think this collection of the two Another Code games is good, but also loses a lot of the soul by getting rid of a lot of the gimmicks (closing the DS to solve a puzzle, connecting a nun-chuk to solve a puzzle, etc).

I would honestly recommend playing both of the original games (on original hardware if you can) and then this, they are fairly short.
World's End Club
World's End Club
DON'T RECOMMEND❌Flat out this is not a good game. It is, however, very short, so you could bang this out in a weekend if you're really that curious about it. The voice acting for both languages is extremely grating so have fun with that.
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️This one's fun but not really groundbreaking. The fandom is almost entirely comprised of fujoshi though so you unlock that as a perk if you finish it.
Trauma Team
Trauma Team
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room
Nekopara: Catboys Paradise
Nekopara: Catboys Paradise
DON'T RECOMMEND❌bro just go on a booru site and look up images of catboys. this game has the same amount of depth.
Never 7: The End of Infinity
Never 7: The End of Infinity
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️this game is straight up bad, just downright dogshit, but it's at least VERY entertaining to watch unfold, which I cannot say for Ever17.

Play Never7 Eternal Edition if you're trying this out!
Utawarerumono
Utawarerumono
Death Come True
Death Come True
DON'T RECOMMEND❌ Really great visuals but the story is very barebones. To prove how barebones it is one of the girls on the cover literally only shows up in one bad ending for 5 minutes but they had to stick her on the cover to make it seem like the game is bigger than it actually is.
Necrobarista
Necrobarista
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️ Necrobarista has beautiful visuals but a really underwhelming story where it feels like none of the stakes matter until they try to clumsily tie it all together at the end.
Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni: The First Night
Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni: The First Night
PLAY THIS! ✔️ Higanbana is one of the Ryukishi greats that unfortunately gets overlooked quite often because it isn't easily accessible. I would highly recommend seeking it out and playing it. I think he shines in the short story format.
Cinderella Phenomenon
Cinderella Phenomenon
Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories
Another Code: R - A Journey into Lost Memories
PLAY THIS! ✔️ Another Code R is a cozy time and I prefer this to its remake.
Hustle Cat
Hustle Cat
Sweet Pool
Sweet Pool
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️ Contains men fuckin other men. You have been warned. Sweet Pool feels gross and disgusting and I really, really love that about it. Just read the game description and determine if you wanna play something like that.

My extended thoughts on it are here: https://lonesgamethoughts.blogspot.com/2022/03/sweet-pool-review-saya-no-uta-but-for.html
Cupid Parasite
Cupid Parasite
Root Double: Before Crime * After Days - Xtend Edition
Root Double: Before Crime * After Days - Xtend Edition
Dramatical Murder Re:connect
Dramatical Murder Re:connect
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️You should really only play this if you already played DMMD. If you have, this is a great companion to DMMD and in some ways I prefer it to DMMD because it has all unique writing (instead of having the repeating story bits like DMMD did)
Heart of the Woods
Heart of the Woods
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️ I personally had the story fall kinda flat for me/I wasn't that moved by it, however if you love yuri this will be up your alley regardless.
Loopers
Loopers
DON'T RECOMMEND❌The art is the only saving grace for LOOPERS. The story is quite short and very, very, very predictable, which is a shame because I think if the concept was stretched out (with typical Ryukishi pacing), it might be a classic.

The voice acting is extremely grating also.
Marco & The Galaxy Dragon
Marco & The Galaxy Dragon
SeaBed
SeaBed
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️ SeaBed is a bit vague with its storytelling which can be frustrating (on top of the pacing being extremely slow). I love it both in spite of and because of these quirks but your mileage may vary.
Spirit Hunter: NG
Spirit Hunter: NG
Café Enchanté
Café Enchanté
Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni: The Second Night
Higanbana no Saku Yoru ni: The Second Night
PLAY THIS! ✔️ Higanbana is one of the Ryukishi greats that unfortunately gets overlooked quite often because it isn't easily accessible. I would highly recommend seeking it out and playing it. I think he shines in the short story format.
Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly
Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly
A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986
A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986
Seventh Lair
Seventh Lair
Iwaihime
Iwaihime
DON'T RECOMMEND❌I could see this game being pretty good if it had Higurashi levels of pacing (see: really slow but it builds your trust and care for its characters), but it really is pretty mid and only gets interesting toward the end— the ending felt hollow for me seeing how I didn't care much for its characters but they had to pretend i did.

This game is also really fucking gross for no reason. Like really gross sfx and art and voice lines do not eat while playing this.
Lucy: The Eternity She Wished For
Lucy: The Eternity She Wished For
DON'T RECOMMEND❌ this game was not only boring but featured the most insufferable protagonist i wished he died alone
Buried Stars
Buried Stars
Chase: Cold Case Investigations - Distant Memories
Chase: Cold Case Investigations - Distant Memories
Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk
Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk
Taisho x Alice Episode 1
Taisho x Alice Episode 1
Room No. 9
Room No. 9
MAYBE PLAY THIS ⚠️ Contains guys having sex w each other. The premise is interesting but I really feel like this was missing something deeper to bring everything together. Still a good time.

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