Steam Holds Week Long Visual Novel Fest – Here Are Ten Games You Should Try

Steam is currently holding its Visual Novel Fest where there are deep discounts on narrative heavy games. Lying at the intersection between books and games, visual novels allow you to make decisions that immerse you more deeply in the story compared to standard books.

If you're visual novel curious but don't know where to dive in, we have ten recommendations from Steam’s Visual Novel Fest to start you out on your interactive fiction journey.

Chaos;Head Noah

Most people have heard of Steins;Gate. It's a legendary sci-fi visual novel where a self proclaimed mad scientist uses a microwave to change the past and save his childhood friend, jellifying more than a few bananas in the process. It's many people's introduction to the visual novel genre, but the team has many more excellent stories under its belt.

Chaos;Head Noah is a personal favorite with its shut-in antihero protagonist, who is suddenly and reluctantly plunged into solving a serial murder case after the killer begins to hit close to home. It's also available with its sequel Chaos;Child in a double pack, and both are worth picking up this week.

Chaos;Head Noah is $12.49 until the end of Steam’s Visual Novel Fest.

The House in Fata Morgana

The House in Fata Morgana was a meme as, for a long time, it had a perfect score on Metacritic. The joke was that not many critics had reviewed it, but everyone who had played it had decided it was worthy of a perfect score. As one of those few critics, I wholeheartedly agree.

The titular house and its residents are cursed to repeat the sins of their past, as you are guided through several intertwining stories of the residents’ histories. The characters transform in every sense, in a beautifully told character study of its cast.

The House in Fata Morgana is just $16.24 until the end of Steam’s Visual Novel Fest.

Scarlet Hollow

Before Black Tabby Games brought us the bitesize stories of Slay the Princess, they began with Scarlet Hollow. For readers who like their choice to really matter, this supernatural episodic horror has literally hundreds of permutations and branching paths.

A lot goes in behind the scenes and small decisions will completely change how characters react to you and treat you. This means you can start it several times, and be treated to a different story every playthrough. With the latest major update giving more choices than before it's the perfect time to dive in.

Scarlet Hollow is just $18.74 through to the end of Steam’s Visual Novel Fest.

AI: The Somnium Files Nirvana Initiative

We love both AI: The Somnium Files games, and both are standalone stories that are worth picking up. However, the sequel really nails the mix of sci-fi and murder mystery with the right balance to the twists where we didn't see them coming, but felt we should have.

A detective with the ability to enter the minds of the suspects and witnesses of the case to get right to the truth, it's still not easy to piece everything together. As you get closer to the truth, you feel there are even more parts to the story that you failed to uncover.

AI: The Somnium Files Nirvana Initiative is available for $17.99 during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest.

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Danganronpa is one of the classic visual novels for a reason. Thirteen ‘Ultimate’ students, teenagers that are at the pinnacle in their fields, are trapped together inside an abandoned school with no memory of how they got there. The only way out is by pulling off the perfect murder; one that your classmates can’t solve.

A mix between searching the school for clues, and presenting your arguments before a court of your peers, Danganronpa is known for twists and turns, and its ability to surprise the audience even into the third game in the series. All of the Danganronpa games are on sale during the event, but newcomers to the series should start at the beginning.

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is available during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest for $13.99.

Zero Escape: The Nonary Games

A double pack of mystery games, The Nonary Games contains the first and best two games from the Zero Escape series. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is the bite-sized entry into the series that gets the player used to going back in time, making different decisions, and following the thread of a different timeline. Once you are used to the game’s mechanics, you are ready for the real show; Virtue’s Last Reward.

Virtue’s Last Reward improves and expands on all of the ideas presented in 999. With more branching paths, and information that you have to remember between the various timelines, it takes the mystery and puzzle solving to another level. A beautifully wound narrative with a payoff that you feel you definitely deserve.

Zero Escape: The Nonary Games can be purchased during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest for $8.99.

Clannad

Clannad is considered one of the best visual novels of all time, yet if you aren’t familiar with the genre you have probably never heard of it. Like many Japanese stories it takes place in high school, but what Clannad does differently is ground the teens with home lives that are less than picture perfect.

Clannad is a bishoujo, a romance game where a man falls in love with various women, but the romance of the story is just a part of the overall magic. It doesn’t matter if this is your romantic preference or not, Clannad is a story that will bring people with even the most hardened hearts to tears.

Clannad is available for $17.99 until the end of Steam’s Visual Novel Fest.

Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition

Once you get over the ridiculousness of the name, Root Double is a mystery thriller with a unique pathing system. Rather than making dialogue choices, or choosing who to talk to, you decide how much you trust the person you are speaking to. It makes you act more conservatively about who you are ready to ally with.

The story is broken up over five interwoven routes that at first don’t seem to be related at all. As with the best mystery novels, things slowly unfurl over time until all of the pieces are in place. Root Double is one of the lesser known games on this list, but one that is worth picking up.

Root Double can be purchased for $8.74 during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest.

Psychedelia of the Black Butterfly

Another romance novel, this time Psychedelia of the Black Butterfly is an otome, a romance story of a woman falling in love with men. Our protagonist wakes up in an abandoned mansion with a number of men, and none of them can remember their pasts. They also can’t leave the mansion, and need to unlock their memories to free themselves.

Like most of the visual novels on the list, Psychedelia of the Black Butterfly is best enjoyed when you’re kept in the dark, but like Clannad there is more to enjoy than just the romances between the various characters. 

Psychedelia of the Black Butterfly is available during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest for $7.49.

VA-11 Hall-A

If you’re interested in mixing drinks and saving lives, VA-11 Hall-A is the game for you. You play the bartender in a futuristic cyberpunk basement, as you get to know your patrons, and the drinks they like. In fact, the best bartenders know their customers better than they know themselves, and you can use your discretion to earn big tips.

VA-11 Hall-A is a character study of our bartender, her colleagues, and the quirky cast of people who attend the bar. If you’re looking for a new group of friends to hang out with, then there are worse places you could choose to be.

VA-11 Hall-A is available during Steam’s Visual Novel Fest for $10.04.

Steam's Visual Novel Fest is on right now and ends on March 10, 2025.

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