2023 looks to be a solid year for thevisual novelgenre, with offerings both Japanese and Western in origin coming to consoles and PC throughout the year. Several popular series such asScience AdventureandCoffee Talkare getting new entries, while promising new titles and potential series are making their debut as well. Veteranvisual novelfans will have plenty to pick from in 2023, while newbies to the genre may find 2023 the perfect year to give visual novels a try.
Due to their text-heavy nature and limited gameplay, visual novels previously experienced limited popularity in the West and generally remained Japan-exclusive. However, visual novels are currently experiencing somewhat of a renaissance and growing in popularity around the world. 2022 saw creator Kotaro Uchikoshi deliver his usual twist-filled mystery withAI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative, Monster Promreturn with its third installmentMonster Road Trip,the unexpectedphysical Western release ofChaos; Head Noah, and many more. 2023 looks to be just as big of a year, with several notable and exciting visual novels making their debut.
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Anonymous;Code
TheScience Adventureseries is one of the best-known names in visual novels. It combines the science fiction and mystery genres and each entry features an elaborate branching story. Currently, the series consists ofChaos;Head, Chaos;Child,Steins;Gate, Robotics;Notes, Occultic;Nine,and several spin-offs.Anonymous;Code,the sixth main entry in the series, saw a Japanese release in 2022 after several delays and will be making its way to the West in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4. It takes place on an alternate Earth in the near future and stars a hacker who develops the ability to travel between different “layers” of the world and save and reset his life much like a video game.
Mask of the Rose
Failbetter Games, the developer behind the massively popular browser-based gameFallen London,brings the world of London-dragged-underground to PC and consoles in 2023 withMask of the Rose,a hybrid romance and murder mystery visual novel. Set shortly after London was forcibly dragged below the surface, the player character finds themselves roped into taking a census of Fallen London’s residents. Along the way, players can find love, solve a murder, and perhaps learnwhyLondon was brought underground in the first place.Mask of the Roseis currently slated for an April 2023 release for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly
The originalCoffee Talk,released in 2020, quickly gained popularity for its chill vibes, classic pixel art style, and deep, emotional story. The game centers around the barista of the titular coffee shop, who listens to the stories and concerns of various customers and offers advice and assistance.Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterflywill return to the fantasy-inspired alternate Seattle and introduce new customers to meet, new problems to solve, and a more elaborate drink-making system including the ability to create stunning latte art.Hibiscus & Butterflyis currently scheduled for a Spring 2023 release for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Winter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo
Publisher Aksys Games has recently made a name for themselves as the primary publisher bringingotome games- aka romance-focusedvisual novels- to a Western audience. Previous releases from Aksys include theCode Realizeseries,Collar x Malice,and theMiss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maidspinoff games. Their 2023 slate of releases includesWinter’s Wish: Spirits of Edo,a historical romance set in 1700s Japan. It centers around a girl who is capable of predicting future disasters and the men her powers lead her to meet and potentially fall for, including powerful warriors, members of the Shogun’s court, and even mystical nonhumans.Winter’s Wishhas an unspecified 2023 release date and will debut exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
