The genre of visual novels or visual novels is quite special if we compare it with other genres such as action or platform games , since in this case the games do not have many playable mechanics.
The magic of visual novels is in the story that is presented to us and how it develops through the different chapters that make up the game. It is a type of game where we will have to make some decisions, but in general it is a fairly relaxing genre, since they do not require much “action” on our part beyond enjoying the plot as spectators. Kind of like an interactive novel, but with pictures .
The best games of the visual novel genre for Android
Visual novels originate from Japan, so most of them have a very anime aesthetic. As for the topics covered, many of them draw on romantic entanglements, although today they are so popular that there are all kinds of visual novels: mystery, personal dramas, business, etc.
PARQUET
PARQUET presents a very interesting approach, set in the near future where technology is capable of connecting the brain and machines, opening the doors for the digitization of the human mind.
With this technology a being is born that mixes the memories of thousands of people in a single container. This will make him doubt who he really is and he will start a journey to know himself.
In principle, the game is free, but during the course we will find several payment walls, so in the end we will have to pay about 9 euros to complete the story.
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PARQUET
Developer: Yuzusoft
Price: Free
The Ace Attorney Games
Developed by Capcom, this famous saga of courtroom games and lawyers is also available on Android and is one of the best visual novels on the system. We are talking about premium games that are priced between 15 – 20 euros.
Currently the series has 5 installments on Android, where we will put ourselves in the shoes of Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth and Apollo Justice. Our objective will be to prove the innocence of our client or the guilt of the accused (depending on the role we play in the trial).
Undoubtedly the biggest draw is its diverse cast of characters and unexpected plot twists . If you don’t know where to start, check out “Spirit of Justice”, “Ace Attorney Investigations” and “Apollo Justice”. In May 2022, Capcom also published a trilogy with the first three games in the series .
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Spirit of Justice
Developer: CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Price: 20,99 €
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Ace Attorney Investigations –
Developer: CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Price: 15,99 €
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Apollo Justice Ace Attorney
Developer: CAPCOM CO., LTD.
Price: 15,99 €
EDDA Cafe Visual Novel
Mina is a young woman who tragically loses her boyfriend, and two years after his death, she still hasn’t gotten over it. One day, she meets the waiter of a cafe called EDDA, where thanks to the magic they serve in her cafes, she Mina will be able to go back to the past and have a second chance.
This is a game that was made expressly for the 2021 Valentine VN Jam, and since then it has had a really good reception within the world of visual novels. Of course, the game is only in English, although it can also be found in other languages in its PC version .
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EDDA Cafe Visual Novel
Developer: NSAID Visual Novel
Price: Free
Life is Strange
Another saga that makes the leap from consoles to mobile devices. Life is Strange landed on Android in 2018 as a 5-episode game from Square Enix (and quite successfully, by the way). The first episode is free, although for the rest we will have to get out the wallet.
Of course, the game has almost everything: from some interesting choice and consequence mechanics where we can go back in time to change the past, present and future, as well as alternative endings, good graphics and a really exquisite soundtrack for fans of indie-alternative music.
At the plot level, the story will put us in the shoes of Max, a photography student who, together with her friend Chloe, will gradually discover the darkest secrets of the city of Arcadia Bay.
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Life is Strange
Developer: SQUARE ENIX LTD
Price: Free
History of a Company
This visual novel tells the day-to-day life of the sales team of a large pharmaceutical company . The funny thing is that the characters are anthropomorphic animals, which gives a funny touch to the matter, although it has quite dramatic overtones.
The game allows multiple endings, which will be developed according to the decisions we make, which provides a lot of replayability to the title. To date, one of the best rated games from Buff Studio, a developer specializing in the visual novel genre. Available in Spanish.
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History of a Company
Developer: Buff Studio (Story Games, Calm Games)
Price: Free
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Makoto Naegi is randomly chosen to enter the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy on a scholarship to receive an elite education. However, it doesn’t take long for him to discover that it’s all a farce, and that he and the other scholarship students are trapped.
The school principal is a sadistic teddy bear, who explains to them that if they want to get out they will have to “graduate” first by committing a crime against their own classmates. From there the story will take us forward, while people are dying with all kinds of unexpected twists.
In addition to Trigger Happy Havoc, the Dangaronpa saga has 3 other games available in the Play Store, all of them with prices of around 15 euros.
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Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Hav
Developer: SPIKE CHUNSOFT
Price: 15,99 €
The Phantom of the Opera
A romantic visual novel based on the original work The Phantom of the Opera (Gothic novel by Gastón Leroux published in 1910). Relive the classic story of the lonely ghost in love with a beautiful woman, with hundreds of notes and interesting facts about the turn of the century era in which it is set.
It includes various mini-games that will unlock different parts of the plot and alternate endings. If you like poetic dialogues, capes and top hats, take a look at this interesting game developed by MazM.
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Phantom of the Opera
Developer: MazM (Story Games, Adventure)
Price: Free
Underworld Office
Eugene accidentally falls into the world of ghosts, and just when he is about to lose his life at the hands of monsters, he is saved by a mysterious ghost. In return, this ghost asks you to work for him in the underworld office.
This interactive chat-type story has 7 different routes that will be unlocked depending on the choices we make. There are two versions available: one paid and one free, but with ads. Underworld Office was published at the end of 2020 and today it is one of the best valued visual novels in Spanish on the Play Store .
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Underworld Office: Stoty game
Developer: Buff Studio (Story Games, Calm Games)
Price: Free
her tears were my light
A love story of the yuri genre , where the two protagonists are the same “Time” and “Space”. A romantic visual novel with a lot of metalanguage and the occasional passage with very light touches of terror.
If you have never approached romantic visual novels, this can be a good start: it barely lasts half an hour and is translated into Spanish. If you like it, take a look also at “ Contract Demon ”, a game published by the same company.
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her tears were my light
Developer: NomnomNami
Price: Free
Would you sell your soul?
After discovering that her lover has betrayed her, the protagonist of this story dies in a traffic accident. In front of her appears the devil, who will offer to return her life in exchange for her soul.
A mystery and romance visual novel translated into Spanish. The game is free to play, although chapters are unlocked with diamonds earned by watching ads, which may not be to everyone’s taste (you can also buy the game directly).
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Would you sell your soul?: Spanish
Developer: COMINO Inc. & INTEREST LLC.
Price: Free
Do you know other visual novels for Android that are worth it? If so, do not hesitate to leave your recommendation in the comments area