Best Visual Novel Games on Steam
Steam currently has 8,495 Visual Novel games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Visual Novel game rankings were last updated on 7/12/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free visual novel games on Steam
- Best visual novel Steam Deck games
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- Best visual novel Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Senren＊Banka
Senren＊Banka is a Japanese-style visual novel produced by Yuzusoft, a Japanese developer of romance VNs. This game commemorated Yuzusoft's 10th anniversary. It won numerous awards on the year of its release in Japan for its art, music, and characters.
Senren＊Banka holds the #1 spot for "best Visual Novel game on Steam" with a Player Score of 97. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,147 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,918 positive reviews and 229 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $34.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Senren＊Banka on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $34.99 |
| Release Date | 2/14/2020 |
| Franchise | 株式会社HIKARI FIELD |
| Developer | Yuzusoft |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1144400 |
2. Helltaker
Helltaker is a short game about sharply dressed demon girls.
Helltaker has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 119,388 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 116,750 positive reviews and 2,638 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Helltaker on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
3. ATRI -My Dear Moments-
"As the world sank, I found you." In the near future, a sudden and unexplained sea rise has left much of human civilization underwater. In a little town slowly being enveloped by the ocean, an unforgettable summer is about to begin for a boy and a mysterious robot girl...
ATRI -My Dear Moments- has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 17,393 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 17,176 positive reviews and 217 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $20.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $20.99 |
| Release Date | 6/18/2020 |
| Franchise | ANIPLEX.EXE |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1230140 |
4. Firework
An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre. Lin Lixun participates the re-investigation by chances. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering.
Firework has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 39,208 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 38,406 positive reviews and 802 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Firework on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 2/3/2021 |
| Developer | Shiying Studio |
| Publisher | Gamera Games |
| Steam App Id | 1288310 |
5. Our Life: Beginnings & Always
A twenty-dollar bill, four summers, fifteen years, and a one of a kind life. Create an experience that’s all your own in this near-fully customizable visual novel where you grow from childhood to adulthood with the lonely boy next door.
Our Life: Beginnings & Always has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,327 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,203 positive reviews and 124 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Our Life: Beginnings & Always on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 11/16/2020 |
| Franchise | GB Patch Games |
| Developer | GB Patch Games |
| Publisher | GB Patch Games |
| Steam App Id | 1129190 |
6. Volcano Princess
Prepare the next monarch by finding her hobbies, training her for battle, and befriending the citizens she'll one day protect. Dive into an all-new parenting-simulator-RPG adventure, where every decision you make will not only affect the future of your daughter but that of an entire empire!
Volcano Princess has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 34,570 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,818 positive reviews and 752 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $10.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Volcano Princess on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $10.99 |
| Release Date | 4/20/2023 |
| Franchise | Gamera Games |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Gamera Games |
| Steam App Id | 1669980 |
7. The Wolf Among Us
From the makers of the 2012 Game of the Year: The Walking Dead, comes a thriller based on the award-winning Fables comic books. As Bigby Wolf you will discover that a brutal, bloody murder is just a taste of things to come in a game series where your every decision can have enormous consequences.
The Wolf Among Us has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 33,489 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 32,753 positive reviews and 736 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Wolf Among Us on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 10/11/2013 |
| Franchise | Telltale Games |
| Developer | Telltale |
| Publisher | Telltale |
| Steam App Id | 250320 |
8. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Become Phoenix Wright and experience the thrill of battle as you fight to save your innocent clients in a court of law. Play all 14 episodes, spanning the first three games, in one gorgeous collection.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 31,133 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 30,395 positive reviews and 738 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.89 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $9.89 |
| Release Date | 4/9/2019 |
| Developer | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
| Publisher | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 787480 |
9. VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is a booze em' up about waifus, technology, and post-dystopia life.
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 34,469 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,610 positive reviews and 859 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 6/21/2016 |
| Franchise | Ysbryd Games |
| Developer | Sukeban Games |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 447530 |
10. Persona 4 Golden
A coming of age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders.
Persona 4 Golden has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 70,601 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 68,532 positive reviews and 2,069 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
More Visual Novel Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Visual Novel games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 298 | 2/14/2020 | 97 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 105 | 5/11/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 171 | 6/18/2020 | 96 | $20.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 20 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 229 | 11/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 250 | 4/20/2023 | 96 | $10.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 89 | 10/11/2013 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,724 | 4/9/2019 | 96 | $9.89 | Steam Charts | |
 | 71 | 6/21/2016 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,207 | 6/13/2020 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 57 | 11/23/2015 | 95 | $44.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 423 | 10/6/2017 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,752 | 10/20/2022 | 95 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 33 | 5/14/2021 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 36 | 9/25/2019 | 95 | $1.19 | Steam Charts | |
 | 248 | 7/21/2023 | 95 | $24.49 | Steam Charts | |
 | 99 | 4/19/2018 | 95 | $0.79 | Steam Charts | |
 | 137 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 8/22/2021 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 51 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 12). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 12). Senren＊Banka on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 8). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). ATRI -My Dear Moments- on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 25). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 26). Our Life: Beginnings & Always on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 22). Volcano Princess on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 26). The Wolf Among Us on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, July 24). Persona 4 Golden on Steam. Steam Store.