Best Visual Novel Games on Steam
Steam currently has 9,354 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 11/19/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free visual novel games on Steam
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- Free Steam games
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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 27,152 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 26,875 positive reviews and 277 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.94 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 | $19.94 |
| 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 121,934 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 119,213 positive reviews and 2,721 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 19,540 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 19,269 positive reviews and 271 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. 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 #4 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,704 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,571 positive reviews and 133 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 |
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 40,030 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39,197 positive reviews and 833 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 |
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 36,681 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 35,882 positive reviews and 799 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 | 4/21/2023 |
| 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 34,240 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,501 positive reviews and 739 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 33,987 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,188 positive reviews and 799 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. CLANNAD
From the world renowned visual novel studio Key, the highly rated story of CLANNAD is now available on Steam! Improved visuals, achievement integration, and Dangopedia make this the best version of CLANNAD to date.
CLANNAD 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 9,114 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,985 positive reviews and 129 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $44.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run CLANNAD on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $44.99 |
| Release Date | 11/23/2015 |
| Franchise | VISUAL ARTS |
| Developer | VisualArts/Key |
| Publisher | Sekai Project |
| Steam App Id | 324160 |
10. 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 #10 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,004 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,122 positive reviews and 882 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 |
More Visual Novel Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Visual Novel games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 771 | 2/14/2020 | 97 | $19.94 | Steam Charts | |
| 61 | 5/11/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 68 | 6/18/2020 | 96 | $20.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 96 | 11/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 48 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 419 | 4/21/2023 | 96 | $10.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 52 | 10/11/2013 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 1,422 | 4/9/2019 | 96 | $9.89 | Steam Charts | |
| 38 | 11/23/2015 | 95 | $44.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 56 | 6/21/2016 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,195 | 6/13/2020 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 225 | 7/21/2023 | 95 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 317 | 10/6/2017 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 7,103 | 10/21/2022 | 95 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 5/14/2021 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 134 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 420 | 9/8/2016 | 95 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 8/23/2021 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 10 | 9/26/2019 | 95 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 77 | 4/19/2018 | 95 | $1.99 | 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, November 19). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 19). Senren＊Banka on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 5). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 16). ATRI -My Dear Moments- on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 1). Our Life: Beginnings & Always on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 11). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 20). Volcano Princess on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 31). The Wolf Among Us on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 17). Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 21). CLANNAD on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 8). VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action on Steam. Steam Store.