Best Visual Novel Linux Games on Steam
Steam currently has 10,037 Visual Novel games, but not all of them are able to be played on Linux builds. 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 1/12/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best visual novel games on Steam
- Best visual novel Steam Deck games
- Best visual novel Steam games (for Mac OS)
- Free visual novel games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Helltaker
Helltaker is a short game about sharply dressed demon girls.
Helltaker holds the #1 spot for "best Linux Visual Novel game on Steam" with a Player Score of 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 123,658 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 120,889 positive reviews and 2,769 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).
2. 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 #2 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 12,031 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 11,891 positive reviews and 140 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 |
3. 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 #3 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 35,710 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 34,802 positive reviews and 908 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 |
4. A Date with Death
Fight against & romance the one hunting for your soul in A Date with Death, a romance chat simulator where you date(?) the Grim Reaper himself. Create your own character, decorate your apartment, and chat away with the charming yet dangerous Grim Reaper through text and video calls.
A Date with Death has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,126 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,974 positive reviews and 152 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 A Date with Death on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/7/2023 |
| Franchise | Two and a Half Studios |
| Developer | Two and a Half Studios |
| Publisher | Two and a Half Studios |
| Steam App Id | 2415010 |
5. I Wani Hug that Gator!
I Wani Hug that Gator! Is a choice-driven narrative about teenagers struggling to find their way. Help Inco, loser highschooler extraordinaire, navigate his budding friendships (and romance!) while surviving being the only human in a dinosaur-filled school.
I Wani Hug that Gator! has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,393 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,343 positive reviews and 50 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play I Wani Hug that Gator! on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut
You're here to slay the princess. Don't believe her lies.
Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 21,377 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,774 positive reviews and 603 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $17.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $17.99 |
| Release Date | 10/23/2023 |
| Franchise | Black Tabby Games |
| Developer | Black Tabby Games |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1989270 |
7. Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk
A short story about what sort of challenges everyday little things can be. Help the girl buy milk, be the first not to disappoint her.
Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 28,128 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 27,227 positive reviews and 901 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $1.49 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $1.49 |
| Release Date | 8/26/2020 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Missing Calm |
| Steam App Id | 1392820 |
8. Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk
A sequel to Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk. Dive into demented and bizarre world once again and help the girl become a little happier.
Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk has achieved a Player Score of 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 16,963 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 16,480 positive reviews and 483 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $8.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $8.99 |
| Release Date | 12/16/2021 |
| Developer | Nikita Kryukov |
| Publisher | Nikita Kryukov |
| Steam App Id | 1604000 |
9. Until Then
A fateful meeting sets off a chain reaction, upending Mark's life. People disappear and memories prove unreliable. Uncover a hidden truth with Mark and his friends in this narrative adventure and race to unravel the mystery before it's too late.
Until Then has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,125 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,964 positive reviews and 161 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 6/25/2024 |
| Franchise | Maximum Entertainment |
| Developer | Polychroma Games |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1574820 |
10. BAD END THEATER
select your protagonist and explore a variety of terrible fates!
BAD END THEATER has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Linux Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,927 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,726 positive reviews and 201 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 10/26/2021 |
| Franchise | NomnomNami |
| Developer | NomnomNami |
| Publisher | NomnomNami |
| Steam App Id | 1764390 |
More Visual Novel Linux Games on Steam
Explore even more rankings for the 10 best Visual Novel games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | 5/11/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 147 | 11/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 120 | 6/21/2016 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 296 | 12/7/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 26 | 2/14/2024 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 183 | 10/23/2023 | 95 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 5 | 8/26/2020 | 95 | $1.49 | Steam Charts | |
| 20 | 12/16/2021 | 95 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 168 | 6/25/2024 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | 10/26/2021 | 94 | $9.99 | 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. (2025, January 12). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 12). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 8). Our Life: Beginnings & Always on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 22). VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 5). A Date with Death on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 12). I Wani Hug that Gator! on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 24). Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 17). Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 29). Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, February 12). Until Then on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, January 31). BAD END THEATER on Steam. Steam Store.