Best Visual Novel Games on Steam
Steam currently has 7,966 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 5/2/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free visual novel games on Steam
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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 21,754 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 21,552 positive reviews and 202 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 118,017 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 115,421 positive reviews and 2,596 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 15,495 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 15,310 positive reviews and 185 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 38,405 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 37,621 positive reviews and 784 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 | 2/4/2021 |
| 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 10,966 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,846 positive reviews and 120 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. 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 #6 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 32,936 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 32,212 positive reviews and 724 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).
7. 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 #7 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 33,885 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 33,041 positive reviews and 844 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 |
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 95, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 29,003 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 28,308 positive reviews and 695 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. 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 #9 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 68,938 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 66,907 positive reviews and 2,031 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.
10. 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 #10 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,601 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,474 positive reviews and 127 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $15.74 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 | $15.74 |
| Release Date | 11/23/2015 |
| Franchise | VISUAL ARTS |
| Developer | VisualArts/Key |
| Publisher | Sekai Project |
| Steam App Id | 324160 |
More Visual Novel Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Visual Novel games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 321 | 2/14/2020 | 97 | $34.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 999 | 5/11/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 202 | 6/18/2020 | 96 | $20.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 61 | 2/4/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 166 | 11/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 85 | 10/11/2013 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 75 | 6/21/2016 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 754 | 4/9/2019 | 95 | $9.89 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,206 | 6/13/2020 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 62 | 11/23/2015 | 95 | $15.74 | Steam Charts | |
 | 376 | 10/6/2017 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 5,513 | 10/20/2022 | 95 | $59.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 11 | 9/25/2019 | 95 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 132 | 4/19/2018 | 95 | $1.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 30 | 3/31/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 107 | 10/13/2023 | 95 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 5/14/2021 | 95 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 88 | 9/8/2016 | 95 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 1/9/2023 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 191 | 7/21/2023 | 95 | $34.99 | 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, May 2). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 2). Senren＊Banka on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 1). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). ATRI -My Dear Moments- on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 3). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 30). Our Life: Beginnings & Always on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 14). The Wolf Among Us on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 21). VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 27). Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 17). Persona 4 Golden on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 7). CLANNAD on Steam. Steam Store.