Best Visual Novel Games on Steam
Steam currently has 14,395 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 10/4/2026.
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
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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 96. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 37,319 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 36,748 positive reviews and 571 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $18.19 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 | $18.19 |
| 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 128,252 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 125,273 positive reviews and 2,979 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. Dispatch
Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy where choices matter. Manage a dysfunctional team of misfit heroes and strategize who to send to emergencies around the city, all while balancing office politics, personal relationships, and your own quest to become a hero. All episodes out now!
Dispatch 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 184,643 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 180,033 positive reviews and 4,610 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $23.99 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 | $23.99 |
| Release Date | 10/22/2025 |
| Developer | AdHoc Studio |
| Publisher | AdHoc Studio |
| Steam App Id | 2592160 |
4. Shiina Taki's Decameron
Shiina Taki's Decameron is a doujin interactive fiction based on anime「BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!」. The story concentrates on Shiina Taki, the drummer and song writer of MyGO!!!!! and her fight against fate till the last breath.
Shiina Taki's Decameron 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 7,421 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,382 positive reviews and 39 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free 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.
5. 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 #5 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 23,601 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,216 positive reviews and 385 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 |
6. 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 #6 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 13,800 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 13,626 positive reviews and 174 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 not possible to play or run Our Life: Beginnings & Always on the Steam Deck.
| Release Date | 11/16/2020 |
| Franchise | GB Patch Games |
| Developer | GB Patch Games |
| Publisher | GB Patch Games |
| Steam App Id | 1129190 |
7. 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 #7 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 49,308 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 48,214 positive reviews and 1,094 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 | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1669980 |
8. 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 #8 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 40,325 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 39,470 positive reviews and 855 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 |
9. 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 #9 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 44,490 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 43,449 positive reviews and 1,041 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 |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 1288310 |
10. The Walking Dead
A five-part adventure horror series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.
The Walking Dead has achieved a Player Score of 96, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Visual Novel games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 80,762 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 78,604 positive reviews and 2,158 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 Mac systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 4/24/2012 |
| Developer | Telltale Games |
| Publisher | Skybound Games |
| Steam App Id | 207610 |
More Visual Novel Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Visual Novel games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106 | 2/14/2020 | 96 | $18.19 | Steam Charts | |
| 64 | 5/11/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 1,297 | 10/22/2025 | 96 | $23.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 14 | 11/21/2024 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 33 | 6/18/2020 | 96 | $20.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 129 | 11/16/2020 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 134 | 4/20/2023 | 96 | $10.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 245 | 10/11/2013 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 48 | 2/3/2021 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 95 | 4/24/2012 | 96 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 513 | 4/9/2019 | 96 | $29.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 114 | 4/27/2024 | 96 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 242 | 7/21/2023 | 96 | $20.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,970 | 6/13/2020 | 96 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1,171 | 11/16/2025 | 96 | $8.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 68 | 11/23/2015 | 95 | $15.74 | Steam Charts | |
 | 105 | 11/10/2025 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 716 | 10/6/2017 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 73 | 6/21/2016 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 242 | 12/7/2023 | 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. (2026, October 4). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, October 4). Senren＊Banka on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 18). Helltaker on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, September 5). Dispatch on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, April 3). Shiina Taki's Decameron on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, September 7). ATRI -My Dear Moments- on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 13). Our Life: Beginnings & Always on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, July 11). Volcano Princess on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, June 14). The Wolf Among Us on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, September 29). Firework on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2026, May 18). The Walking Dead on Steam. Steam Store.