Best PS4 Visual Novels – Rice Recommends
The PS4’s seen a steady increase in visual novels recently, and is becoming a good system for editions collecting together multiple entries in a series in particular. Here’s a look at 7 of the best PS4 visual novels available right now!
Steins;Gate Elite
Steins;Gate Elite provides a fresh approach to the original Steins;Gate featuring footage from White Fox’s excellent anime adaptation. With brand new anime footage covering routes not previously included in the anime, Steins;Gate Elite is a wonderful rendition of Steins;Gate‘s exciting time-travel story with something new to offer for both fans of the anime and the original visual novel. This versions includes Linear Bounded Phenogram too!
Get it here (UK, US)! Read our review here.
Danganronpa Trilogy
With the release of the wonderful Danganronpa V3 since the first two Danganronpa games were ported over, the Danganronpa Trilogy takes another stab at the series on PS4 by bringing all 3 numbered Danganronpa titles together in one place. Danganronpa takes quirky characters, dark humour, and pulse-racing trial-based gameplay and combines them with a visual novel style mystery story to create a game unlike any other, and it’s a strong, successful formula across all 3 titles included in the Danganronpa Trilogy. This is a great way to open yourself up to Danganronpa‘s charms and see what all the fuss is about.
Get it here (UK, US)! Read our Danganronpa 1/2 Reload review here or our Danganronpa V3 review here.
Steins;Gate 0
Branching off from one of the endings in the first Steins;Gate, Steins;Gate 0 is an emotional new adventure with the same lovable cast and plenty of time line shenanigans and sci-fi flavour. We don’t want to go into too much detail, seeing as the game’s built on a spoiler, but it’s a well-written and beautifully presented must-have for fans of the first Steins;Gate.
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
It’s visual novel meets escape room with the first two games in the fantastic Zero Escape trilogy – 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors and Virtue’s Last Reward – side-by-side on PS4 in this HD bundle. The Nonary Games is so much more than “just a visual novel”, with plenty of puzzles to solve in addition to the thought-provoking and dramatic narrative. This intense double-bill is well worth a look for anyone trying to break in to the visual novel genre.
Get it here (UK, US)! Read our review here.
The Silver Case
This faithful remaster saw Suda 51’s chilling mystery visual novel release in English for the first time since the game originally released almost 2 decades ago. Its gripping story is divided into separate cases, each with their own mysteries to solve, and presented in a sleek comic-book style. Experience a piece of gaming history with this simplistic yet effective blend of crime and sci-fi.
Get it here (UK, US)! Read our review here.
Code: Realize ~Bouquet of Rainbows~
It’s pretty rare for otome games to come to PS4, but this collection brings over both the initial game Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~ and its first fandisc, Future Blessings, in one neat package. Guardian of Rebirth is an excellent visual novel packed with action and romance in a gorgeous Steampunk setting. Then, in Future Blessings, you can enjoy further romantic scenes between the protagonist and her various suitors from the first game as well as experience brand new routes that bring dramatic changes to the story. This neat double-pack is a great place to start for anyone looking to get into otome games as well as for established fans of them.
Punch Line
From the writer of the Zero Escape games comes Punch Line, a spectacularly crazy, tongue-in-cheek game based on the anime of the same name. The fate of the world is on the line and a glimpse of panties could spell disaster for everyone. Navigate your way through the dorms as a ghost as you try to prevent catastrophe and avoid the risqué temptations of the other residents. Despite its colourful charm and central gimmick, Punch Line packs a strong and occasionally hard-hitting story, but it isn’t afraid to have a little fun along the way!
Worldend Syndrome
If you’re looking for a romantic horror, Worldend Syndrome is the choice for you. There’s plenty to do including exploring, interacting with residents, and investigating local legends to uncover the secrets at play. The artwork is done by Yuki Kato, lead artist behind BlazBlue, and there’s all round super high quality production values.
Raging Loop
Raging Loop is a visual novel set in a cursed settlement in the Japanese forest where godlike animal creatures possess the inhabitants, leading to deadly consequences. As well as intriguing story, you’ll get a lot of value out of the game thanks to its Revelation Mode which you unlock at the end of the story. This mode lets you replay the story in a new light by revealing the inner thoughts of the characters and give you more insight about what they have planned.
So those are our picks for the best PS4 visual novels! Want ideas on something else? Check out our other recommendations!
- AeternoBlade II Out now on Switch and PS4 - October 11, 2019
- Code: Realize Future Blessings Comes to Switch Spring 2020 - October 3, 2019
- Code Vein Out Now, Launch Trailer Released - September 27, 2019
