this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2025
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Use Lutris and install all required languages, fonts, and regions through winetricks. I had it set up once, I gotta do it again at some point.
There's an article out there in the wild somewhere. Just search for "how to play visual novels in Lutris". Iirc, I think GE Wine runs VNs better than proton. I enjoy psychological horror VNs and busted ass getting them to work, but they do work and well once you have it set up.
Use one prefix for all your Japanese games so that you don't have to do it every time. Then just select that prefix any time you're installing or playing a VN/Japanese game. You can change region locale through Lutris configuration without the need for a third party app, too.
A long looong time ago, my gf found one called Saya no Uta. It has H-Scenes (only a few I think), but its pretty well written. I wasn't as big on it as she was, but that started my adventure down dark mystery/psychological horror VN. To this day its her favorite, though.
I can't remember everything I played and enjoyed (I wish I could but its so long ago now). I actually had to search for my favorite one because I constantly forget it. Its more dark mystery psychological with only a small amount of horror scenes, but its called DIVI-DEAD.
Again, it has H-Scenes, but thats not the sole premise. There are so many clues and endings. It has a college campus map, so being in certain places at certain times changes everything. I believe you get a time limit of like... 1 in game week to get the best ending? It goes off the rails a bit here and there, but I have fond, albeit blurry memories of it. It feels so dim and unsettling for such an old game. So good.
I've also seen that CHAOS;HEAD has good reviews, but I don't know much about it- only that I've seen the name before and I think it got an anime a long time ago. I'll keep looking and trying to remember more.
Actually just remembered one. Its called Another. It had a fairly popular anime release, but if you haven't seen it I recommend that one as well. And, of course, there's the well known Doki-Doki Literature Club.
Got these written down in my Obsidian vault (alongside DIVI-DEAD, because I'll be damned if I forget that one again). Interaction is minor. I don't really play VN to interact with anything, but its cool if there's some sort of mechanic.
For example, Kamidori Alchemy Meister actually has fairly compelling adventure, party building, monster catching, shop building, crafting, and shop sales mechanics (much like Moonlighter shop and sales mechanic). Its a huge game with a ton of characters, but still advertises as a VN.
For me, I don't need all that as long as there's a compelling story. I know some VN out there literally don't have choices and just play as... well, as visual novels, lol. Thank you for the list. Pumpkin Eater actually stands out the most to me. It seems reminiscent of analog horror done in a VN watercolor. I like the aesthetic and it already feels unsettling.
If you want some non-VN psychological horrors, my top two are Fran Bow and Sally Face. Sally Face is incredibly good, but Fran Bow is a very VERY close second. They're more point and click puzzlers, but that's another favorite genre of mine.