The Visual Novel Club

Hi everyone!~ Welcome to the blog!

Name: Kiko

Pronouns: She/They

This is a visual novel review blog, where I'll post my opinions and recommendations of different visual novel games that I play. Feel free to submit games you'd like reviewed in the ask box!

Some games I'll review are not appropriate for all audiences! Make sure to check their game pages before playing them, most of them will include an age or trigger warning list - play at your own risk.

That's about it, so I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings.

May fate always find you <3 ~

Creator: aine

Download Link: https://aiainaine.itch.io/keeping-you-close

Cost: Free

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Yandere

Dateables: N/A

Customisation Options: None

Playthrough Time: >30 minutes

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Keeping You Close is a flip on a trope I see a lot in yandere media - instead of the yandere locking the person they love up, the person they love locks the yandere up. This concept was so intriguing to me and playing through this I got so invested in uncovering the backstory of the player character and the yandere, and their history. The lore is hidden in small dialogue and wording choices in a way that I love.

The voice acting in this short game is phenomenal, I got literal chills whilst playing because of how raw and genuine the yandere sounded. I love the artstyle and the formatting of the game; I love it when renpy is used to make funky layouts and such. Overall, a very intriguing and entertaining game that I'd recommend to anyone who wants to see something different in the yandere genre.

Creator: 3005jin

Download Link: https://3005jin.itch.io/7-minutes-in-the-closet

Cost: Free

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English, Spanish, French, Portugese

Type of VN: Horror

Dateables: N/A

Customisation Options: Name

Playthrough Time: >15 minutes

Art: ⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

7 Minutes in the Closet is a short, story-packed thriller visual novel. The story is super imaginative, being based on the party game '7 minutes in heaven' but with a twist. I genuinely had chills by the end and it ended on a CRIMINAL cliffhanger but I'm super hyped to see if they expand it. The avaliable version was made for a game jam, and so I can understand the length.

The art in this game is minimal due to its length, but amazing. I love the artstyle and the design of the main character is great. No CGs yet, but it was fine without them due to the detailed emotions. The music was integrated into the ingame universe, and so it added an extra immersive touch when it stopped. Overall, a great game that I'm excited to see more of in the future.

Creator: Reidubu assisted by many others

Download Link: https://reidubu.itch.io/projectblue

Cost: Free

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Romance, Slice of Life

Dateables: 1, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name

Playthrough Time: 1-2 Hours

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Project Blue was such a referesher for me - as you might be able to see I've been playing a lot of super dark VNs recently, but this was the opposite. The love interest and story is so sweet, and the character development is so well. I played through both endings and had to take my headphones out while trying to get the bad ending because I couldn't stand hearing him sad! However, it's very relatable and I saw a lot of myself in the love interest and his situation.

The art is done really well and the CGs are beautiful, the game is super fun and it immerses you in the world so well. One thing I didn't like was how the text would take a while to appear when I had the speed up, but this is a minor gripe. Overall, it was an awesome playthrough and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking from something a bit shorter to play through that will still have the same emotional effect as a 3+ hour game.

Creator: roserot

Download Link: https://rosesrot.itch.io/killer-chat

Cost: Free with paid DLCs and extra content

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Romance, Thriller, Horror

Dateables: 4, male, female, nonbinary

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name, appearance

Playthrough Time: 2-3 hours

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I first played this game in 2024 while it was still not fully out yet and revisited it recently as I was reminded of it while scrolling on Pinterest. It was just as good as I remember, if not better. The love interests feel even more developed (or maybe it's just my imagination but still!!) and the story is just as good. The artstyle is so fun and so is the gameplay - it genuinely makes you feel stressed at times which is PERFECT.

Killer Chat tells a story with many different endings, each one quite difficult to get. As I said before, the gameplay is extremely unique compared to other visual novels, but you'll have to play it to get what I mean. Overall, the only thing I would be wary of is the content as it can get heavy at times considering it's all about dating serial killers. For me, I'm fine, but just keep it in mind yourself and know your limits. Definetely play through all the routes if you get a chance as each one is so different in terms of mechanics and choices. 10/10 game all round.

Creator: Rainch

Download Link: https://rainch.itch.io/love-me-dearly

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Yandere, Thriller, Horror

Dateables: 1-2, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name

Playthrough Time: 30 min - 1 hour

Art: ⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This visual novel was such an awesome journey - it absolutely fulfilled its purpose of hoping to 'provide a romance game experience that you never had before'. The multiple plot twists hit me like truck and the puzzles were genuinely difficult ToT - I spent AGES trying to get one of the codes needed to unlock an ending. It was ridiculously fun trying everything and then FINALLY understanding it.

The art style wasn't my favourite but it was still super cool - it fit the vibe really well of the game. I really appreciated the little details in the story as well - it made the world feel properly fleshed out and real. I won't reveal too much, but the 'true ending' (ending 4) shocked me so much - probably one of the best plot twists I've seen in a visual novel. Check it out on itch.io if you're looking for an unpredicatble, complex story with an ending you will not expect.

Creator: rad1kewl

Download Link: https://rad1kewl.itch.io/yanchat

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Yandere, Horror

Dateables: 2, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name

Playthrough Time: 30 min - 1 hour

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This visual novel broke the fourth wall in the best way I've seen since DDLC - be prepared for some characters with way too much knowledge about the world around them. The general art aesthetic, the premise, and the unreliable narrator?? AMAZING. Currently only 2 dateables routes are out, and it doesn't seem like it's getting updated anytime soon ToT but they were both awesome and unique.

The story was definetely dark but intriguing in a way that made you want to play it anyway. There are some puzzles in the game, but it gives you just enough clues to figure it out without it feeling easy. I won't spoil too much but yanchat takes the gameplay mechanics of DDLC and amplifies them a ton. Such a good execution of an awesome concept.

Creator: lingliyum

Download Link: https://linglyum.itch.io/loving-decays

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Yandere, Romance, Mystery, Horror

Dateables: 1, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name

Playthrough Time: 2 - 3 hours

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was the best visual novel I have played in a while. The premise is awesome and the characters feel fleshed out and unique, including the main character and love interest. They have a distinct way of speaking, having unique jobs and interests and overall make compelling characters. The progression and symbolism of the heart's undertaker flower was incredible and every playthrough trying to get other endings felt different.

The yandere love interest wasn't predictable at all, making the plot twists and story even more interesting. I would absolutely recommend playing this game if you like yanderes, or just romance games in general. Awesome experience, I wish I could play it for the first time again.

Creator: Chattercap

Download Link: https://chattercap.itch.io/mindmindmind

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English, Spanish, Portugese, Russian

Type of VN: Yandere, Mental Health

Dateables: 2, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name

Playthrough Time: 30 mins - 1 hour

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

MindMindMind was the best representation of living with anxiety in a video game that I have seen in a long time. The personification of such a thing as a love interest was such an awesome and well executed idea in this game! I really loved how you truly had to push against your own thoughts in order to get the 'good' ending - it's both realistic and a cool gameplay mechanic.

The game is fully out, as far as I'm aware, and I would absolutely recommend giving it a play. It is an excellent look into how people with anxiety experience relationships and everyday life. The yandere elements were awesome and quite realistic - a really cool game with a strong message.

Creator: ech0bat

Download Link: https://echo0bat.itch.io/hiwhi

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Yandere, Mild Horror

Dateables: 1, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, name

Playthrough Time: 30 mins - 1 hour

Art: ⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Home is Where He Is is one of those games that you feel a bit unsure of at first, but once you start playing it you love it. The concept is super unique (who knew that mould could be cool) and the art is really well done. The background art has perfectly captured the unsettling vibe that the game should bring to the player - it even hurt my eyes a little to look at for too long!

Currently it's a bit short, however, more days are coming and I'm super excited. The love interest is very different to your typical yandere - keep your eyes on this game as it gets more popular - I know it will. I'll definetely revisit it once the full game is out.

Creator: ComfortKuma Studios

Download Link: https://comfortkuma.itch.io/knee-deep

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English

Type of VN: Romance, Yandere

Dateables: 3, male

Customisation Options: Pronouns, appearance, name

Playthrough Time: 1 hour - 1 hour 30 mins

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Knee Deep was an absolute journey! I'd downloaded it ages ago (not that long ago but it feels like it) and never got around to playing it - and when I did it was awesome. The love interests' positions in your life feel believable in a college setting, making the game all the more immersive. The pastel art style contrasting with the dark yandere themes was perfect, awesome art direction. All 3 love interests are different in their own unique ways, making each cliffhanger ending feel different.

Without spoiling too much, the game uses a unique in-universe mechanic to show you how each love interests' feelings are progressing. One of the endings made me crack up so hard - a well needed spot of humor in the serious nature of the game. Although only a demo is out now, I would absolutely recommend playing this if you're looking for a more modern yandere game.

Creator: Miloff, assisted by AveDementiaDownload Link: https://miloff.itch.io/dont-eat-the-cashier

Cost: Free!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Languages: English, Russian, Chinese

Type of VN: Romance, Mild Horror

Dateables: 4, male/nongendered

Customisation Options: Pronouns, body type, name

Playthrough Time: 30 mins - 1 hour

Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Music: ⭐⭐⭐

Storyline: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was an awesome visual novel! I downloaded it from itch.io off a whim, but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. All 3 (4?) love interests were super compelling and the gameplay was awesome in that each route has different angles you have to take to get the good ending - the same strategy you use to romance one will differ from the others. Exhaust all the dialogue options and learn the most you can about these monsters - I promise you it's worth it.

I won't spoil much but this game is absolutely RICH with lore and references. I would absolutely recommend playing this game even if you aren't into monsters just for the jokes super well written dialogue. Check it out on itch.io!