The 10 Best Japanese Visual Novel Games on the Switch

The nice thing about video gaming is that no matter what kind of mood you’re in, there’s probably a genre for that. Visual novels are great if you’re just looking to relax with a good story. These days you have a lot of superb options to scratch that itch, with a wide array of themes, settings, and gameplay twists. If you’re after the best Japanese visual novel games on the Switch, we’ve got a list for you. Did we miss your favorite? Be sure to share it in the comments below!

The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition

The House in Fata Morgana often makes lists of the best Japanese visual novel games, and it’s not hard to see why. Developed by Novectacle, this time-spanning adventure spins a narrative that draws you in almost immediately and keeps you invested. A spirit must explore the past of a mysterious mansion in order to recover its memories and find out what happened to the occupants. It is accompanied in this journey by a maid who seems to have a few secrets of her own. The plot is incredible, and the writing is top-shelf. A true must-have in the genre.

Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-

The first of a two-part remake of TYPE-MOON’s classic, Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon- adapts two of the routes from the original game. After an accident that nearly kills him, young Shiki Tohno gains the ability to see death lines. This power proves overwhelming, and Shiki is sent off to live in the countryside with his relatives. He returns many years later, only to be thrown into a wild series of events after a string of murders. While the story itself is intriguing, Tsukihime‘s real strengths come from how it builds its setting and characters.

AI: The Somnium Files

This one comes from Kotaro Uchikoshi, the creator of the Zero Escape series. It’s also not a pure visual novel, with some investigation segments that break from the usual framework of the genre. You play as a detective named Kaname Dato who is called in on a murder case in a near-future version of Tokyo. You’re no normal detective, since you can use a special machine to dive into people’s memories and dig up evidence. While not every aspect of AI: The Somnium Files clicks, there’s an excellent adventure in here for mystery buffs.

Raging Loop

The “Werewolf Game” trend may have died down a little, but Raging Loop‘s take on the concept remains fascinating. A man named Haruaki Fusashi crashes his bike in the mountains and ends up in a small village named Yasumizu. It turns out he’s just in time to join in the Feast of the Yomi-Purge, where some villagers become wolves and have to kill the others. If this isn’t weird enough, Haruaki keeps looping back in time. He’ll have to use this ability to figure out what’s going on and how to finally escape from this bizarre situation. A thrilling story that will keep you on edge all the way to the end, Raging Loop is one of the best Japanese visual novel games on the Switch.

Spirit Hunter: NG

The entire Spirit Hunter series is worth checking out, but on Switch you’ll have to start with Spirit Hunter: NG. This is another visual novel that takes some gameplay liberties at times, greatly adding to the tension of the story. Set in Tokyo, the plot follows a man who is looking for his missing sister in a world of supernatural nightmares. You won’t be able to do it alone, but trustworthy allies are few and far between in this world. The horror elements elevate the overall story, granting this particular visual novel a flavor all its own.

Jack Jeanne

Jack Jeanne adds some rhythm game and simulation elements to its visual novel storytelling, but they fit the theme of the story perfectly. In this otome game you play as Kisa Tachibana, a woman who poses as a man in order to enter the male-only drama school her missing older brother attended. You’ll have to choose how Tachibana spends her limited time each day. Your choices in how often you attend classes, spend time with other students, or practice your performances will determine the end result of your efforts. The gameplay alone is unique and creative enough to make Jack Jeanne noteworthy, and the characters and strong writing push it even higher.

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo

This is another one of those Square Enix releases from the last few years that seem to have slipped under the radar. Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is set in 1980s Tokyo and sees you investigating the titular urban legends as they wreak havoc in the city. People are being cursed, and you’ll have to investigate each case to figure out how and why this has happened. Do your job well and you might even find a solution to help the afflicted rid themselves of this supernatural problem. An unexpected but very intriguing release from Square Enix.

Steins;Gate Elite

It would be hard to make a list of the best Japanese visual novels without including Steins;Gate in some capacity. Okabe Rintaro is an ordinary university student with delusions of grandeur, tinkering away on inventions with his friends at his so-called Future Gadget Laboratory. When one of his inventions ends up working beyond his wildest dreams, it seems as though all of his ambitions will come true. Unfortunately, he soon learns that no good deed goes unpunished. An excellent, twisty story with highly memorable characters, and easily one of the best Japanese visual novel games on Switch.

Gnosia

Gnosia is a very creative take on the visual novel genre, as it weaves in RNG elements to make each loop different in unpredictable ways. You’re onboard a ship with other refugees from a planet that has been consumed by something called Gnosia. When infected with Gnosia, organisms will be filled with murderous intent and an obsession with a god named Gnos. Unfortunately for you, one or more of your shipmates is infected. Even you might be infected! With each loop, you’ll gain more clues towards finding a real solution. There isn’t much out there like this one.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles

The Ace Attorney games are tough ones to categorize, but I think at the very least that they’re visual novel-adjacent enough to not be totally out of place on a list like this. With that dealt with, there are a lot of good entry points to this series. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is an excellent, largely self-contained pair of games that marries the established Ace Attorney formula to a fresh setting. Plus, it has Herlock Sholmes. Everyone loves that guy. The over-the-top characters are a highlight of this series, along with its ability to generate some real drama amidst the absurdity.