CLANNAD
C
lannad is the visual novel
that originated many of
the genre’s conventions
- a painfully average guy
meets a number of cute girls and
slowly gains their trust while he helps
out at his high school’s drama club.
Its central romance features multiple
branching pathways and doesn’t shy
away from bad outcomes.
Clannad’s a real tear-jerker for many
people, since it focuses on a
terminally ill girl who, thanks to you,
finds joy in life once more.
A
n ambitiousefforttoplaywiththeclichésof
datingsims,DokiDokiLiteratureClub
attemptstocriticallyexaminetheroleofthe
player.Thepsychologicalhorrorelementstake
thingstoofar,resultingina gamethat’soverlycrass.While
innovative,DDLCfailstohandlesubjectssuchasmental
healthwiththenecessarycare.Needlesslylabouringthe
pointofhowit’sdifferent,it soonbecomesa grind.
DOKI DOKI
LITERATURE CLUB
1
LEARN SOME TERMS
Not every visual novel is Japanese, but
many use genre terms to describe their
content. Being able to tell “nakige” from
“otome” may help save time on the hunt
for your next game.
TOP TIPS
How to become an avid fan
VA-11 HALL-A
If you just want to relax and have engaging conversations,
try bartending sim Va-11 Hall-A. It’s set in a cyberpunk world
that features humanoid dogs and androids, but the topics
your guests discuss pertain to real issues of today. The
dialogue feels natural – your character Jill is a bartender
who treats her patrons as her equals, whoever they are. And
the drink mixing is a welcome diversion from reading.
TIRED OF SCHOOL?
LGBTQ+FRIENDLY
PURIST’S CHOICE 2
EMBRACE ALL THE EMOTIONS
What often makes visual novels so
appealing are the unforeseeable turns their
plots can take. Their habit to go for
maximum drama or romance can either be
just what you need or severely exhaust you.
3
GET USED TO WAITING
Once thoroughly enamoured you may
get to the point where you actively dive into
the world of fan translations, or simply wait
a long time to ever see a western release of
that interesting visual novel.
AVOID THIS
BUTTERFLYSOUP
Here you’re not a guy trying to
wheedle his way in with the ladies.
Butterfly Soup focuses on two girls
falling in love as they spend their days
with their friends. Great writing offers
believable relationships and fully
realised characters, who you learn a lot
about by taking control of different
characters throughout.
EXTRA LIFE
NOW PLAYING I UPDATE I MOD SPOTLIGHT I GUIDE (^) I HOW TO I DIARY I REINSTALL I M U S T P L A Y