The Nintendo Switch’s portability makes it a great system for playing a wide variety of genres, and while visual novels can be perfectly enjoyed on your TV, there’s something about playing them on a handheld that just feels ‘right’. Since launch, the console has garnered some great examples of the genre, and the Switch’s catalog of great visual novels is constantly growing. Everyone loves a good book, right?
We’ve rounded up a selection of the best visual novels on Switch for you to read. These are our personal picks, so whether the games below are complete visual newcomers, you’re dipping your toe into the genre pool for the second or third time, or you regularly peruse visual novels like Matchsticks, there’s sure to be something for everyone below. You’ll also find the odd crossover puzzle/adventure game element in some of the titles below. Be sure to check out our pick of the best point-and-click games on Switch if your VN likes the adventurous side.
So let’s pull up a nice comfy chair, make sure your Switch is fully charged, and check out – in no particular order – the best visual novels on the Switch.
A straight-out-of-left-field Nintendo release, which the company describes as a ‘deep cut’ from its archives. All of the NES originals (and one SNES re-release) were Japan-only, and even these remasters/remakes only feature Japanese voice acting with localized subtitles. Given the settings and stories, however, it species it works, and they are beautifully animated and atmospheric experiences. We heartily recommend both titles; the bundle is mandatory in Europe, and there is a discount for buying both individual downloads in North America.
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![Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir and the Girl Behind (Set) [Download Code - UK/EU]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==)
Dream dad puts you in the shoes of a single parent who moves to a new area incredibly filled with beautiful and sexy sensitive fathers. It is a game that gives a pleasant feeling, looking at it Weaver of dreams-esque theme aligned with its message of acceptance and general excellence towards each other. Head to concerts and coffee shops with your newfound friends and talk about the trials of raising kids on your own, keeping your finger on the pulse of modern culture as a cool dad, and — maybe — find something more. Here, the story is the real core, with textured characters dealing with the multitude of situations that life throws at them. It’s a beautifully observed, difficult and hilarious visual novel with fun little mini-games that are definitely worth checking out.
It’s a rare game that can start off tense and then continuously raise the mood to almost unbearable levels until the final moments of the final chapter—and even rarer that has enough alternate characters, dialogue, and endings to make it worth playing more than once—but Death Mark succeeds where really counts. There’s plenty on offer here for both horror fans and those looking for a mystery that requires more than collecting trinkets and patiently waiting for your character to officially notice something before you can move on.
If you’re a fan of this, you should also check out Spirit Hunter: NG, the sequel.
Some chats with taxi drivers can be a real test of your patience — luckily, the conversations you’ll start Neo cabin will introduce you to an interesting cyberpunk story that deals with contemporary issues with characters that feel authentic and interactions that feel meaningful. It may not be the most technologically advanced title, but Neo Cab takes you on one hell of a journey.
STEINS; GATE 0 is a sequel to STEINS; GATE Elite, a critically acclaimed visual novel (and probably the best place to start if you want to jump on the STEINS;GATE train — we weren’t able to review that novel when it was released, though). This sequel brings an intriguing time travel plot and fine character writing worthy of its predecessor, and is definitely worth watching. And if you’re looking to play a dating sim in the STEINS:GATE universe, you might enjoy it too Hug my dear.
With its unique premise and interesting take on a fantasy world (think Netflix’s Brightbut actually good) A conversation over coffee serves a refreshing brew of angst, introspection and coffee beans. Its handcrafted story mode is a little too short for our taste, but with Endless mode you’ll have a lot of fun getting in touch with your inner barista.
The original Ace Attorney has been thriving for years, though you might not realize it thanks to how well it holds up. Sure, it’s been ported many times and the move to the Nintendo DS certainly helped shake off the retro cobwebs, but as a piece of interactive history, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is as utterly addictive and truly rewarding as it was at the turn of the millennium. Whether you’re new to the world of virtual defense law or a veteran attorney, Phoenix Wright’s first adventures are still a good set of cases to take on.
Part visual novel, part puzzle adventure, AI: The Dream Files it starts off slow, but once you get through a few of his delightfully surreal Somnium dreams and reach an ending or two, going back through the flow chart and going in different directions, it becomes engaging and suspenseful stuff. Fans Zero Escape games will feel right at home here, and director Kotaro Uchikoshi’s talent for putting the player in ever-unsettling circumstances ensures that everything takes off in a very satisfying way as you work your way through the many threads of the looping central mystery towards different endings.
And, if you like the first game, AI: Dream Files – Nirvana Initiative makes for one of the best murder mystery games we’ve ever played. It’s a must-have sequel with the same outstanding writing and characters from the first game.
The writing is central to any visual novel, and as long as the reader has the patience and attention span to contend with the fairly steady pace of the entire experience—not to mention its considerable length, clocking in at 15-20 hours or more, depending on one’s personal reading speed— Seabed it certainly delivers on that front, providing a compelling story that sparks the imagination and serves as a fascinating exploration of loss, grief, and the mental health issues that surround such things. It’s a beautiful, emotional piece of digital literature that won’t be to everyone’s taste, but go in with the right expectations and there’s a true masterpiece of the visual novel medium waiting to be enjoyed.
End of the world syndrome it has everything you’d expect from a sweeter entry into the visual novel genre, but still manages to add depth to characters you might have assumed were only there to look fabulous in bikinis. It offers a lot of replayability, but also provides a satisfying ending if you’re more of a one-and-done kind of person. If you’re after a well-crafted visual novel that contains a little more than the standard anime lady tropes (but also the standard anime lady tropes), this is a good example with a pleasantly substantial and exciting story to boot.
