visual novel
Interactive fiction genre
A visual novel is a video game genre originating in Japan that tells stories primarily through text, static character artwork, and background images, with minimal gameplay beyond making choices that affect the narrative.
Players read dialogue and narration while viewing anime-style illustrations: I spent the weekend playing a visual novel about high school romance.
The genre ranges from lighthearted dating simulations to serious literary fiction.
Storyline or land parcel
- protagonistStory's central figure
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
- routesPaths for travel
heroine · flags · choices · scene · chapter · prologue · epilogue · backstory
Something unexplained or unknown
Tiny supernatural beings
- backgroundsWhat lies behind foregrounds
- illustrationPicture explaining something
- expressionsOutward manifestations of feeling
- posesHeld body positions
GUI · gallery · coloring · aesthetics · portrait · composition · rendering · chibi
Enduring appeal for repetition
- backlogAccumulated unfinished work
- flowchartDiagram showing workflow steps
- unlockablesContent earned through play
- completionistOne who finishes everything
Music accompanying visual media
- localizationAdapting for specific markets
- translationConverting between languages
- engineMachine producing motion
- scriptWritten words for performance
Japanese comic medium
- shoujoManga targeting young women
- kawaiiJapanese term for adorable
- mechaPiloted giant robot fiction
- fantasyImaginative mental wandering
gothic · steampunk · sci-fi · historical · slice-of-life
Enthusiast community collectively
- recommendationsProposed courses of action
- playthroughFull game completion
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- discussionExchange of ideas
reviews · cosplay · merchandise · conventions · waifu
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- protagonistStory's central figure
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
routes · heroine · flags · choices · scene · chapter · prologue · epilogue · backstory · twist
mystery
Something unexplained or unknown
fantasy · science-fiction · action · comedy · psychological
sprites
Tiny supernatural beings
- backgroundsWhat lies behind foregrounds
- illustrationPicture explaining something
- expressionsOutward manifestations of feeling
poses · GUI · gallery · coloring · aesthetics · portrait · composition · rendering · chibi
replayability
Enduring appeal for repetition
- backlogAccumulated unfinished work
- flowchartDiagram showing workflow steps
- unlockablesContent earned through play
soundtrack
Music accompanying visual media
- localizationAdapting for specific markets
- translationConverting between languages
- engineMachine producing motion
script · writing · release · patch · studio · developer · publisher
manga
Japanese comic medium
fantasy · gothic · steampunk · sci-fi · historical · slice-of-life
fandom
Enthusiast community collectively
- recommendationsProposed courses of action
- playthroughFull game completion
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
discussion · reviews · cosplay · merchandise · conventions · waifu
- Japanese GamesFinal Fantasy, Pokemon, Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear
- visual storytellingcomic strip, comic book, manga, picture book, storyboard
- game narrativestory, narrative, plot, storyline, dialogue tree
- otome gamesfemale protagonist, heroine, dating sim, good ending, bad ending
- textplain text, plaintext, text file, text editor, words
- video gamesvideo games, gameplay, Fortnite, mobile game, arcade
visual novelfirst-person shooter
Combat game, protagonist's viewpoint
fighting game · beat 'em up · bullet hell · battle royale · rhythm game
visual novelpuzzle game
Challenge requiring logical thinking
match-three game · endless runner · simulation game · idle game · party game
novel, vision, visible, visual, invisible, visionary, novelty, visualize, visions