visual novels
Illustrated story games
Visual novels are a genre of video games that emphasize narrative over gameplay, presenting stories primarily through text, static character artwork, and backgrounds.
Players typically make choices at key points that branch the plot toward different endings.
The form originated in Japan, where it remains especially popular.
I spent all weekend playing a visual novel with twelve possible endings.
Dating sims and mystery games often use the visual novel format.
Recounting events aloud
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- protagonistStory's central figure
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
routes · endings · choices · romance · drama · mystery · tragedy · slice-of-life
Tiny supernatural beings
- backgroundsWhat lies behind foregrounds
- character designVisual development of personas
- illustrationPicture explaining something
- artworkVisual creative production
gallery · color palette · digital painting · concept art · portrait · expression · pose · lighting
Game about pursuing relationships
- love interestRomantic focus of a story
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- routePath from A to B
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
affection · heartbreak · harem · relationship · courtship · rivals · jealousy · first meeting
Interpreting written text
- clickingMaking short sharp sounds
- savingReserving for future use
- loadingAdding weight or cargo
- skipTo deliberately exclude
backlog · flowchart · flags · triggers · walkthroughs · completionism · replaying · unlocking
Japanese comic medium
- otakuObsessive anime enthusiast
- kawaiiJapanese term for adorable
- shoujoManga targeting young women
- shounenYouth-oriented Japanese media
yandere · chibi · Japanese · localization
Written words for performance
- voice actingUnseen performer's vocal art
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- sound effectsArtificial noises for media
- studioCreative professional's workspace
developer · publisher · localization · steam · engine · assets · beta testing
storytelling
Recounting events aloud
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- protagonistStory's central figure
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
branching · routes · endings · choices · romance · drama · mystery · tragedy · slice-of-life · climax
sprites
Tiny supernatural beings
- backgroundsWhat lies behind foregrounds
- character designVisual development of personas
- illustrationPicture explaining something
artwork · gallery · color palette · digital painting · concept art · portrait · expression · pose · lighting · aesthetics
dating sim
Game about pursuing relationships
- love interestRomantic focus of a story
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- routePath from A to B
confession · affection · heartbreak · harem · relationship · courtship · rivals · jealousy · first meeting · good ending
reading
Interpreting written text
skip · backlog · flowchart · flags · triggers · walkthroughs · completionism · replaying · unlocking · quick save
manga
Japanese comic medium
shounen · yandere · chibi · Japanese · localization
script
Written words for performance
- voice actingUnseen performer's vocal art
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- sound effectsArtificial noises for media
studio · developer · publisher · localization · steam · engine · assets · beta testing
- digital mediawebsites, films, ebook, content creation, movies
- contemporary storytellingpodcasts, streaming series, video games, fan fiction, interactive fiction
- digital contentfiles, blog posts, data, digital music, videos
- Japanese GamesFinal Fantasy, Pokemon, Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear
- Asian mediamanga, manhua, webtoons, Times of India, Japanese literature
- dialogue-drivenadventure games, talk shows, interviews, debates, courtroom dramas
visual novelsfirst-person shooters
Gun games, your perspective
fighting games · rhythm games · platformers · arcade games · beat 'em ups
visual novelssandbox games
Unstructured interactive entertainment
puzzle games · idle games · endless runners · party games · fighting games
visual novelsfilms
Projected motion pictures
audiobooks · movies · radio dramas · silent films · text adventures
novel, visual, novelty, novelist, novels, visualize, visualization, novella, novelists