Best Of: Dating Sims, Visual Novels, Text Adventures & Point N Clicks
The opposite end of the scale to heavily mechanics based games with little to no story. This collection of games vary between a sprinkle of mechanical management to purely text based choices, which forefronts the narrative through line of each game even more - meaning that every single one of these games is worth it for the words alone. Whether you’re looking to date a vampire, uncover a mystery or engage with the very real horrors the people of Ukraine are facing right now, you’re in the right place.
Many of the games from Tell Me A Story category could be here as well, which you should check out here.
NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD
An incredibly dark look at what the unabated culture of streaming can do to the mental health of the person streaming. You’re tasked with helping a young streamer attempt to reach her unrealistic goals and expectations, in a horrific reflection of an extremely online life.
Ukraine War Stories
Free
A very sobering visual novel with a collection of stories from people suffering at the forefront of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, based on real events and eyewitness accounts. A free game from the minds behind the Strategic Mind games to try and help spread the stories of horror from the illegal invasion.
First Bite
Spend a night with 3 vampires in this unabashedly sexy dark comedy VN. A great LBGTQ+ friendly game that is just as lustful as it is deadly, with fantastic writing to back it up. What did you THINK is going to happen around 3 creatures of the night??
Mr. Rainer's Solve-It Service
A somewhat inscrutable, confounding Twine based story with a ton of great artwork and some mini games sprinkled in, play as a "Solver with an empty stomach in a world without hunger”.
Perfect Tides
A point and click adventure set on the cusp of the new millennium, follow the misadventures of a young internet obsessed writer heavily concerned with the angst of becoming a teen.
Who's Lila?
Has demo
A detective adventure with a truly novel mechanical hook: control your character’s face Super Mario 64 style to determine how other characters react to you. Absolutely fascinating and extremely clever.
Sand Castle
A short and inexpensive VN that sticks to a small scope in order to tell a touching, personal story.
亿万恋人 Billionaire Lovers (ENG Translation)
Another inexpensive VN, this one hitting Doki Doki Literature Club notes. Your estranged uncle gives you $100 million, and all of a sudden 4 possible love interests enter your life! Has been out for a while, with an English translation patch finally hitting this year.
Best Month Ever!
Embark on “the road trip of a lifetime” in this choice based point and click adventure. A mother imparts hard life lessons to her black son in the deep south USA during the 60s.
Will Die Alone
Reminiscent of the ideas behind Remember Me’s memory manipulation, this more minimalist game has you deleting memories from people who wish to forget, shaping their lives and futures by proxy. Fascinating ideas and interesting philosophical conundrums abound.
Yoko Redux: Dreams of a Blue Planet
A point and click cybernoir adventure with a striking art style and fascinating world. Discover the secrets behind the 3 protagonists as you make your way through 7 chapters.
The Dark Egg
Free
Text based RPG which sees you explore an island, solve puzzles and get into fights on your way to finding the Dark Egg. It’s kind of in early access without being in early access, with 3 areas complete and more to come.
Blood Nova
A classic point and click adventure about a princess about to inherit the throne of a galactic empire. Absolutely gorgeous art style with enamouring deep lore at your fingertips.