In a community that is constantly changing and chasing the new, it is exciting to see visual novels fighting for their place in the ranks with strong narratives and poignant conversations.
At first blush, it appears that visual novels have had a bad reputation in the gaming community. With increasingly complex game narratives, better graphics, faster engines, and intriguing mechanics, critics of visual novels suggest that the formulaic genre should not be classified as a video game since the genre has not adapted with modern technology. A quick web search shows a bevy of contention regarding visual novels, with gamers and game blogs alike asking the question, “should visual novels be considered video games?”. Typically rendered in 2D format, with dialogue options and limited movement (if any), visual novels present a quandary to the gaming community. Because the verdict is widely disputed, it is not enough to examine the functions of visual novels in respect to video games (i.e. mechanics, design scheme, playability, etc.). Because this criteria is rather ambiguous, it is necessary to confront and dissect the rise of visual novel style games in the gaming community, their popularity amongst players, and their overall value as a genre of video games.
Although visual novels have been around since the 1990s, the format has done little to evolve since its conception. Despite this, the gaming community has seen the success of several visual novels style games over the last decade. One developer in particular, Telltale Games, has released a number of visual novel style games that have swept the gaming community. Their most popular games typically feature storylines that augment other video game titles (Tales of the Borderlands comes to mind), or adapt stories from other forms of media into a playable space (Batman, The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, etc.). This format has been popular among users; Telltale’s breakout game, The Walking Dead, has “overwhelmingly positive” reviews on Steam, an 82 rating from metacritic, and has won multiple awards, including two BAFTAs. Some fans might argue that Telltale’s format does not present as a true visual novel, rather, the game mixes the genres of visual novel and adventure game for increased playability. This is somewhat true—characters in Telltale games are able to move around and interact with objects, much like in an adventure game. However, the influence of visual novels on Telltale narratives is undeniable. Visual novels are known for 2D graphics, dialogue choices, and branching storylines, and Telltale makes repeated use of these tropes within their games.
Although Telltale strays from the traditional format of visual novels, it would be a bit trite to argue that gamers flock to the games for anything but the visual novel aspect. Suggesting that the characters’ movement or clunky quicktime events are more intriguing than the visual novel facets of the game is unbelievable at best. Telltale’s popularity stems from their ability to weave a narrative through dialogue and action choices, and their trademark animation style is reminiscent of visual novels of the past. In addition, Telltale uses the visual novel model of multiple outcomes based on dialogue options. While the quick time events do affect the gameplay, it is ultimately the dialogue decisions that lead the player to certain endings. Something that is unique to Telltale is the narrative consistency which they are able to sustain through episodes and seasons—choices made throughout the game, from season 1, episode one, to the final episode of the game, are reflected throughout the narrative. It is relatively uncommon for additions to the original game to inhabit such continuity. The storytelling in Telltale’s games is strong, and the two BAFTAs won by The Walking Dead (Games award for story, Games award for mobile and handheld) suggest that the visual novel component of the game is enthralling and keeps gamers coming back for more.
While Telltale’s narratives are influenced by visual novels, another popular game released in the past year proves that the true visual novel is far from dead. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, produced by Youtube stars the Game Grumps, is a true visual novel in all aspects but the minigames, which are triggered at certain milestones throughout the game. DDADDS (as it is affectionately referred to in the community), is entirely based on the four tenets of visual novels: 2D animation, branching storylines, dialogue options, and limited/absent mechanics. Players create a dad and journey through their life with their daughter in a new neighborhood filled with attractive and eligible gay, bisexual, and transgender fathers. In terms of playability, the minigames are the only part of the game that feature controls and several of these games don’t require skill. The majority of the game follows the traditional format of a dating simulator and visual novel—characters are introduced and romanced or rejected, with a variety of outcomes as the result.
Perhaps the most involved relationship in the game is that with the player’s eighteen-year-old daughter Amanda. Throughout the game, the player’s “Dadsona” interacts with Amanda, which shapes their relationship with her. Although difficult, it is possible to get a “bad ending” with Amanda, resulting in a Steam achievement and a broken father-daughter relationship. The game is largely played through different dialogue options, which showcase the personality of your Dadsona and eventually dictate which Dad you take on the coveted and exclusive third date. It should be noted that it is very easy to load from a save and get multiple endings, although the developers did a decent job of changing the penultimate graduation party scene to reflect your final choice of Dad. The emotional connections in this game are surprisingly profound; what is marketed as a silly dating sim touches on complicated and poignant topics such as authoritarian vs. yielding parenting, self-care, anxiety, morality, and substance-abuse. The sentimental and meaningful interactions throughout the game are what drive the narrative and make the game so playable. Although DDADDS’ popularity could be attributed to the popularity of the Game Grumps, to say that it is the only factor in the game’s success would be a gross depreciation of the game’s value. Game blogs gave ratings that ranged between 7-8/10 but the game has garnered a 9/10 on Steam, with very positive reviews. Critics have noted that the game’s very premise makes light of LGBTQ issues by turning dates with gay dads into something comical, but it is a matter of debate whether or not the game is actually disrespectful. The majority of comments on Steam can be summed up by a top review: “10/10 would daddy again”.
While Telltale’s games and DDADDS are some of the more recent and prominent visual novel adaptations, the genre is far from dead. 2011’s Hatoful Boyfriend is a prime example of the ridiculous and popular visual novel narrative. In Hatoful Boyfriend, gamers play as the last eligible human in a post-apocalyptic world run by birds. In addition, mobile games like Episode have gained a large following in recent years. Episode and similar games use the visual novel format with perhaps more branching storylines than a console or PC game. Although visual novels face a litany of critiques from game blogs and the hardcore gaming community for a lack of strategy, limited playability, and rudimentary mechanics, it is inconclusive if those determinants alone define something as a video game. One could argue that visual novels do require strategy since there are a number of outcomes that require specific choices by the player, some which are difficult to unlock. Regardless of the strategy value of visual novels, their main function lies in their interpretation of narrative. Visual novels use dramatic and choice-based storylines to draw players into the game, creating a sense of immersion and control for the player. It is this aspect of visual novels that secures them as video games: like a high-tech Choose Your Own Adventure, visual novels give players the chance to create or recreate their own destinies. Visual novels even have the added benefit of music, art, and tangible characterization and narrative function.
As an ever-evolving form of media, video games have branched out and changed drastically since the release of Pong. Since the loose definition of video games only dictates some sort of interactive media played on a screen, the working definition lies in the hands of the community. The gaming community is torn, but the faction of visual novel fans and proponents remain strong. There are multiple forum threads and gamer blog articles recommending visual novels and referring to them as games. In addition, multiple “let’s play”s of mainstream and indie visual novels by popular Youtubers have increased in recent years. Because visual novels feature choice-based storylines and are typically played on an electronic device, they lie outside the realm of literature, movies, etc, and thus are difficult to categorize as anything but video games. It could be argued that, by even making a space for visual novels in the debate of game vs. other legitimizes their position in the realm of video games. Similarly, the debate regarding the evolution of visual novels is changing; while visual novels have traditionally reflected their Japanese roots, the rise of games like The Wolf Among Us and DDADDS suggests a rise in Western-style visual novels in the coming years. In a community that is constantly changing and chasing the new, it is exciting to see visual novels fighting for their place in the ranks with strong narratives and poignant conversations.