- #1 CAFE 0 ~The Sleeping Beast~
97% matchVery Positive83% of 53 reviews2016
Dev: ROSEVERTE MYSTERYPub: ROSEVERTE
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 7.2 hrs≥1hr: 95%
A supernatural mystery visual novel. What kind of fate will the heroine face after she relives the last seven days before her death?
Why similar: Visual Novel 35%, Female Protagonist 11.6%, Psychological Horror 10.8%, Horror 10.6%, Anime 8%
Why You'll Like It: This direct sequel maintains the series' signature blend of supernatural mystery and psychological tension.
- #2 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
96% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,520 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.6 hrsMean: 10.1 hrs≥1hr: 87%
How far would you go to bring someone back from the dead? Discover the depths that some will go to in this horror-adventure game.
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.1%, Horror 13.8%, Anime 13.6%, Mystery 11.7%, Adventure 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: This supernatural mystery game excels at building an eerie atmosphere through its unique visual presentation and investigative gameplay.
- #3 Sound of Drop - fall into poison -
96% matchVery Positive85% of 536 reviews2015
Dev: aiueoKompanyPub: Sekai Project
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 8.8 hrs≥1hr: 95%
Nestled in the heart of Tokyo, the quaint little aquarium, Manten Aquarium. Numerous urban legends have arisen from here. On the night of the full moon the waters turn to blood and man faced fish lurk within.
Why similar: Visual Novel 46%, Horror 12.8%, Anime 12%, Female Protagonist 9.8%, Psychological Horror 5%
Why You'll Like It: It shares a similar dark, atmospheric horror aesthetic and focuses on uncovering the truth behind a tragic mystery.
- #4 Root Double -Before Crime * After Days- Xtend Edition
95% matchVery Positive90% of 592 reviews2016
Dev: YetiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 8.9 hrsMean: 14.3 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Rescue squad captain Watase Kasasagi wakes up without his memories in the middle of his most critical mission yet-- a nuclear meltdown at a research facility. In an unfamiliar place and without his years of training, he must rescue the survivors and escape...
Why similar: Visual Novel 61.3%, Anime 13.1%, Mystery 9.8%, Story Rich 6.7%, Adventure 6%
Why You'll Like It: This title features complex time-loop mechanics and high-stakes mystery elements that mirror the search for truth in the seed game.
- #5 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
94% matchVery Positive93% of 6,967 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 21.7 hrs≥1hr: 88%
Kidnapped and taken to an unfamiliar location, nine people find themselves forced to participate in a diabolical Nonary Game by an enigmatic mastermind called Zero. Why were they there? Why were they chosen to put their lives on the line? And more importantly, who can be trusted?
Why similar: Visual Novel 49.4%, Mystery 13%, Psychological Horror 11.6%, Anime 8.7%, Story Rich 8.1%
Why You'll Like It: It is a masterclass in time-loop mystery and psychological horror, requiring players to make life-or-death choices.
- #6 BAD END
94% matchVery Positive84% of 393 reviews2015
Dev: Arai Koh Create OfficePub: YOX-Project
Windows
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 92%
It's rumored that those who play 'BAD END'- a Visual Novel will die in REAL LIFE if they make the wrong decision in the game itself.
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.7%, Horror 12.2%, Anime 11.8%, Mystery 11.3%, Adventure 7.1%
Why You'll Like It: It captures the same indie horror-visual novel spirit, focusing on the consequences of poor choices.
- #7 Amnesia™: Memories
93% matchVery Positive92% of 4,125 reviews2015
Dev: Idea FactoryPub: Idea Factory International
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 9.4 hrs≥1hr: 94%
You awaken to find your memories gone. To learn the truth behind your amnesia, you’ll choose from five romantic paths, each its own world. With 20+ endings, can you write the lasting love story you deserve, or will your love and life come to an end?
Why similar: Otome 47.8% ★, Visual Novel 28.5%, Female Protagonist 8.6%, Anime 6%, Mystery 2.5%
Why You'll Like It: A staple of the otome genre that incorporates mystery and psychological tension as the protagonist recovers her lost memories.
- #8 The House in Fata Morgana
92% matchVery Positive95% of 6,041 reviews2016
Dev: NOVECTPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 27.3 hrs≥1hr: 84%
A gothic suspense tale set in a cursed mansion. "The House in Fata Morgana" is a full-length visual novel spanning nearly a millennium that deals in tragedy, human nature, and insanity.
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.9%, Psychological Horror 11.4%, Mystery 10.2%, Horror 9.4%, Anime 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: A deeply psychological and gothic mystery that explores themes of tragedy and memory, much like the seed game.
- #9 Return to Shironagasu Island
91% matchVery Positive94% of 3,990 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 14.2 hrs≥1hr: 92%
A mystery adventure game and visual novel set on solitary Shironagasu Island. Discover its secrets, solve its mysteries, and escape from the ominous island!
Why similar: Visual Novel 44.2%, Mystery 12.2%, Adventure 11.5%, Horror 10.6%, Anime 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: This adventure-focused visual novel delivers a gripping mystery with horror undertones and a strong female lead.
- #10 GNOSIA
90% matchVery Positive94% of 4,733 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.2 hrsMean: 15.4 hrs≥1hr: 90%
The Gnosia lie. Pretending to be human, they’ll get in close, trick and deceive, and then eliminate one victim at a time...
Why similar: Visual Novel 44%, Psychological Horror 13.5%, Anime 13.4%, Mystery 12.4%, Story Rich 7.5%
Why You'll Like It: It combines a time-loop narrative with social deduction, creating a tense and mysterious experience.
- #11 Lake of Voices
91% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 620 reviews2018
Dev: GB Patch Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 30 minMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 36%
A free horror Visual Novel about an ill-fated journey across Sinnlos, a lake where gruesome monsters lurk just beneath the surface. With times being so dire you'll need to decide what, and who, is going to be sacrificed. Anyone can be saved, but not everyone can be.
Why similar: Visual Novel 38.1%, Otome 30.6% ★, Female Protagonist 9.1%, Horror 7.2%, Psychological Horror 5.4%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, free-to-play visual novel that emphasizes character-driven horror and branching paths.
- #12 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
89% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 3,866 reviews2023
Dev: NankidaiPub: 0UP GAMES
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 14.0 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority- is a multi-ending horror adventure game. Sara Chidouin returns home from school late one night to discover that something's gone terribly wrong. When she comes to, she finds herself, her friend Joe, and 9 other people trapped in a mysterious place.
Why similar: Female Protagonist 24.2%, Psychological Horror 20.4%, Mystery 19.9%, Anime 16.7%, Adventure 10.1%
Why You'll Like It: This death-game mystery forces players to make difficult choices to survive, echoing the high-stakes nature of the seed game.
- #13 Folie Fatale
87% matchVery Positive86% of 2,482 reviews2024
Dev: Kanmidoko (神海処)Pub: 346lab Localization
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 5.4 hrs≥1hr: 87%
All capture targets are mentally "Jirai"(landmine)!? Meet these eccentric boys, reveal the truth beneath in this Psycho-love-horror VN!
Why similar: Otome 37.4% ★, Visual Novel 24.7%, Female Protagonist 10.7%, Psychological Horror 9%, Mystery 6.1%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological horror visual novel that explores dark themes and complex character relationships.
- #14 7'scarlet
89% matchMostly Positive75% of 854 reviews2019
Dev: IDEA FACTORYPub: Intragames
Windows
Median: 7.8 hrsMean: 15.0 hrs≥1hr: 76%
The remote town of Okunezato is shaped like a crescent moon and shrouded in dark myths and legends. Take on the role of a brave young woman journeying into the unknown to uncover dangerous truths and locate her missing brother with her childhood friend.
Why similar: Otome 39.1% ★, Visual Novel 24.7%, Female Protagonist 8.8%, Anime 7.5%, Horror 6.8%
Why You'll Like It: This mystery-focused otome game features a small-town setting filled with secrets and supernatural occurrences.
- #15 Fatal Twelve
88% matchVery Positive92% of 995 reviews2018
Dev: LYCORISPub: Sekai Project
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 7.7 hrsMean: 12.4 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Shishimai Rinka was a high schooler who ran a small café named Lion House in place of her grandmother. She lived her life much like any other person her age, but one day, she was caught up in an explosion while returning home on the train alongside her friend, Hitsuji Naomi.
Why similar: Visual Novel 44%, Female Protagonist 16.3%, Anime 10.5%, Mystery 9.1%, Story Rich 6.3%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural death game where characters must uncover each other's secrets to survive, matching the seed game's tone.
- #16 SoulSet
86% matchVery Positive90% of 161 reviews2017
Dev: NoBreadStudio
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 8.3 hrs≥1hr: 94%
SoulSet is a mystery/romance visual novel, in which you can try to avoid death and pursue a relationship with both male and female characters. You play as Mariko, who finds herself trapped in an eerie mansion with five other people who claim to have no recollection of their past. Who will you trust?
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.8%, Otome 24.9% ★, Female Protagonist 10%, Mystery 6%, Adventure 5.4%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery visual novel that requires players to piece together clues in a tense, isolated environment.
- #17 Train of Afterlife
86% matchMixed51% of 183 reviews2015
Dev: Zeiva Inc
Windows
Median: 2.3 hrsMean: 3.4 hrs≥1hr: 97%
Train of Afterlife is a mystery, psychological, horror Visual Novel.
Why similar: Visual Novel 53.3%, Anime 10%, Adventure 8.9%, Casual 8%, Indie 7%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural visual novel that explores the afterlife, sharing the eerie and contemplative tone of the seed game.
- #18 Magical Eyes - Red is for Anguish
84% matchVery Positive81% of 69 reviews2016
Dev: Pomera StudiosPub: Fruitbat Factory
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 4.7 hrs≥1hr: 97%
Magical Eyes - Red is for Anguish is a thrilling mystery story revolving around a series of unfathomable incidents in a town.
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.3%, Anime 13.9%, Mystery 11.9%, Adventure 10.4%, Horror 10%
Why You'll Like It: This title offers a dark, supernatural mystery narrative with a distinct anime aesthetic.
- #19 Dark Nights
82% matchVery Positive92% of 407 reviews2022
Dev: Pinlin
Windows · Mac · Linux
Nothing is as it seems.
Why similar: Otome 39% ★, Visual Novel 25.2%, Mystery 7.9%, Female Protagonist 7.8%, Anime 6.8%
Why You'll Like It: This otome-mystery hybrid focuses on uncovering dark secrets within a suspenseful narrative.
- #20 X-note
85% matchMixed51% of 253 reviews2015
Dev: Zeiva Inc
Windows
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 97%
X-note is a blend between Visual Novel and Dating Sim. Follow the story of Essi as she pursues the truth of her mother's death.
Why similar: Visual Novel 35.3%, Otome 33.6% ★, Female Protagonist 7.9%, Anime 7.7%, Adventure 4.4%
Why You'll Like It: An otome visual novel that centers on a mystery involving the protagonist's past and supernatural abilities.
- #21 Pinewood Island
84% matchVery Positive84% of 55 reviews2017
Dev: Jaime Scribbles Games
Windows · Mac
Find love, solve a murder, and prevent more death in this murder-mystery horror otome | visual novel.
Why similar: Otome 36.1% ★, Visual Novel 21.9%, Female Protagonist 8.7%, Horror 7.8%, Psychological Horror 6.7%
Why You'll Like It: It blends horror and romance, forcing players to navigate dangerous situations while unraveling a mystery.
- #22 How to Take Off Your Mask
83% matchVery Positive84% of 179 reviews2015
Dev: ROSEVERTE
Windows · Mac
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 5.2 hrs≥1hr: 96%
A cute fantasy romance visual novel. One day you discover the other side of your partner you had never known. What is the truth beneath the masks?
Why similar: Otome 41.2% ★, Visual Novel 32.8%, Anime 7.3%, Adventure 5.3%, Casual 4.8%
Why You'll Like It: A fantasy-themed otome that balances lighthearted romance with a deeper, unfolding mystery.
- #23 this morning I decided to die
81% matchMostly Positive78% of 169 reviews2023
Dev: ctcPub: Nikita Kryukov
Windows · Mac · Linux
Follow a girl through the last day of her life.
Why similar: Visual Novel 45.8%, Female Protagonist 18.8%, Psychological Horror 15.3%, Anime 13.2%, Casual 3.6%
Why You'll Like It: A short but impactful psychological horror visual novel that deals with heavy themes and multiple endings.
- #24 Doki Doki Literature Club!
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 219,150 reviews2017
Dev: Team Salvato
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 38.2 hrs≥1hr: 74%
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
Why similar: Visual Novel 44.5%, Psychological Horror 20.4%, Anime 14.6%, Horror 11.4%, Story Rich 4.6%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological horror visual novel that subverts expectations, much like the seed game's hidden dark side.
- #25 TAISHO x ALICE episode 1
80% matchVery Positive86% of 1,331 reviews2019
Dev: PrimulaPub: pencil
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 7.1 hrs≥1hr: 69%
DUALICE(TAISHO x ALICE episodeI) is a fairytale visual novel in which YOU must save your Prince Charming! You will take on the role of the fairytale heroine in order to rehabilitate your chosen love interest and guide him to his "happily ever after"!
Why similar: Otome 57.2% ★, Visual Novel 25.1%, Female Protagonist 6.9%, Adventure 6.8%, Anime 4.1%
Why You'll Like It: This series offers a unique, dark twist on fairy tales with strong mystery and psychological elements.
- #26 Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,215 reviews2015
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.0 hrsMean: 21.9 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Why similar: Visual Novel 59.7%, Mystery 14.7%, Anime 14.1%, Story Rich 6.6%, Adventure 3.5%
Why You'll Like It: A foundational horror-mystery visual novel that excels at building dread and uncovering dark secrets.
- #27 STEINS;GATE
78% matchOverwhelmingly Positive97% of 25,378 reviews2016
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.5 hrsMean: 66.2 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus, STEINS;GATE was awarded Famitsu magazine's coveted annual Game of Excellence award and was voted one of the most emotionally charged “tear-inducing games” ever made, in a Famitsu poll. It is a gripping and moving Visual Novel, which has already spawned manga and anime adaptations.
Why similar: Visual Novel 60.2%, Anime 14.9%, Story Rich 8.8%, Psychological Horror 5.4%, Mystery 5.1%
Why You'll Like It: A definitive time-travel mystery that focuses on the consequences of changing the past to save others.
- #28 dUpLicity ~Beyond the Lies~
82% matchMixed39% of 66 reviews2015
Dev: ROSEVERTE
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 2.4 hrsMean: 3.7 hrs≥1hr: 97%
dUpLicity ~Beyond the Lies~ is a romance mystery visual novel with romancable guys. Different with the usual dating sims, the main purpose of the game is to find out the truth hidden in the past.
Why similar: Otome 44.4% ★, Visual Novel 37.2%, Anime 5.1%, Adventure 4.9%, Casual 4.5%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery-focused visual novel that emphasizes character secrets and the consequences of deception.
- #29 PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse
74% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 1,800 reviews2026
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 13.6 hrsMean: 13.9 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Will you survive the curse together this summer? A new supernatural mystery adventure begins, telling a bittersweet story of the passions of youth featuring new locations, new legends and a new cast of characters.
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.4%, Mystery 13.5%, Adventure 13%, Horror 12.6%, Anime 8%
- #30 Nicole
81% matchMixed68% of 125 reviews2014
Dev: Winter Wolves
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.3 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 62%
Excited to join her first choice school, Nicole discovers a disturbing series of disappearances on campus upon moving into the university dorms. Three girls have vanished, and she might be next, deviating from her ideal college experience.
Why similar: Otome 33.6% ★, Visual Novel 23.9%, Female Protagonist 8.1%, Psychological Horror 7.3%, Mystery 6.7%
Why You'll Like It: A classic otome visual novel that incorporates mystery elements as the protagonist investigates a series of disappearances.
- #31 クラブ・スーサイド
76% matchVery Positive97% of 161 reviews2023
Dev: MORPATHPub: Celtia
Windows · Mac
私は、自殺を考えている。クラブ・スーサイドへようこそ。自殺を考える少年達に寄り添う、奇妙な一週間。命を思考するノベルアドベンチャー。
Why similar: Visual Novel 38.4%, Otome 22.9% ★, Female Protagonist 10%, Psychological Horror 9.9%, Adventure 9.7%
- #32 The Letter - Horror Visual Novel
77% matchVery Positive86% of 1,500 reviews2017
Dev: Yangyang MobilePub: Neon Doctrine
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6.6 hrsMean: 11.1 hrs≥1hr: 90%
When seven people fall prey to a vicious curse, they will discover that horror rests not from the shadows lurking about, but within themselves. To what ends will one go in order to survive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.5%, Horror 15.7%, Psychological Horror 8.2%, Anime 7.1%, Mystery 6.4%
- #33 Reaplaced
75% matchVery Positive91% of 55 reviews2023
Dev: Mystery Gamedev
Windows · Mac · Linux
A supernatural Halloween whodunnit. Solve a chilling locked-room mystery before the grim reaper reveals the answer!
Why similar: Visual Novel 29.7%, Psychological Horror 12.9%, Female Protagonist 12.7%, Horror 12.5%, Anime 11%
- #34 East Tower - Akio (East Tower Series Vol. 1)
78% matchMostly Positive70% of 77 reviews2015
Dev: ROSEVERTE
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.0 hrsMean: 3.5 hrs≥1hr: 83%
Welcome to the Dream World! You've been granted a chance to try the newest virtual attraction, the East Tower. Will you be able to save the princess at the top of the tower?
Why similar: Visual Novel 40.2%, Otome 37% ★, Adventure 8.4%, Casual 7.6%, Indie 6.9%
- #35 AMPLITUDE: A Visual Novel
77% matchMostly Positive78% of 51 reviews2017
Dev: Ceylon Entertainment
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 6 minMean: 7.1 hrs≥1hr: 39%
Amplitude is a story-centric visual novel. You play as either Adam or Eve, a murder victim who made a dubious deal to seek revenge. With the help of your new vessel, Katy or Jon, will you uncover the mystery or will you take more than you bargained for?
Why similar: Otome 38% ★, Visual Novel 35.3%, Female Protagonist 8%, Mystery 7.4%, Casual 6.7%
- #36 Yet Another Killing Game
72% matchVery Positive98% of 220 reviews2025
Dev: Soulseer Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
You wake up in a house, alone with two beautiful girls... But no one is allowed to leave until one of you DIES. Why is this happening? What is the purpose of this “killing game”? But most importantly...WHO SHOULD DIE?!
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.5%, Psychological Horror 13.7%, Anime 12.7%, Mystery 12.3%, Female Protagonist 10.5%
- #37 Suicide Countdown: 7 Days
73% matchVery Positive81% of 1,081 reviews2021
Dev: 致意
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 7.2 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Only 7 days remain until death embraces you -- the everyday life of a young boy begins to distort little by little, unfolding into a bizarre and ghastly series of events... When fate comes knocking, will you have the courage to make a choice?
Why similar: Visual Novel 43.6%, Horror 13.9%, Anime 12.4%, Psychological Horror 11.4%, Mystery 9.5%
- #38 CORPSE FACTORY
73% matchVery Positive80% of 855 reviews2022
Dev: RIVER CROW STUDIO
Windows
Median: 4.3 hrsMean: 6.7 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Discard your sense of morality and enter the world of CORPSE FACTORY. An obscure website allows users to request a death. Victims supposedly receive a photograph of their own corpse before they are killed! With English voice acting by an all-star cast.
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.6%, Psychological Horror 13.1%, Anime 10.9%, Mystery 9.6%, Horror 8.4%
- #39 Perceptions of the Dead
74% matchVery Positive92% of 335 reviews2017
Dev: Ithaqua Labs
Windows · Linux
Median: 1.6 hrsMean: 8.1 hrs≥1hr: 72%
Follow three stories set in a world where the dead linger, and things far worse wait beyond the veil.
Why similar: Visual Novel 60.3%, Adventure 11.4%, Horror 10.9%, Indie 8.8%, Casual 8.6%
- #40 Blue Rose Reprise
76% matchMixed63% of 142 reviews2015
Dev: White Cat
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.4 hrsMean: 4.0 hrs≥1hr: 97%
Lena is a Templar of the Blue Rose, her life dedicated to protecting her home and country. Pulled away from the front lines of the war, Lena finds herself trapped in a secluded, unknown village in the mountains. For the first time she will make her own decisions – and face the consequences.
Why similar: Otome 41.2% ★, Visual Novel 33.3%, Adventure 7.2%, Female Protagonist 6.7%, Anime 6.6%
- #41 East Tower - Takashi (East Tower Series Vol. 2)
75% matchMixed64% of 44 reviews2015
Dev: ROSEVERTE
Windows · Mac
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 4.0 hrs≥1hr: 95%
This is the Dream World, the place where anything you wish will come true. Your current partner in the East Tower looks somehow familiar. Have you by any chance met him in your past?
Why similar: Otome 41.5% ★, Visual Novel 36.3%, Adventure 8.6%, Casual 7.2%, Indie 6.4%
- #42 Hazy Mind
70% matchVery Positive86% of 318 reviews2024
Dev: betetiro
Windows · Mac · Linux
You can't remember anything, and all you can see is HER. Delve into your story and uncover the truth behind what happened to you and your parents.
Why similar: Visual Novel 40.6%, Psychological Horror 16.2%, Anime 10%, Horror 8.5%, Female Protagonist 8.2%
- #43 Matsuro Palette
71% matchVery Positive99% of 319 reviews2020
Dev: SleepingMuseumPub: KEMCO
Windows
Survive seven days with a cursed painting. Rely on notes from past victims and manage to successfully paint her portrait. But be careful not to upset her, or you'll quickly find yourself dead! An assortment of terminal tableaus awaits you. Will you be the one to finally finish her?
Why similar: Visual Novel 40.7%, Horror 15.4%, Mystery 14.5%, Adventure 9%, Story Rich 7.8%
- #44 Gothic Murder: Adventure That Changes Destiny
72% matchVery Positive97% of 65 reviews2020
Dev: orange
Windows · Mac
A housemaid takes on a terrifying murder plan in order to protect her lord, whose life is in danger! A romantic mystery that takes place at an earl's manor in 20th-century England. Depending on the selection, the story will branch into different endings.
Why similar: Visual Novel 42.8%, Otome 21.2% ★, Mystery 15.6%, Adventure 14.7%, Female Protagonist 5.7%
- #45 TAISHO x ALICE episode 3
71% matchVery Positive91% of 439 reviews2021
Dev: PrimulaPub: pencil
Windows
DUALICE(TAISHO x ALICE episode III) is a fairytale visual novel in which YOU must save your Prince Charming! You will take on the role of the fairytale heroine in order to rehabilitate your chosen love interest and guide him to his "happily ever after"!
Why similar: Otome 41.3% ★, Visual Novel 30.4%, Female Protagonist 9.6%, Adventure 8.5%, Anime 6.1%
- #46 Otome Legends
70% matchVery Positive91% of 110 reviews2023
Dev: Jagaimo Studios
Windows · Linux
Play a dating sim inside of a dating sim to become an otome heroine protagonist. Nothing can possible go wrong... right?
Why similar: Otome 36.4% ★, Visual Novel 26.3%, Psychological Horror 9.4%, Anime 7.9%, Horror 7.8%
- #47 Cooking Companions
69% matchVery Positive94% of 1,183 reviews2021
Dev: Deer Dream StudiosPub: Serenity Forge
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.6 hrsMean: 4.5 hrs≥1hr: 94%
Unravel the mystery in this cute psychological horror VN, set deep in the woods of the Tatras Mountains. Will you wind up on the chopping block?
Why similar: Visual Novel 32.1%, Psychological Horror 11.1%, Horror 10.7%, Anime 10.4%, Female Protagonist 10%
- #48 The Chrono Jotter
69% matchVery Positive94% of 2,205 reviews2021
Dev: Orca LayoutPub: 2P Games
Windows
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 7.7 hrs≥1hr: 87%
Rewind time to save your girlfriend in a twisted high school death game. A gripping yuri visual novel: Investigate brutal murders, unravel psychological horrors, and fight for a forbidden love that defies death itself.
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.8%, Female Protagonist 12.3%, Horror 10.4%, Mystery 9.8%, Psychological Horror 8.4%
- #49 TAISHO x ALICE episode 2
70% matchVery Positive86% of 685 reviews2020
Dev: PrimulaPub: pencil
Windows
DUALICE(TAISHO x ALICE episode II) is a fairytale visual novel in which YOU must save your Prince Charming! You will take on the role of the fairytale heroine in order to rehabilitate your chosen love interest and guide him to his "happily ever after"!
Why similar: Otome 50% ★, Visual Novel 30.1%, Anime 8.4%, Story Rich 4.8%, Adventure 3.4%
- #50 MMM: Murder Most Misfortunate
71% matchVery Positive82% of 124 reviews2017
Dev: Michael LongPub: Foolish Mortals Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.2 hrsMean: 3.3 hrs≥1hr: 82%
A gruesome murder interrupts an evening party at a secluded mansion and you are the prime suspect! Explore the mansion, search for clues, and interrogate the other guests as you strive to unmask the killer in this open-ended mystery.
Why similar: Visual Novel 43.6%, Adventure 15.3%, Casual 12.4%, Mystery 11.5%, Indie 11.2%
- #51 Heileen 1: Sail Away
73% matchMixed55% of 134 reviews2014
Dev: Winter Wolves
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 1.5 hrsMean: 2.9 hrs≥1hr: 66%
Embark with Heileen in a unforgettable voyage to the New World! Met with old friends, and make new ones. Find romance, avoid dangers and life your life to the fullest!
Why similar: Otome 34.3% ★, Visual Novel 30.8%, Female Protagonist 9.7%, Anime 8%, Adventure 5.6%
- #52 Cafe DReAMLAND
67% matchVery Positive93% of 85 reviews2025
Dev: めとこPub: Gotcha Gotcha Games
Windows
This is Cafe "DReAMLAND". Grant your "customers'" wishes by serving them drinks mixed with a hint of blasphemy! Cafe simulation x Exploration x Multiple endings Let your choices decide the final outcome.
Why similar: Visual Novel 35%, Adventure 19.3%, Story Rich 14.4%, Anime 14.3%, Psychological Horror 8.6%
- #53 Particles of Reality
68% matchVery Positive91% of 55 reviews2023
Dev: Arewar Games
Windows · Mac
You are a troubled college student trying to live a normal life surrounded by some... complicated men. Although unaware, you are causing the destruction of reality. Will the Guardians kill you to protect the universe? Can you find your happily ever after... How many times will you die trying?
Why similar: Otome 40.3% ★, Visual Novel 26.3%, Psychological Horror 8.8%, Female Protagonist 8%, Horror 7.6%
- #54 The NOexistenceN of you AND me
63% matchVery Positive93% of 19,673 reviews2024
Dev: 0x0Real StudioPub: Nino Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 15.7 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Use "game" as a medium to showcase the world of "you/girl". Explore the truth of "you/girl/world" through the form of a "visual novel".
Why similar: Visual Novel 56.7%, Psychological Horror 17.4%, Anime 13%, Story Rich 6.9%, Adventure 3.2%
- #55 Heart Cage
64% matchVery Positive98% of 292 reviews2025
Dev: RiceLoveCoffee
Windows · Mac · Linux
Yandere x Otome x Mystery A mystery Otome game with all yandere love interest, play as a detective and find out the truth!
Why similar: Otome 46.2% ★, Visual Novel 23.9%, Female Protagonist 10%, Mystery 6.6%, Anime 5.2%
- #56 Left in the Dark: No One on Board
69% matchVery Positive83% of 779 reviews2014
Dev: Moonrise InteractivePub: Artifex Mundi
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 97%
Discover what connects a lost ship’s disappearance with Devil’s Island and a local family’s unsolved murder.
Why similar: Mystery 22.1%, Adventure 20.6%, Female Protagonist 19.3%, Casual 18.4%, Horror 11.9%
- #57 Drops of Death
65% matchVery Positive93% of 86 reviews2025
Dev: Snowhaven Studios
Windows · Mac · Linux
A murder mystery visual novel with a romantic twist. The killer is randomly chosen at the start of each playthrough, and you may unknowingly fall in love with them. How will your story come to its end? Will you bring the killer to justice, fall in love with them, or die at their hands?
Why similar: Visual Novel 34.2%, Otome 33.8% ★, Mystery 9.4%, Anime 7.4%, Female Protagonist 4.8%
- #58 Deluge: Threnody of Crashing Waves
67% matchVery Positive85% of 252 reviews2022
Dev: leavesPub: socah
Windows · Mac · Linux
In the not so distant past, the Isle of Abbot underwent a mysterious evacuation event. Delve into the secrets of this unsettling place and elicit the girls' tragic fate. An interactive visual novel with psychological and lovecraftian undertones.
Why similar: Visual Novel 49.1%, Anime 16.1%, Mystery 13.3%, Female Protagonist 13.2%, Story Rich 5.5%
- #59 How To Date A Magical Girl!
68% matchVery Positive80% of 469 reviews2019
Dev: Cafe ShibaPub: RIVER CROW STUDIO
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 15.0 hrs≥1hr: 96%
You're invited to the elite academy for magical girls! Will you take the opportunity to make new friends? Learn magic? Or... Will you try to date a cute magical girl?
Why similar: Visual Novel 41.1%, Psychological Horror 14.4%, Anime 13.6%, Horror 7.5%, Adventure 6.7%
- #60 outside the door
64% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 543 reviews2024
Dev: basandaika games
Windows
Outside the door is a mystic visual novel set within one office. You are about to figure out the stories of a few visitors without having a single memory of yourself.
Why similar: Visual Novel 43.2%, Anime 14.6%, Psychological Horror 13.6%, Female Protagonist 7.8%, Mystery 7.1%
