- #1 Raging Loop
97% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 10,075 reviews2017
Dev: KEMCO
Windows
Median: 24.2 hrsMean: 59.5 hrs≥1hr: 84%
The feast has begun, can you escape the village alive?
Why similar: Visual Novel 30.3%, Mystery 19.6%, Gore 10.8%, Violent 10.2%, Adventure 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: This folk-horror visual novel uses a time-loop mechanic to explore dark urban legends and psychological tension.
- #2 Urban Myth Dissolution Center
96% matchVery Positive88% of 5,930 reviews2025
Dev: HakababunkoPub: SHUEISHA GAMES
Windows
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 9.9 hrs≥1hr: 84%
Join forces with the psychic Director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center and solve a variety of cases involving cursed relics, rental properties with shady histories, and dimensional anomalies. Monstrous oddities and otherworldly planes abound in this occult mystery adventure game!
Why similar: Visual Novel 20%, Supernatural 15.5%, Mystery 15.2%, Horror 8.5%, Point & Click 8.3%
Why You'll Like It: It directly mirrors the theme of investigating supernatural urban legends through a detective-focused lens.
- #3 AI: The Somnium Files
96% matchVery Positive92% of 9,207 reviews2019
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.6 hrsMean: 15.0 hrs≥1hr: 85%
Play as detective Kaname Date on the case of an elusive serial killer in this thrilling, sci-fi murder mystery.
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.9%, Mystery 17.5%, Gore 13.5%, Violent 9.6%, Story Rich 8.9%
Why You'll Like It: This detective thriller combines supernatural elements with deep investigative mechanics and a branching narrative structure.
- #4 Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
95% matchVery Positive82% of 512 reviews2019
Dev: EXPERIENCEPub: Aksys Games
Windows
Median: 3.3 hrsMean: 13.2 hrs≥1hr: 71%
A strange rumor is spreading through the shadows of Tokyo's H City: a mysterious disfigurement has been appearing on the bodies of certain individuals. Anyone who receives the Mark will rapidly die of unknown, horrifying causes. The countdown to death has already begun...
Why similar: Visual Novel 27.4%, Violent 26.8%, Horror 20%, Adventure 14.1%, Point & Click 5.9%
Why You'll Like It: This game excels at atmospheric horror, tasking players with investigating supernatural entities and urban legends to survive.
- #5 428: Shibuya Scramble
94% matchVery Positive95% of 3,747 reviews2018
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 12.1 hrs≥1hr: 83%
A kidnapping on the streets of Shibuya brings together a hot-blooded detective, hard-hitting journalist, former gang leader, the head researcher of a big pharma manufacturer and a part-timer stuck in cat costume for a series of events each more unexpected and outrageous than the last.
Why similar: Visual Novel 39.3%, Mystery 25.1%, Adventure 12.4%, Violent 12.3%, Story Rich 11%
Why You'll Like It: It is the gold standard for branching narratives that utilize multiple perspectives to solve a complex, city-wide mystery.
- #6 Return to Shironagasu Island
94% matchVery Positive94% of 4,067 reviews2020
Dev: HYOGO ONIMUSHIPub: TABINOMICHI
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 14.1 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 27.8%, Mystery 21.8%, Adventure 15.3%, Horror 13.4%, Point & Click 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: A classic detective mystery that blends a secluded setting with supernatural twists and character-driven storytelling.
- #7 Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
93% matchVery Positive93% of 7,129 reviews2017
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 21.5 hrs≥1hr: 89%
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 23.9%, Mystery 17.9%, Multiple Endings 13.2%, Story Rich 10.1%, Point & Click 7%
Why You'll Like It: It features high-stakes mystery and complex branching paths that reward players for uncovering the truth behind supernatural circumstances.
- #8 The Shell Part I: Inferno
91% matchVery Positive91% of 1,368 reviews2023
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 10.9 hrsMean: 114.3 hrs≥1hr: 70%
Unravel a string of gruesome murders terrorizing Tokyo in this mystery-thriller visual novel. The secrets of a case from six years prior may just be the key to the current unending cycle of tragedy—and the thing that cracks this woeful world’s shell may be one girl’s smile.
Why similar: Visual Novel 23.9%, Mystery 19.5%, Gore 14.5%, Multiple Endings 10.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 5.9%
Why You'll Like It: A dark, psychological mystery that provides a mature narrative with strong detective and investigative elements.
- #9 Tokyo Dark
92% matchVery Positive84% of 1,341 reviews2017
Dev: CherrymochiPub: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 90%
Legend tells of a door deep below Tokyo's sewers. All who enter are lost forever. Detective Ito's partner is missing. Explore Tokyo & uncover the darkness that lays beneath the streets in this Point & Click - meets Visual Novel - narrative adventure that questions the very core of Ito's sanity.
Why similar: Visual Novel 18.6%, Point & Click 14.9%, Mystery 13.1%, Horror 11.8%, Anime 9.4%
Why You'll Like It: A detective mystery set in Japan that features branching paths and supernatural elements influenced by player choices.
- #10 Staffer Case: A Supernatural Mystery Adventure
91% matchVery Positive94% of 4,035 reviews2023
Dev: Team Tetrapod
Windows · Mac
Median: 7.5 hrsMean: 8.7 hrs≥1hr: 91%
Staffer Case is a new sort of mystery game, asking players to find clues, arrange them into documents, and point out the contradictions between them to solve a series of murders. Each mystery unraveled leads you closer to the truth lying at the heart of each case!
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.4%, Mystery 22.2%, Multiple Endings 13.7%, Text-Based 12.2%, Story Rich 11.5%
Why You'll Like It: It focuses on detective work involving supernatural phenomena, requiring careful observation and deduction.
- #11 Your Turn To Die -Death Game By Majority-
90% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 4,059 reviews2023
Dev: NankidaiPub: 0UP GAMES
Windows
Median: 6.4 hrsMean: 13.8 hrs≥1hr: 81%
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: Mystery 21%, Point & Click 20.3%, Multiple Endings 19.1%, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.4%, Anime 8.6%
Why You'll Like It: A gripping mystery-focused death game that emphasizes deduction, character interaction, and high-stakes decision-making.
- #12 GNOSIA
89% matchVery Positive94% of 4,865 reviews2022
Dev: Petit DepottoPub: PLAYISM
Windows
Median: 7.3 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 27.5%, Mystery 21.8%, Story Rich 12.1%, Anime 11.4%, Simulation 9.9%
Why You'll Like It: This social deduction mystery uses time-loop mechanics to create a tense, ever-changing narrative experience.
- #13 Spirit Hunter: NG
89% matchVery Positive90% of 282 reviews2019
Dev: EXPERIENCEPub: Aksys Games
Windows
Median: 5.3 hrsMean: 20.4 hrs≥1hr: 73%
Beware the Creeping Horror... Face nightmares you thought were merely urban legends. Uncover a dark mystery, making deadly decisions just to survive. Play this chilling companion story to the award-winning Spirit Hunter: Death Mark game and bring the terror home.
Why similar: Gore 23.9%, Violent 23.1%, Visual Novel 22.2%, Horror 14.2%, Adventure 13.3%
Why You'll Like It: A direct spiritual successor to Death Mark that continues the focus on investigating terrifying urban legends.
- #14 Corpse Party
88% matchVery Positive89% of 1,376 reviews2016
Dev: GrisGrisPub: XSEED Games
Windows · Linux
Median: 3.5 hrsMean: 17.2 hrs≥1hr: 81%
A group of friends unknowingly perform an occult ritual that traps them in an otherworldly elementary school. Here, the vengeful spirits of young children threaten their lives and their sanity, and the only hope of survival is to uncover the chilling details behind the murders of those trapped before them...
Why similar: Horror 23.2%, Gore 20.1%, Visual Novel 15.8%, Anime 10.8%, RPG 9.7%
Why You'll Like It: A seminal Japanese horror title that focuses on supernatural curses and the desperate survival of its cast.
- #15 The House in Fata Morgana
87% matchVery Positive95% of 6,235 reviews2016
Dev: NOVECTPub: MangaGamer
Windows
Median: 6.5 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 25.4%, Mystery 20%, Horror 13%, Multiple Endings 12.9%, Story Rich 11.1%
Why You'll Like It: A gothic mystery that weaves a complex, multi-layered story through time and memory.
- #16 WORLD OF HORROR
86% matchVery Positive90% of 9,764 reviews2023
Dev: panstaszPub: Ysbryd Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 2.5 hrsMean: 7.8 hrs≥1hr: 71%
Experience the quiet terror of this 1-bit love letter to Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. Navigate a hellish roguelite reality with turn-based combat and unforgiving choices. Experiment with your deck of event cards to discover new forms of cosmic horror in every playthrough. The inevitable awaits...
Why similar: Horror 26.3%, Point & Click 23.9%, Mystery 17.9%, RPG 14.6%, Anime 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: Inspired by Junji Ito, this game captures the dread of urban legends through its unique cosmic horror aesthetic.
- #17 The Letter - Horror Visual Novel
86% matchVery Positive86% of 1,515 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 24.5%, Horror 16.6%, Gore 13.1%, Mystery 9.5%, Multiple Endings 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: A branching horror narrative where player choices significantly impact the survival of the cast.
- #18 CHAOS;HEAD NOAH
84% matchVery Positive88% of 1,810 reviews2022
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 52.6 hrs≥1hr: 83%
CHAOS;HEAD NOAH is now available on Steam!
Why similar: Visual Novel 25.7%, Gore 21.1%, Mystery 15.5%, Violent 10.9%, Story Rich 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: A psychological thriller that blends supernatural occurrences with a complex, mystery-laden narrative.
- #19 Iwaihime
85% matchMostly Positive79% of 887 reviews2020
Dev: DMM GAMESPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 5.6 hrsMean: 17.6 hrs≥1hr: 88%
From hit writer Ryukishi07, the creator of When They Cry, comes a story on the theme of “curses.” Strike down the dark riddle of dolls and soot in this supernatural horror visual novel.
Why similar: Supernatural 30.2%, Visual Novel 23.2%, Horror 11.8%, Anime 10%, Adventure 8.4%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural horror visual novel that delves into Japanese folklore and unsettling psychological themes.
- #20 Higurashi When They Cry Hou+
84% matchVery Positive88% of 170 reviews2023
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 5.5 hrs≥1hr: 65%
The tragedy of Hinamizawa is over. Those held captive within its grip are free from the fate that bound them to June 1983. Yet the tale of Hinamizawa is not truly complete. There are many worlds not yet explored.
Why similar: Visual Novel 26.8%, Gore 17.6%, Violent 17%, Adventure 11.7%, Anime 11%
Why You'll Like It: A deep, multi-layered mystery rooted in rural urban legends and psychological horror.
- #21 Midnight Syndrome
83% matchVery Positive99% of 93 reviews2024
Dev: ナツミカン
Windows
A summer night consumes the girls... Exploration type horror ADV game
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.6%, Point & Click 16.6%, Horror 13.8%, Mystery 12.5%, Choose Your Own Adventure 10.7%
Why You'll Like It: An exploration-based horror game centered on the investigation of local urban legends.
- #22 Cthulhu Mythos ADV Lunatic Whispers
82% matchMostly Positive74% of 105 reviews2022
Dev: Gotcha Gotcha Games
Windows
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of the Cthulhu Mythos with this 2D visual novel game featuring a thrilling TRPG-based experience! Roll the dice and use your skills and luck to escape the abandoned hospital, while experiencing the cosmic terror.
Why similar: Visual Novel 16%, Mystery 15.3%, Point & Click 12.8%, Horror 10%, JRPG 9.1%
Why You'll Like It: A Lovecraftian mystery that emphasizes exploration and the slow uncovering of supernatural truths.
- #23 Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
81% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 36,871 reviews2016
Dev: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 8.0 hrsMean: 22.9 hrs≥1hr: 89%
Investigate murders, search for clues and talk to your classmates to prepare for trial. There, you'll engage in deadly wordplay, going back and forth with suspects. Dissect their statements and fire their words back at them to expose their lies! There's only one way to survive—pull the trigger.
Why similar: Visual Novel 29.3%, Mystery 24.9%, Anime 13.4%, Story Rich 10.8%, Horror 7.7%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery-focused death game that features strong character dynamics and intense investigative segments.
- #24 Mercury Abbey
79% matchVery Positive92% of 958 reviews2024
Dev: YiTi GamesPub: Gamirror Games
Windows
In a mansion surrounded by mist, as the curse made by the Alchemist and Fairy reappears, the danger is quietly lurking in the darkness, awaiting its visitors.Follow Harrod and Willie to unravel an incredible story in Mercury Abbey, and go on an adventure that you would only find in mystery novels.
Why similar: Visual Novel 21.5%, Hand-drawn 19.8%, Adventure 14.1%, Gore 12.9%, Horror 11.4%
Why You'll Like It: A mystery-solving game that prioritizes deduction and atmosphere in a confined, suspicious setting.
- #25 Matsuro Palette
80% matchVery Positive99% of 335 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: Mystery 16%, Visual Novel 15.8%, Point & Click 15.4%, Horror 12%, Multiple Endings 11.6%
Why You'll Like It: A horror mystery that utilizes a unique art style and point-and-click investigation to build tension.
- #26 BAD END
82% matchVery Positive84% of 395 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 18.9%, Mystery 16%, Horror 12.3%, Multiple Endings 12.1%, Supernatural 9.5%
Why You'll Like It: An indie visual novel that explores dark, supernatural themes through branching paths and multiple endings.
- #27 PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
78% matchOverwhelmingly Positive96% of 6,838 reviews2023
Dev: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 8.7 hrsMean: 10.2 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: Supernatural 13%, Visual Novel 11.3%, 1980s 8.2%, Mystery 8.1%, Horror 6.8%
- #28 Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude
81% matchMixed62% of 450 reviews2022
Dev: Tango GameworksPub: Bethesda Softworks
Windows
Median: 36 minMean: 6.5 hrs≥1hr: 28%
Join KK and his gang of supernatural detectives as they investigate a strange disappearance, only to stumble upon something more sinister. Build relationships with your team and piece together their stories.
Why similar: Supernatural 30.9%, Visual Novel 24%, Mystery 17.4%, Multiple Endings 11.8%, Story Rich 7.8%
Why You'll Like It: A supernatural mystery set in Tokyo that focuses on paranormal investigation and atmospheric storytelling.
- #29 Umineko When They Cry - Question Arcs
79% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 2,708 reviews2016
Dev: 07th ExpansionPub: MangaGamer
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 13.3 hrsMean: 42.9 hrs≥1hr: 82%
Umineko When They Cry is the 2nd series of Sound Novel released by 07th Expansion. The steam version features renewed character sprites which is swappable from the classic art.
Why similar: Visual Novel 33.2%, Mystery 30.2%, Story Rich 13.9%, Horror 11%, Anime 7.6%
Why You'll Like It: An intricate mystery-solving narrative that challenges the player to distinguish between supernatural events and human deception.
- #30 Murder by Numbers
78% matchVery Positive84% of 1,662 reviews2020
Dev: MediatonicPub: The Irregular Corporation
Windows
Median: 4.5 hrsMean: 12.7 hrs≥1hr: 92%
Solve Pixel Puzzles to find clues. Use those clues to interrogate witnesses. Work your way to the truth... ...and uncover the mystery of Murder by Numbers!
Why similar: Visual Novel 37.3%, Mystery 24.2%, Story Rich 15.4%, Anime 13.3%, Adventure 9.8%
Why You'll Like It: A detective-themed mystery that combines investigative storytelling with puzzle-solving mechanics.
- #31 Graces: Posthumous Wish
76% matchVery Positive97% of 191 reviews2024
Dev: TomoToro
Windows
Aki is haunted by a curse. In search of salvation, she travels into the memories of a dead classmate, where she must witness three eerie mystical stories and figure out how to break the shackles of misfortune.
Why similar: Supernatural 23.3%, Visual Novel 17.1%, Mystery 12.8%, Multiple Endings 8.1%, Story Rich 7.8%
- #32 Corpse Party (2021)
77% matchVery Positive90% of 1,439 reviews2021
Dev: MAGES.Pub: XSEED Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 8.1 hrs≥1hr: 79%
Explore the haunted halls of Heavenly Host Elementary in Corpse Party (2021), the horror cult classic now updated for the next generation.
Why similar: Supernatural 16.3%, Horror 15.3%, Multiple Endings 11.7%, Visual Novel 8.3%, RPG 8.2%
- #33 Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo
76% matchMostly Positive79% of 136 reviews2025
Dev: DankHeartsPub: WhisperGames
Windows
Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a multi-ending mystery adventure game. A group of boys and girls who have lost their memories gather in a “Tokyo” that is both familiar and unfamiliar. They must trace their lost memories to escape the bizarre labyrinths. Are they prepared to confront their “true selves”?
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.2%, Multiple Endings 12.5%, Point & Click 12.1%, Mystery 11.5%, Adventure 9.7%
- #34 The Shell Part II: Purgatorio
74% matchVery Positive95% of 625 reviews2024
Dev: Innocent GreyPub: Shiravune
Windows
Median: 21.6 hrsMean: 167.6 hrs≥1hr: 81%
Detective Reiji Tokisaka is back to face down a mystery that spans decades, if not centuries. With the aftermath of his last case weighing on his soul and a long-silent cult resurgent, can he solve the crime—or will it become his curse?
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.6%, Mystery 20.5%, Horror 14%, Text-Based 11%, Anime 10.2%
- #35 マーダーミステリーパラドクス このひと夏の十五年
75% matchVery Positive86% of 265 reviews2023
Dev: 213℉Pub: Aniplex Inc.
Windows
"Murder Mystery Paradox: Fifteen Years of Summer" is a text-based adventure game. Enter the remote and sparsely populated island of Shikinejima and attempt to solve the strangely recurring mystery found there.
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.3%, Mystery 17.2%, Choose Your Own Adventure 13%, Horror 12.5%, Text-Based 12.2%
- #36 Kimagure Temptation
75% matchVery Positive97% of 190 reviews2021
Dev: Silky's Plus WasabiPub: Sekai Project
Windows
Median: 4.4 hrsMean: 20.8 hrs≥1hr: 69%
Mysterious murders. A cursed apartment building. Cohabitating with a cute demon girl?! All in a day's work for diviner, Haruhisa but will he be able to solve the case and not be distracted by a demon girl only interested in him?
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.6%, Point & Click 15%, Supernatural 14%, Multiple Endings 11%, Mystery 10.9%
- #37 Even20: The Interference of Parallels
73% matchVery Positive94% of 51 reviews2025
Dev: SilverEyesPub: Wisdom Games Publishing
Windows · Mac
Two souls are drawn into a mysterious otherworld—and torn apart. In a realm filled with danger and restless spirits, each searches for the other while uncovering hidden truths. A suspenseful multi-ending adventure where every choice shapes their fate.
Why similar: Mystery 16.9%, RPG 13.5%, Horror 13.3%, Violent 11.6%, Multiple Endings 10.3%
- #38 Seven Mysteries: The Last Page
77% matchMostly Positive74% of 62 reviews2018
Dev: Sang Hendrix
Windows
A story-driven psychological horror RPG about a group of friends who unintentionally become bound together after encountering 7 curses from a school.
Why similar: Supernatural 16.5%, Visual Novel 14.1%, Multiple Endings 13%, Mystery 11.4%, RPG 11.2%
- #39 Drowning Song of the Stagnant Sea
73% matchPositive86% of 50 reviews2026
Dev: 空想の工房Pub: Waku Waku Games
Windows
A dark fairy tale set in the deep sea. The fated encounter between a sea monster and a human forever changes their lives in this visual novel. Contains platonic yuri.
Why similar: Visual Novel 24.2%, Multiple Endings 15.5%, Adventure 15.4%, Gore 12.4%, Violent 12%
- #40 Little Goody Two Shoes
71% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 2,377 reviews2023
Dev: AstralShiftPub: Square Enix
Windows
Median: 3.7 hrsMean: 8.0 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Venture into the woods as you play Little Goody Two Shoes, a phantasmagorical horror narrative adventure where all your decisions matter!
Why similar: Horror 19.7%, Mystery 18.5%, RPG 18.1%, Multiple Endings 15.9%, Adventure 12.5%
- #41 Corpse Party: Book of Shadows
74% matchVery Positive86% of 505 reviews2018
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: XSEED Games
Windows
Median: 3.9 hrsMean: 16.2 hrs≥1hr: 84%
An anthology series that serves as a Corpse Party sequel, prequel, midquel, and alternate universe tale all in one. Rejoin old friends for a deeper dive into the haunted halls of Heavenly Host Elementary...
Why similar: Gore 16.2%, Violent 15.4%, Visual Novel 13.6%, Point & Click 10.5%, Horror 10.4%
- #42 Sunlight Scream
72% matchVery Positive84% of 81 reviews2023
Dev: Faithy Games
Windows · Mac · Linux
The hero moves to a new city. However, along with him comes a masked killer who begins to kill his friends one by one... Make decisions to build your adventure. Can you stop him before it's too late?
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.1%, Mystery 18.3%, Violent 10%, Story Rich 9.6%, Anime 9.5%
- #43 Hira Hira Hihiru
69% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 902 reviews2023
Dev: BA-KUPub: ANIPLEX.EXE
Windows
Median: 5.7 hrsMean: 10.6 hrs≥1hr: 69%
"Hira Hira Hihiru" is a visual novel set in a fictional Taishō Era. It tells the story of its two protagonists' struggle against Aerodema, a terrifying disease which brings the dead back to life.
Why similar: Visual Novel 31.8%, Adventure 15.7%, Violent 15%, Choose Your Own Adventure 12.5%, Text-Based 9.2%
- #44 Kugayama Shiori's Death Diary
68% matchVery Positive95% of 516 reviews2026
Dev: Laplacian
Windows
A mystery visual novel where horror meets occult comedy. Follow Kugayama Shiori, a ghost who casually dies over and over as she searches for her cause of death and the regrets that bind her to this world. Her investigation will eventually lead to a single incident—and the truth behind her demise.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.9%, Adventure 14.3%, Gore 11.8%, Violent 10.4%, Choose Your Own Adventure 10%
- #45 HAPPY SAIN† SHEOL
70% matchVery Positive84% of 230 reviews2024
Dev: HUNGRYCULTPub: Sekai Project
Windows · Mac · Linux
Two thousand years ago, the Pestis Disaster swept through the land, corrupting all living things and making it to difficult to live on the land. Having touched the darkest darkness the world has seen, one must now face the dazzling light. Thus I pose this question. Whose wings did I see that day?
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.1%, Gore 17%, Horror 13.7%, Violent 12.8%, Adventure 12%
- #46 Love Curse: Find Your Soulmate
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive95% of 3,103 reviews2025
Dev: Xso
Windows · Mac
Median: 5.5 hrsMean: 9.4 hrs≥1hr: 80%
Love Curse is a GL visual novel. You’ve fallen under a curse, and the only way to break it is to find your soulmate! The clock is ticking… Will you find true love? And what secrets will you uncover along the way?
Why similar: Visual Novel 36.2%, Supernatural 18.6%, Multiple Endings 14.7%, RPG 10.2%, Text-Based 7.2%
- #47 Siren's Call: Escape Velocity
69% matchVery Positive98% of 135 reviews2025
Dev: ThePenSword
Windows
The definitive edition of the fan-favorite visual novel is here! A surreal, coming-of-age tale set in early 2010s Central Florida, Siren's Call is the small town you swore you'd always leave. Something inside you knows this is your last chance. Will you reach escape velocity?
Why similar: Visual Novel 23.1%, Mystery 17.9%, Horror 14.2%, Multiple Endings 12.8%, Anime 8.5%
- #48 Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II
69% matchVery Positive98% of 159 reviews2024
Dev: EXPERIENCEPub: Aksys Games
Windows
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is a suspense-horror game set at a prestigious academy. When rumors circulate about supernatural occurrences at the famed Konoehara Academy in Tokyo’s H City, it’s up to the head of the Kujou family, also known as the “Spirit Doctor,” to take on the case.
Why similar: Visual Novel 30.6%, Horror 17.8%, Gore 13.7%, Violent 13.3%, Adventure 12.9%
- #49 Suicide Countdown: 7 Days
70% matchVery Positive81% of 1,082 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 19.7%, Horror 12.6%, Supernatural 12.6%, Mystery 12.2%, JRPG 10.6%
- #50 Cursed Mansion
70% matchVery Positive90% of 68 reviews2023
Dev: Dragon Emperors
Windows
Rose must escape the Cursed Mansion - a demonic space that preys and feeds on fear and despair. In this horror RPG you'll solve puzzles and learn the mansion’s history. Mystery, malignant spirits, and misery everywhere. Cursed Mansion brings an eerie atmosphere which leaves one with goosebumps.
Why similar: Supernatural 23.1%, Mystery 15.8%, Multiple Endings 14.2%, Horror 13.1%, RPG 8.9%
- #51 Enelia: Dawn of Madness
68% matchVery Positive95% of 129 reviews2024
Dev: Indra Studio
Windows
Immerse yourself in the enigmatic world of Nauris, where enchanting landscapes hide terrifying secrets: the strange behavior of elders, sinister rituals of priests, and the disappearance of citizens. Madness lurks everywhere – will you master it or become its victim? The choice is yours.
Why similar: Visual Novel 19.2%, Horror 12.3%, Point & Click 11.6%, Multiple Endings 10.4%, Story Rich 8.8%
- #52 女儿国的诅咒 The Curse of Womanland
66% matchVery Positive94% of 217 reviews2026
Dev: 符离游戏（FuliGames）
Windows
A romance-adventure text-based game themed around the Land of Women. You will travel to the Land of Women, meet the mysterious young lady Jian Ling, and gradually uncover the bloody and dark secrets behind this realm. Death, resistance, or degeneration? Everything depends on your choices.
Why similar: Visual Novel 20.1%, Violent 15.7%, Gore 14%, RPG 10.1%, Adventure 8.8%
- #53 The Test: Hypothesis Rising
67% matchOverwhelmingly Positive98% of 5,928 reviews2020
Dev: Randumb Studios
Windows
Median: 48 minMean: 1.5 hrs≥1hr: 41%
The second chapter in The Test trilogy. Answer a series of in-depth questions to reveal hidden truths about yourself and unlock secrets to discover how your life can change drastically with just a few, slight modifications. ...But are you sure you want the answers you seek?
Why similar: Visual Novel 16.1%, Mystery 14.6%, Multiple Endings 12.5%, Horror 11.1%, Simulation 9.1%
- #54 TASOKARE HOTEL Re:newal
68% matchVery Positive87% of 83 reviews2024
Dev: SEEC Inc.
Windows · Mac
一日中夕暮れに染まっている「黄昏ホテル」。そこは、生と死の狭間を彷徨う魂たちが羽を休めるために存在する場所。ある日、ホテルに迷い込んだ少女が、出会いと事件をきっかけに、自らの運命を大きく切り開くことに。生死の狭間で謎解きに挑む、世にも奇妙な異世界脱出アドベンチャーが登場！
Why similar: Visual Novel 16.7%, Point & Click 14.4%, Multiple Endings 11.3%, Mystery 11.2%, Text-Based 8%
- #55 CAFE 0 ~The Drowned Mermaid~
73% matchMixed63% of 178 reviews2015
Dev: ROSEVERTE MYSTERYPub: ROSEVERTE
Windows · Mac · Linux
Median: 3.1 hrsMean: 3.9 hrs≥1hr: 96%
What will you do if you can redo the last 7 days before you died? Try this unique supernatural mystery visual novel!
Why similar: Visual Novel 46.2%, Mystery 14.1%, Horror 12.8%, Adventure 12.4%, Anime 8%
- #56 Magical Eyes - Red is for Anguish
71% 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 32.8%, Mystery 24%, Adventure 15.6%, Horror 14.2%, Anime 13.5%
- #57 Paradise: Musubi
66% matchVery Positive99% of 66 reviews2026
Dev: PIL/SLASHPub: JAST
Windows · Mac · Linux
The first sequel to the Boys Love visual novel Paradise. Play through the continuation of the original game's good endings, and unlock flashbacks to the first Paradise from new perspectives. Contains new CGs, characters, and lots of romance!
Why similar: Visual Novel 28.7%, Mystery 24.7%, Choose Your Own Adventure 15.9%, Story Rich 13%, Adventure 10.3%
- #58 Curse
72% matchMixed63% of 78 reviews2016
Dev: Stormlord GamesPub: Stormlord Games LLC
Windows
Median: 42 minMean: 3.3 hrs≥1hr: 48%
CURSE is a point-and-click horror game that throws the player into the world of paranormal investigations.
Why similar: Supernatural 24.7%, Point & Click 18.2%, Horror 16.9%, 1980s 15.1%, Simulation 12.6%
- #59 CHAOS;CHILD
67% matchVery Positive93% of 3,899 reviews2019
Dev: MAGES. Inc.Pub: Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
Windows
Median: 4.2 hrsMean: 81.0 hrs≥1hr: 82%
From the creators of the critically acclaimed STEINS;GATE comes a sensational new visual novel: CHAOS;CHILD. Set in Shibuya in 2015, a group of high school students who survived an earthquake six years ago find themselves at the center of a new series of bizarre murders in the city.
Why similar: Visual Novel 22.9%, Gore 15.7%, Mystery 15.1%, Violent 14.2%, Story Rich 7.1%
- #60 Myths of Rules
65% matchVery Positive88% of 1,032 reviews2023
Dev: Sugarcane Games
Windows · Mac
Median: 1.1 hrsMean: 2.8 hrs≥1hr: 53%
This is a text-based adventure puzzle game, where you must struggle to survive in a world filled with ghosts and urban legends. While collecting clues, you'll uncover the truth behind the world and find the way out. The game features a wealth of levels, unconventional rules, and a touch of horror.
Why similar: Horror 27.4%, Story Rich 25.3%, Adventure 15.8%, Text-Based 13.9%, Multiple Endings 7.7%
