2022 has most certainly not been the best year for video games, but it has still been a home run for certain genres or types. While the talk of the Internet remains steadfast in covering just how appealing indie games specifically continue to be, we are going to go even more niche and touch upon visual novels. For both traditional and untraditional visual novels, there has been plenty of personal highlights of the genre for me on PC alone. We have dug deeper and considered the very best of the genre from general consensus including our own opion. So without further ado, here are the five top visual novels of 2022.
Witch on the Holy Night
Witch on the Holy Night had to make the list for a single reason really – its release is a monumental moment for all visual novel buffs because after two decades, the West has finally received the very first TYPE-MOON game officially in English. Best known as the developer who helmed the iconic IP of the Fate series, popularised in the West via its numerous spin offs such as the anime adaptation of its visual novel original source material, the localisation of Witch on the Holy Night is a massive deal.
The title may be the least known entry of the Nasuverse in the West, but its existing acclaim and sales proves just how beloved the series is, especially for the sheer potential in making an impact internationally with its flagship titles. Witch on the Holy Night works as an introduction to the Nasuverse, being the most tame in themes and as a predominantly slice of life story with magic/mage motifs and following a minor character of Tsukihime called Aoko Aozaki.
With all that out of the way, thankfully, the game does not just deserve your attention for the developer’s namesake alone. Witch on the Holy Night is one of the most polished and fantastically presented visual novels ever. With a unique style and exquisite presentation from its CGs filling up the backgrounds in each transition and with a true to the original translation, this is the truest and most pure visual novel to have come out recently – all the way down to its limited choices that makes the interactivity more kinetic until its final moments and with few endings.
Slow Damage
It’s hard to argue that Slow Damage is the greatest BL (Boys Love) game of 2022 due to hype alone as soon as it was announced for the West. Slow Damage comes from the developer Nitro+CHiRAL, a branch of Nitroplus that specialises in BL best known for creating Togainu no Chi, sweet pool and DRAMAtical Murder, all made readily available to play in the West thanks to JAST BLUE – branch of visual novel localisation juggernaut JAST USA.
With all these infamous titles being known for stunning visuals and character designs that are juxtaposed to the broody and violent backdrops of the settings and themes, Slow Damage is no different. In fact, it marries the biggest merits and highest points of all titles that came before it, culminating in the most emotional, thrilling and poignant product from the company ever. It shows just how far Fuchii Kabura has come as a writer – the scenario writer of all the games mentioned above – alongside the very best protagonist of Nitro+CHiRAL’s leads as well as a remarkable and polished translation by Molly Lee.
Even if BL is not on your radar, Slow Damage as an exceptional visual novel is not one to be missed for any excuse.
Piofiore: Episodio 1926
When it comes to otomes that released this year, nothing in the genre particularly blew me away. Despite that, the clear winner of being the best within said genre for 2022 is the sequel to 2020’s Piofiore: Fated Memories – a violence heavy, mafia centred visual novel aimed at females set in 20th Century Italy. The sequel follows its Heroine, Lillian and the love interests after their Happy Endings of the original game.
With all routes being readily available and three modes to explore, Piofiore: Episodio 1926 offers a lot to dig into right out of the gate. By seeing different sides to the love interests, some of which are made further complex and interesting with better character development and fleshing out alongside narrative twists coming from the interactions and involvement of new characters, Piofiore: Episodio 1926 further excites and improves on the original story and world building.
With a notably brilliant balancing of action or darker themes with its romance, Piofiore: Episodio 1926 is truly the crowd pleaser of the localised 2022 otome offerings.
Chaos;Head Noah
Undoubtedly hitting this list is Chaos;Head Noah, developed by the iconic MAGES. studio. Hailed for creating the Science Adventures series within the visual novel genre that consists of the masterpiece Steins;Gate that popularised it, Spike Chunsoft brings forth its latest yet earliest entry with Chaos;Head Noah. As the expanded version of the very first title from the series, this also marks the first time that the West has received this title in English.
As the game that started it all for the Science Adventures series, Chaos;Head Noah tells a terrifically twisted and emotional tale, one that goes under the radar when its biggest name within the same series continues to take up all of the attention and acclaim. With fantastically complex characters, dark themes with a horror lenses and a true classic of a thrilling psychological visual novel, Chaos; Head Naoh continues to wow us well over 10 years since its conception and initial release.
NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD
As the only untraditional visual novel on our list, NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD is predominately a management sim with pixel art that is as satirical as it is critical of streamer culture. NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD’s cute overlay and design hides its true nature, and is something that gradually gets unmasked the longer you spend with its leading lady Ame, or OMGkawaiiAngel as she fully becomes her online persona – for better and for worse.
Witness and have a hand unintentionally or intentionally in how she mentally deteriorates, becomes all the more self destructive and see her psyche and mental health continuously decline, all for the sake of becoming the Internet’s biggest streamer name. Depressing in its contemporary significance and lasting in your memory as it lingers and manifests in remembering its very worst and best parts of its storytelling and escalating events, NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD requires you to be in your very best mindset to accept the challenges and themes it contains.
Think we missed a game worth mentioning? Let us know via our socials at Facebook and check out other related articles such as Top 10 Best Winter and Christmas Themed Visual Novels or Q&A: Tsundere Studio, Developer of “I Just Want To Be Single!!”.
