Think of these as free little novellas that you pick up at a stand on the way so you have some reading material during the commute, except instead of books with paper pages, they're videogames.
The subgenres explained:
This visual novel tells a tragic story of two toys, each unable to cope with not being loved as much by their owner than the other. It doesn't have much in terms of meaningful choices, playing more like a kinetic novel that's split down the middle into two branching paths.
This is a Lupin The Third fan game, so forgive me if I let my personal bias bleed into this list a bit. However, even if you're not a fan of the anime or you know next to nothing about it, it's still a cute little enemies-to-lovers story filled to the brim with humor and mirth.
This long-awaited follow-up to Is Lupin Still Flirting? sees you as Lupin trying to convince gun-toting partner-in-crime Jigen to join you on your heists and keep him from losing his cool. The story has just as much of the humor and wisecracks as its predecessor, but it also gets surprisingly intimate and emotional, culminating in a truly cathartic climax that's sure to steal your heart.
Much like with Is Lupin Still Flirting?, you don't need to be already familiar with the Lupin The Third anime in order to fully enjoy the story.
A quirky kinetic novel about a doctor and his assistant trying to solve a strange case of missing children's bones in a mining town. Think Sherlock Holmes with the added whimsy and macabre of a fairy tale.
This follow-up manages to somehow be chillier than its predecessor (no pun intended). If you thought an epidemic of children losing their bones was disturbing enough, try a death game at the South Pole as the origin story for good ol' Saint Nick.
In this otome game that takes place in the Roaring Twenties, you land a spot as a bartender in a speakeasy. Oh, and it turns out you're actually a magician, and you have to choose one of three experienced magic users to tutor you before your exam, which you have to pass if you don't want to have both your magic and your memory wiped. No biggie!
This one turns the tables on the whole "virtual pet monster" craze. Now, you're the pet monster being taken care of.
This deceptive bishojo game wears a cutesy mask that conceals dark secrets. Once that mask is off, the game goes from being sickly-sweet romance to full-blown psychological horror.
WARNING: This game contains a buttload of themes in the second half that may trigger people of a more sensitive disposition. Telling you exactly what they are will somewhat spoil the experience. However, if you'd rather want to be safe than sorry, click here for a full list of the triggers.
You're a young female highschool student who inherits her late grandfather's toy company, only to discover that his mansion is the safe haven of a group of incubi who fled the underworld. It's very much an otome dating sim full of bishonen, so you get exactly what you expect... and perhaps a little more if you're willing to break a few conventions. Additionally, the voice-acting is pretty decent in this one.
This game has since been bundled in a Complete Story pack along with its sequel, 13 mini-episodes, and 2 audio plays. Said pack can be purchased here.
The only kinetic novel I've come across so far that's based on a true story. It's absolutely inspiring and definitely worth a try.
Takes place during a zombie apocalypse and focuses on the human element by letting you experience the two characters' interactions through the eyes of one of them.
