Sunday, May 25, 2025
As
we creepy slowly closer to summer, the temperature has been rising in
the world of visual novels with a suite of exciting releases. It has
been a month full of a little bit for everyone from those who want a
harem of catgirls to the complex relationships of yuri and yaoi to
various supernatural tales dripping in danger. Let’s dive in and
find out what visual novels from the past month you should be
playing.
Official Releases
NEKOPARA After
It
has been five years since the last entry in the NEKOPARA franchise
and this seemed to be a series which had reached its natural end.
Then along come After to inject life with a game focused around a
previously minor catgirl and the protagonist’s sister. Nothing
about this game is interested in breaking the formula established in
previous titles and it instead doubles down on the familiar
characters and setting as its main selling points. This is a victory
lap of sorts focused on the only remaining character without meaning
exploration, Kashou’s sister Shigure and her odd relationship
with her brother. Since the games have generally had a dual heroines,
the catgirl of Kashou’s grandmother has been brought in to act as a
foil to the antics of Shigure and their dynamic is main selling point
of After. If you are a fan of NEKOPARA then After is a must buy, but
it will not be converting anyone who never meshed with its brand of
humour and slice of life story.
7'scarlet
Originally
released on the PSVita back in 2018, this Nintendo Switch release
opens up the supernatural romance up to a new audience who get to
enjoy its imaginative brand of otome. The visual novel is focused
around the heroine’s search for her brother who has gone missing
after he visited Okunezato. With this as her only clue she sets out
with her childhood friend Kagutsuchi Hino to investigate this
mysterious town, but what she find is more dangerous than she could
have anticipated as the local ‘Legend of the Dead’ turns out to
be very real. This supernatural mystery forms the backbone of the
narrative as each new route reveals a piece of the puzzle alongside
getting to know the various suitors. It does a good job of balancing
the love and the danger to create an engaging tension between the
leads which helps spice up the typical otome romance. Overall
7'scarlet is a fun otome for those looking to add a little more
intrigue to their pursuit of the suitors.
The Town of Nie Iromusubi
Being
the fandisc to the original The Town Of Nie puts Iromusubi in an
interesting position due to that first game’s darker themes and
afterlife centric story. It chooses to tackle these elements by
leaning into them as it expands on both the good and bad endings from
the original in order to continue the rounded perspective on its
characters. There are also the customary extra stories
common in fandiscs, here they are all given to side characters so
their backstories can be explored in a way they could not be before.
As a whole Iromusubi shifts away from the direct sense of danger and
mystery into a title examining the few possibilities left from new
angles. While not quite offering the same experience as the original
it still manages to offer fans something substantial to chew on.
Perennial Dusk -Kinsenka-
Frontwing’s
newest title has an interesting set up with it following a group of
exorcists in training in a world where the living and the dead freely
mingle. Everything about this game is set up it makes its intent to
create a powerful and resonant emotional journey clear as well as
the fact it will not be an entirely happy one. This is a story about
the ability of the human spirit to endure hardships and how that
shapes people while they keep pushing forwards. However, this is a
Frontwing game so this is never going to be a wall to wall bleak
affair and instead leans into elements of action and slice of life to
break up any darker feelings and make time for the characters to just
be themselves. Being a focused and linear version of the developer’s
style makes Perennial Dusk an excellent place to dip your toes into
their portfolio and offers a compelling experience for existing fans.
Clover Reset
For
this month’s yuri game we have Cover Reset, a tale of young love
and heightened emotions. This is a title which firmly leans into its
teenage cast and school setting to present its romance through a
heart-warming coming of age story. It puts a lot of effort into
making its cast feel human and with relatable concerns which build upon
each other to create an excellent breeding ground for drama. All this
results in a very inward looking narrative where the inner journeys
of these characters are in many ways more important than their actual
actions. Cover Reset is a suitably emotional ride that will appeal to
fans of the genre and those looking for something with an
introspective nature.
