Summary

  • Discover a new world of visual novels with diverse genres like romance, horror, and comedy.
  • Unveil thrilling stories and engaging gameplay mechanics in these unique visual novel experiences.
  • Immerse yourself in interactive storytelling with choices that impact the narrative significantly.

If you want to take a break from all the massive action and horror titles but still want a game with a deep story, then a visual novel may be just what you need. These games usually contain a story-focused experience with various gameplay mechanics and options to keep each playthrough from feeling stale.

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These games cover a range of genres, like romance, horror, and even comedy. There are shorter visual novels that can be beaten in a few sittings and longer ones that can take a couple of weeks to reach the ending. If you are looking for the best visual novels available on PlayStation, these are the ones to check out as soon as possible.

Updated March 22, 2025, by Kyle Chamaillard: The PlayStation has something for everyone, including an incredible range of visual novels for anyone looking to take a break from all the excellent triple-A titles. There are so many great choices that we've decided to update this list to include even more visual novels that are worth looking into while you wait for the next big game from Insomniac or Naughty Dog.

29 Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

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Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

RPG Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 87/100 Critics Rec: 99% Released January 31, 2025 ESRB T For Teen Due To Violent References, Use of Alcohol And Tobacco, Drug Reference, Language Developer(s) Jump Over the Age Publisher(s) Fellow Traveller Number of Players 1 PC Release Date January 31, 2025
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PS5 Release Date January 31, 2025 Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by Expand Collapse

Citizen Sleeper 2 is an ambitious role-playing game that is overflowing with unique mechanics, memorable characters, and so many different narrative paths that you'll want to boot it up again as soon as you roll credits. You control a Sleeper, an android tasked with physical labor, who eventually escapes and must find a way to survive on their own.

Building on the foundation of its predecessor, Citizen Sleeper 2 requires you to make careful decisions as you decide how to spend your days and who to spend them with. Both of the Citizen Sleeper games are perfect for anyone looking for visual novels that will keep them hooked with spectacular and immersive writing while keeping them on the edge of their seat with tough choices that will determine their success.

28 Slay The Princess - The Pristine Cut

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Slay the Princess

Adventure Horror Released October 23, 2023 Platform(s) PC Developer Black Tabby Games Publisher Black Tabby Games How Long To Beat 4 Hours How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 13.5 Hours OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by Expand Collapse

Saving a princess from danger is a fairly common goal in video games, but Slay the Princess puts a dark twist on the concept that'll stick with you long after you've finished it. Each loop requires you to make decisions that determine which ending you receive and changes certain details like visuals in horrific follow-up runs.

Slay the Princess launched on the PC in 2023 and was ported to consoles a year later with new content and a new name - Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut. Its art style and concept might be disarming at first, but saving a princess has never been scarier.

27 Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

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Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

Adventure Crime 4.5/5 Released September 6, 2024 ESRB T For Teen // Mild Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom Franchise Ace Attorney Platform(s) Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One How Long To Beat 40 Hours OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by Expand Collapse

There are a lot of Ace Attorney games, and most of them follow the same routine of letting you investigate a crime scene before you bring your evidence to the courtroom for a battle for justice. If you love the world of Phoenix Wright but want something a bit different, the Investigations Collection allows you to solve crimes with new mechanics that will feel fresh even for Ace Attorney completionists.

Instead of playing as a defense attorney, you control world-famous prosecutor Miles Edgeworth in both games included in the collection. With a memorable cast of characters, clever writing, and mind-blowing reveals, picking up these visual novels should be an open and shut case.

26 Vampire: The Masqurade - Coteries Of New York

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Vampire: The Masquerade Coteries Of New York

Horror Visual Novel RPG 3.5/5 Released December 11, 2019 ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Mild Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language Platform(s) PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One Developer Draw Distance Publisher Draw Distance How Long To Beat 6 Hours OpenCritic Rating Fair Powered by Expand Collapse

There are plenty of different games in the Vampire: The Masquerade series, and if you're interested in hopping into the World of Darkness, Coteries of New York should be your first adventure. Inspired by the popular tabletop RPG, you'll control one of three characters as a war between separate factions slowly brews.

After you choose your character, you'll spend the next few hours interacting with other vampires and choosing dialogue options that affect the story's direction. With an incredible art style and many twists, this game will sink its teeth into you and won't let go until you've rolled credits and downloaded the next entry in the series.

25 Burly Men At Sea

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Burly Men at Sea

Adventure Released September 29, 2016 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10 // Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Brain&Brain Publisher(s) Brain&Brain Platform(s) Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, PS Vita OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by Expand Collapse

If you would rather sit down and complete a visual novel in a single sitting instead of chipping away at it over the course of a couple of weeks, Burly Men at Sea is worth seeking out. At most, the game will take you two hours to complete, but it's worth it just to witness these fishermen's adventures.

Inspired by Scandinavian folklore, Burly Men at Sea is an interactive story that branches toward different endings based on the decisions you make. Despite only being a couple of hours long, this title stands out for its colorful aesthetic, whimsical soundtrack, and innovative gameplay.

24 Mediterranea Inferno

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Mediterranea Inferno

Visual Novel Released August 24, 2023 ESRB M for Mature - Blood, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence Developer(s) Eyeguys, Lorenzo Redaelli Publisher(s) Santa Ragione Engine Unity PS5 Release Date March 5, 2024 Platform(s) PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4 How Long To Beat 2½ Hours How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 5½ Hours OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by Expand Collapse

Mediterranea Inferno originally launched on Steam in 2023 before eventually finding its way onto consoles the following year. Longer than games like Burly Men at Sea but not as time-consuming as Ace Attorney or Danganronpa, this compelling visual novel explores deep themes and isn't afraid to keep you on your toes as it pulls you through its strange and fascinating world.

The game follows three childhood friends during a summer vacation they'll never forget. It's fascinating how Mediterranea Inferno deals with topics like anxiety and loneliness, and its thought-provoking nature will connect with almost anyone who hops into it. Its unique tone and visual style are worth checking out, but the story feels essential for anyone dealing with imposter syndrome or just trying to find themselves during these difficult times.

23 Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness

Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness

Visual Novel Released May 28, 2015 ESRB T for Teen - Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) MAGES, 5pb Publisher(s) NIS America PC Release Date April 28, 2017 Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS Vita How Long To Beat 7 Hours How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 28½ Hours OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by Expand Collapse

If you're a fan of the Psycho-Pass anime or dystopian fiction, Mandatory Happiness has everything you need. It's set in a futuristic version of Tokyo, where every citizen is scanned for their criminal potential, and you'll play as several characters trying to hunt down a rogue AI that wants to euthanize part of the human population.

If you enjoy movies like Total Recall or Blade Runner and futuristic detective narratives, this game is for you. It also follows characters who don't appear in the anime, so you don't have to watch it to get in on the action. Like other visual novels, the choices you make will affect the narrative significantly.

22 Date A Live: Rio Reincarnation

Date A Live: Rio Reincarnation

Visual Novel Simulation Released July 23, 2019 ESRB M for Mature - Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes Developer(s) Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Sting Publisher(s) Idea Factory International PC Release Date July 23, 2019 Platform(s) PC, Android, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, PlayStation 5 How Long To Beat 15 Hours How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 52½ Hours OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by Expand Collapse

This is a great visual novel to pick up, especially if you’ve seen the Date A Live anime. Rio Reincarnation contains three separate stories that let you interact with the girls from the series in all-new adventures. To save the world from lethal Spacequakes, you'll need to befriend the Spirits and teach them the power of love.

The game also has a heavy focus on romance, and there are multiple endings available that will change depending on which character you decide to romance. Seeing them all might be difficult, as there are over ten different characters to interact with and numerous dating events to witness.

21 Chicken Police: Paint It Red!

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Chicken Police: Paint It Red

Visual Novel Released November 5, 2020 ESRB M for Mature - Blood, Drug Reference, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) The Wild Gentlemen Publisher(s) HandyGames PS5 Release Date November 5, 2020 Platform(s) PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, iOS, Android How Long To Beat 7 Hours How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs) 11 Hours Powered by Expand Collapse

Developed by a Hungarian gaming studio, Chicken Police is pure visual novel gold. You play as a weathered, rooster-headed cop named Sonny Fetherland as he tries to uncover the truth behind the city of Clawville. There's romance, mystery, and a surprising amount of heart for a story about a man who is also a chicken.

Chicken Police boasts over eight hours of spoken dialogue, interrogation scenes, and more mysteries than you can crow at. It's a surreal experience, watching a dog tell a bird that he's off the force, but if you're into that kind of surrealism, this bizarre neo-noir may be exactly what you're looking for.

20 428: Shibuya Scramble

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248: Shibuya Scramble

Visual Novel Developer(s) Abstraction Games Publisher(s) Spike Chunsoft Platform(s) PC, PS4 Powered by Expand Collapse

Unlike the other visual novels on this list, 428: Shibuya Scramble uses real actors and still images instead of animation to tell its unforgettably absurd story. It features five protagonists whose lives begin to intertwine after they all get sucked into the midst of an intriguing mystery.

You can play as them in any order you like, though progress will sometimes stop if you haven't advanced far enough in another character's story. You must also be careful because certain decisions can affect the other narratives for better or worse. Shibuya Scramble is simultaneously hilarious, surprising, and unlike anything else available on the PlayStation.