Are VNs still being made? Any standouts in the past decade?

[B3A2T]

I have fond memories of VNs since Baldr Sky and Aiyoku no Eustia was what made me learn Japanese. I think the last ones I played were Baldr Heart and Senmomo. I know August pretty much transitioned completely to their gatcha game Iris Mysteria since I played that for about 2 years. I noticed that their DMM advertising has gotten way more explicit over the last year so I assume that's just what sells in their niche. Is that the state of the rest of the industry - either no longer in business or making nukiges only? Or are there still occasional gems being released. If so, what are they, I might give them a shot as a change of pace.

[LostPomegranate]

https://vndb.org/v?q=&ch=&f=0272_0bSiAa2Nv&s=24w

 

There's been quite a few highly rated games released in the last ten years. Qruppo's games (Nukitashi 1 & 2, Hentai Prison), tone work's had two releases and a fandisc (Ginharu and Tsukikana / Tsukikana SSR), the 9-nine- series, at least the last episode of Clockwork Leyline, Summer Pockets, Cyanotype Daydream, and Jeweha & Jewena all released. Largely just depends on what you're looking for. A lot of the "old school" developers have been driven out due to various reasons though - COVID probably killed the most companies and we're still dealing with the effects of that due to the slowed development cycle.

[B3A2T]

Thanks, some of those look intriguing. I'll probably try out Cyanotype Daydream once I finish my current JRPG.

[Clephas]

Sadly, in terms of games being made, the numbers started steadily decreasing back in 2019 and Covid pretty much killed the industry in Japan.  As for VNs made between 2015-2020, there were a pretty good number of excellent releases.  However, there is very little worthy of note made after 2020.