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Posted

So visual novels are (at least from what I gather, and how people around me perceive them as) about romance with generally the protagonist romancing someone else.  Usually the story and plot revolves around going into the partner's personal life and issues they have, solving them, and ending with the protagonist and the partner in a relationship (sometimes sexual).

 

I'm looking for visual novels where the main focus is not about the partner's issues or life, but rather about the story of the protagonist and the world around him.  I don't mind having romance involved, but I don't want it to be the main component and driving force behind the story.

 

I haven't gotten around to them yet, but the ones that come to mind that seem to fit the criteria so far are the When They Cry series, Chaos;Head, and to a lesser extent Stein's;Gate.

 

Does anyone else have any titles that fit the criteria? I'd prefer it to be translated, and to a lesser extent not contain gameplay.  

 

Posted

It could be argued probably, but I would probably fit Muvluv: Alternative into that. ML and ML extra would still be romance based,but Alt. is pretty much a non-romance story.

 

You are still presented choices in who you favor over the course of it, but it's more or less cosmetic and doesn't actually do anything in the long run, and lacks any feeling of "closeness" as two in love, it focuses more on the feelings between friends.

 

Also Swan Song - though I'm not 100% sure on that (was a bit too dark for my tastes, and had to put it away before finishing).

Posted

Rewrite.

 

It has romance in it but is kinda like a subplot. The protag's decisions and the world around him are the main drivers of the story. 

Posted

The only vn that I can think of that doesn't have romance or even love is narcissu, it's too difficult to create a whole story that isn't based or doesn't rely on love even if it is by a little.

Swan song too, it does have romance but it's not the main theme, i think any vn that focus on surviving (aka swan song) can have what you are looking for sadly i haven't played many of them.

Posted

Abyssal you should make a VNDB so we know what you've read already  :D

Sadly the only VN I could think of in my very, very limited library is Rewrite as iamnoob suggested~ 

Posted

Abyssal you should make a VNDB so we know what you've read already  :D

Sadly the only VN I could think of in my very, very limited library is Rewrite as iamnoob suggested~ 

Probably not an awful idea, I'll get around to it when I go back and catalogue what I have read.  I'm lazy, it took me over a year to start building my anime OST and just as long to keep track of the anime/manga series I have read in a way that I liked.

 

After searching some more, I/O seems it might work.  Maybe someone else can confirm.

Posted

It isn't hard to find ones that don't focus on romance but have romance as a side-dish... most chuunige are of this type, for instance.  Ones entirely without romance are almost impossible to find though.

Posted

There are plenty of visual novels where the romance is nothing but a sub plot and not the focus of the main plot. But it also depends on what kind of story you want to read. I could list a bunch of visual novels but without knowing what you like they will all be a hit or a miss.

Posted

There are plenty of visual novels where the romance is nothing but a sub plot and not the focus of the main plot. But it also depends on what kind of story you want to read. I could list a bunch of visual novels but without knowing what you like they will all be a hit or a miss.

Pretty much anything translated is going to be fine, but anything supernatural is where I enjoy things.  I would rather try to keep the romance subplot as low as possible though.

Posted

In this case I would recommend

 

G-Senjou

Ever17

Remember11

I/O

Cartagra

Kara no Shoujo

maybe Never7 - there is focus on romance but there is also an overarching story

you mentioned Higurashi so I guess you'll like Umineko too

I think Steins;Gate is good too, there is romance but it's not the focus most of the time

 

I didn't play all of these myself, and even those I did play not all of them were good but try out a few see what you like.

Posted

I find that most well known VNs don't have satisfying romances.  Romance is a subplot in VNs more often than not, just like mainstream novels and movies that always have a token romance to widen their appeal.

Posted

In this case I would recommend

 

G-Senjou

Ever17

Remember11

I/O

Cartagra

Kara no Shoujo

maybe Never7 - there is focus on romance but there is also an overarching story

you mentioned Higurashi so I guess you'll like Umineko too

I think Steins;Gate is good too, there is romance but it's not the focus most of the time

 

I didn't play all of these myself, and even those I did play not all of them were good but try out a few see what you like.

erm... (If the name "Yasu" rings any bells, you won't be hurt by these spoilers- probably)

Umineko IS kinda based on romance, according to the official explanation

Yasu (main character of EP7) is Shannon, Beatrice and Kanon. During each "game", one of the three characters' love succeeds, and the other two personalities "die".

 

 

 

Sekien no Inganock, 999, VLR

 

I was not sure to laugh or cry until I saw these two posts.

 

I'll add Danganronpa to that list, it does have a few romantic relationships but they are far from being the main focus. (One could dispute this in case of SDR2, though)

 

If you want to know VN's COMPLETELY devoid of romance, that'll prove to be quite difficult.

Posted

Funy, why would you cry? It's not like they are focused on romance .-. Like, at all haha

 

I know, but I was sad because people literally could not find a vn not based on romance until those two posts came up, and those not based on romance appear to include nearly all of my favorite VN's, and it would have made me sad if the VN's I was fond of were unknown to most of the VN community

Posted

Oh, now I see. They are actually pretty famous around here, and I'm actually reading Never7 now. Inganock was a great experience for me, and it fits what Abyssal Monkey is looking for.

Posted

Oh, now I see. They are actually pretty famous around here, and I'm actually reading Never7 now. Inganock was a great experience for me, and it fits what Abyssal Monkey is looking for.

Inganock and the entire series actually caught my eye before, and I can't remember why I dismissed them.  Thanks for reminding me and informing me that it does fit into this category.

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