By Jason Young, staff editor, Inside AX- Anime Expo

Visual novels, bishoujo games, ren’ai, either way they’re all the same thing. You click through a couple options and swoon the girl (or guy) of your choice. The end, right? Shallow stories, and even shallower characters. Ask anyone who’s uninitiated with the genre, and this is one of the more stereotypical response that you’re likely to hear thanks to the notoriety of titles such as Bible Black. Thankfully, this couldn’t be anymore far from the truth.

With visual novels becoming prime sources for anime adaptations, including the more recently released Fortune Arterial, some of these games have what I consider to be among the best storylines and characters that I’ve ever come across in any game. Yes, this even includes what I consider to be the  legendary holy grail of JRPGS, Xenogears. What makes these stories in particular so memorable is that they will make you laugh and cry, and often rage, so they make for an excellent introduction to the genre.  So without further ado, here are the top five commercially-available visual novels/bishoujo games to introduce to someone who’s never played one.

Ever 17

Easily the number one visual novel of all-time, although naysayers can argue for KEY, Ever 17 is a long, epic journey that takes players to LeMu and a cast of trapped unfortunate outcasts. The most popular, and best, among KID’s Infinity series, each of the game’s routes culminate into a single route of awesomeness that will have you or your newb friend jaw-dropped in awe. The single best twist in a game, that’ll make M. Night Shyamalan’s twist in the Sixth Sense look like a fourth grader’s creative writing assignment.

Kira ☆ Kira

“Love, sex, and rock-and-roll,” are usually the three words that I use to describe Overdrive’s Kira ☆ Kira in a nutshell. However, it is much more than that as it’s a slice-of-life drama about what it means to form bonds with someone. The game can almost be seen as two halves, the first with the group “the Second Literature Club”’s tour around Japan and the second a great drama that’s on nearly on par with KEY classics Kanon and CLANNAD. With references to American rock bands, such as the Ramones, there’s a little something for everyone in Kira Kira.

Yume Miru Kusuri

The shining gem of JAST subsidiary Peach Princess’s lineup, Ruf’s Yume Miru Kusuri (the Drug that Makes you Dream) is a poignant introspective look at the problems and pressures of growing up in an imperfect world. If you’ve ever felt that the expectations set upon you by parents and society in large have shaped you either for the better or worse, then Yume Miru Kusuri is definitely a game to check out. As it says in the game’s description, “I am just an average student, living an average, colorless life. I study, I work my part-time job, I get through my day just like everyone else, trying not to stand out from the crowd. But suddenly, almost before I realize it, the winds of change have blown into my life.” This hard-hitting, slice-of-life unforgettable drama is one that will stay with you long after the credits role.

999 (9 hours, 9 persons, 9 doors)

The cream of the crop for Nintendo DS adventure games, 999 by Chunsoft, is an intense atmospheric “sound novel” where you guide Junpei through the mysterious Zero’s Nonary Game. Featuring interactive puzzles and multiple endings, the game is a cross between the movie Saw and Ever 17 (which is also on this list). The characters only have nine hours to escape a sinking ship, and with an incredible payoff that was only possible by the brilliant mind of Ever 17 scenarioist, Uchikoshi Kotarou, 999 is an easy recommendation for anyone playing their first visual novel.

Phantom of Inferno

Assassins, mafia wars and brainwashing. Raise your hands if those are the first ideas that pop into your mind when you think of the term “dating-sim.” However, that’s exactly what you have with Nitro+’s Phanton of Inferno. It’s a gritty, dark noir-style story that was later adopted into the anime Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ that was released in English by FUNimation studios. With the story of a 15-year old Japanese student who became an assassin, Phantom of Inferno is a very memorable novel that was part of former-game publisher Hirameki International’s exclusive AnimePlay DVD format.

Tags: 999, Ever 17, Kira Kira, Phantom of Inferno, VN Insider, Yume Miru Kusuri