Porn Games I've Played For The Story

"Culturally significant" is an incredibly vague way to categorize video games. There may only be a handful of games every decade that can truly be called culturally significant. This, however, is apparently the requirements for a 'porn game' article on Giant Bomb.

I find this to be complete bullshit.

Visual novels, or porn games as I hate to refer them to as, in our culture, exist in a capacity that is so insignificant it doesn't even register as the tiniest of blips in the radar of gaming. Fans of visual novels are incredibly low down the internet geek pyramid, fitting somewhere in between cosplayers and furries, and trust me when I say those are not good things to be stuck in between. Even fans of anime would second guess jumping down and trying their hand at visual novels. But the question I've always asked is, "why"?

The answer is rather obvious, it's just not in our culture. My generation was raised with anime interspersed with children cartoons in the form of Sailor Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon and so forth. In our culture that is where anime is regulated to, but at very least it has a foothold in our culture. Visual novels are a different story, however. While in Japan it wouldn't be that unusual to see visual novel spin-offs of popular animes, anime adaptations of visual novels, or animes based around the concept of visual novels, they are not a part of our culture. So if the significance has to be in our culture, none of these games would be eligible.

Then again Suck My Dick Or Die! has a page, so well done guys.

But I digress. I myself am a fan of visual novels, which people who read my weekly blog will know all too well. I have always felt there are amazing visual novels out there, with stories that I could easily recommend people to read. As I stated before, however, visual novels have a rather bad stigma, so it's been incredibly hard to convince people to try them out. Having said that, since starting said blog, I have had a fair number of people asking for recommendations on what visual novels they should read. The fact that even one person has taken an interest to reading visual novels thanks to my blog is an amazing thing to hear, so I've been more than happy to throw a few recommendations their way. However, I know not everyone will want to plough through my blog for information. "But Psy" I don't hear you say behind your computer monitor because for some reason you don't have your mic plugged in "Why wouldn't people want to read your amazingly thought out, expertly crafted and always hilarious weekly blog?"

Well you sarcastic piece of shit, I figured I'd also keep a list of all the visual novels I've covered, as it could very well be a better more compact way to see what visual novels I've talked about. Please note, however, I have played a lot more visual novels than this (some that doesn't have their own Giant Bomb page too), but hopefully they'll all eventually be added each and every week, until I get bored, I guess.

The list is in order of best to worst, in my opinion. Each visual novel is accompanied by a brief explanation of said visual novel, and the blog number and date in which I talked about that specific visual novel, in case you want to read more about that visual novel. Don't be afraid to check out the visual novels at the bottom of the list too, these are just my opinion, and I'll be the first to admit it can be rather stupid.

List items

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  1. CROSS†CHANNEL

  Covered in blog entry #19 // 09.10.11

  It's been a crazy week, starting with a camp out that goes awry and ending with the broadcast club successfully building their very out broadcasting tower, Taichi only has one question on his mind. "Is anyone alive out there?"

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  2. G-Senjou no Maou

  Covered in blog entry #01 // 05.06.11

  An anonymous character known only as the Maou has taken to terrorizing Usami Haru and her group of friends. Featuring a fantastic classical inspired soundtrack, a mysterious protagonist and a story that will keep you second guessing until even after the end credits start to roll.

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  3. Symphonic Rain

  Covered in blog entry #22 // 30.10.11

  In a town where it is constantly raining, Chris is attending the world famous Piova Communal School of Music to become a better Fortelle player. And now, as his final examination draws close he has to find the perfect partner to sing for the performance.

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  4. Katawa Shoujo

  Covered in blog entry #31 // 08.01.12

  Hisao Nakai suffers from a massive heart attack while a classmate confesses her love for him. It turns out he suffers from arrhythmia, a rare heart disease. To cope with this, he is transferred to Yamaku high school, a school for disabled students.

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  5. KIRAKIRA

  Covered in blog entry #26 // 04.12.11

  After his girlfriend left him and he stopped going to the tennis club, Shikanosuke Maejima's life is rather boring. All of that changes when he meets Kirari Shiino, a fiery young girl who convinces him to join a punk band! And now they're touring the country, because punk!

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  6. Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shōjo

  Covered in blog entry #28 // 18.12.11

  On an island where criminal punishment is tailor made to fit a crime, Kenichi Morita plans to become a Special High Class Individual, someone in charge of upholding said punishments. Finally, he's at the end of his training, and is tasked with helped three girls in his hometown through their punishments.

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  7. My Girlfriend is the President

  Covered in blog entry #33 // 22.01.12

  To cover up her tracks of accidentally destroying Japan, an alien named Qoo decided to brainwash everyone into believing Ohama Yukino is the president of the United States of Nippon. Jun, the new vice president and unaffected by the brainwash, has to play along in this new crazy reality.

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  8. Suika A.S

  Covered in blog entry #07 // 17.07.11

  A seemingly ordinary town with rather extraordinary characters. Be witness to four different yet intertwining stories that are all taking place at the same time, twisting and turning into the supernatural and beyond.

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  9. Little Busters!

  Covered in blog entry #30 // 01.01.12

  Naoe Riki managed to get by his childhood with his four friends who call themselves the Little Busters! Now in high school, the friends are still together, and determined to do something new, like say I don't know, turn the Little Busters into a baseball team.

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  10. Sengoku Rance

  Covered in blog entry #04 // 26.06.11

  What motivation would you need to conquer all of Japan? How about to rape all the attractive princesses? That's all the motivation Rance needs. Join him as he GAHAHAHA's his way across the country!

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  11. Katahane

  Covered in blog entry #20 // 16.10.11

  Wakaba is determined to write a play about the fall of Princess Christina and the betrayal at the hands on Ein, despite the supposed curse on any play that tries to portray what happened. However, this version takes some liberties with history... or does it?

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  12. Sharin no Kuni, Yuukyuu no Shounenshoujo

  Covered in blog entry #29 // 25.12.2011

  On an island where criminal punishment is tailor made to fit a crime, Masaomi Houzuki plans to become a Special High Class Individual, someone in charge of upholding said punishments. Find out what pain and turmoil he endured to turn him into the main antagonist of Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo.

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  13. Snow Sakura

  Covered in blog entry #21 // 23.10.11

  Yuuji's dad has to go to Hawaii for business reasons, so he sticks his son in a middle of no where town with his brother. How will Yuuji survive this harsh change in evnironment, and can he unravel his memories of when he was last here, under the famed Sakura tree.

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  14. The Song of Saya

  Covered in blog entry #09 // 31.07.11

  Most people would think recovering from a seemingly fatal car crash would be a miracle. Not for Fuminori, however, as it has turned his world into an inescapable hell. But throughout it all, there seems to be one ray of light, Saya.

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  15. Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet

  Covered in blog entry #06 // 10.07.11

  In an apocalyptic world, a lone junker finds himself repairing a projector in an abandoned planetarium. All because the robot attendant who wishes for nothing more than to show the presentation one more time.

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  16. Da Capo II: Plus Communication

  Covered in blog entry #25 // 20.11.11

  Set 50 years after the events of Da Capo, the never dying sakura trees are always in bloom. Sakura is now the principle of the high school, and guardian of Yoshiyuki, who has to decide on his class festive display.

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  17. D.C. Da Capo

  Covered in blog entry #24 // 13.11.11

  Junichi lives on the fictional island of Hatsunejima where, somehow, the sakura trees are always in bloom. What kind of powers does the never dying sakura tree hold, and with the sudden return of his cousin Sakura, it's going to be an interesting few months.

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  18. Shuffle!

  Covered in blog entry #05 // 03.07.11

  A rift has opened up on earth, allowing gods and demons through. That was years ago, however, so seeing one is not uncommon. What is uncommon is both the daughter of the king of gods and the daughter of the knid of demons are both in love with Rin Tsuchimi! What can he possibly do?!

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  19. Tears to Tiara

  Covered in blog entry #02 // 12.06.11

  When the resurrection of the demon king goes arwy, the demon king finds himself married into being the chief of the Gael tribe. The tribe are then forced to launch an all out attack on the holy empire, as well as uncovering the truth behind the murder of the previous tribe leader.

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  20. Canvas 2 ~Akane Iro no Palette~

  Covered in blog entry #12 // 21.08.11

  After a bitter high school experience, Hiroki has relegated himself to being an art teacher at his old school. Suddenly, a girl he turned down in high school now works their too, and Hiroki has to come face to face with the mistakes he made in the past.

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  21. Family Project

  Covered in blog entry #13 // 28.08.11

  A serious of unfortunate events leave seven people from seven very different backgrounds to form the Family Project, a fake family that is designed to help each other in their times of need.

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  22. Downhill Night 2

  Covered in blog entry #15 // 11.09.11

  Akito spends all his time either working for money, or spending said money playing arcade racing games. That is until a friend of his convinces him to be her navigator in a real downhill race.

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  23. Absolute Obedience

  Covered in blog entry #23 // 06.11.11

  In post-World War 2 West Germany, Kia and Louise run a secret agency for people who want to humiliate others. The agency don't kill, no, instead it is designed to seduce and hopefully humiliate men for profit.

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  25. Kagamine Rin

  Covered in blog entry #18 // 02.11.11 (VN name: Rin ga Utau, Mirai no Neiro) When a singing android breaks into a guy's apartment, sleeps in his bed and demands he write her a song, how could he possibly refuse? All Rin has ever wanted was for a guy to write a song specifically for her, and just maybe, this time she'll get her wish.

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  26. Hatsune Miku

  Covered in blog entry #17 // 25.09.11 (VN name: Mirai no Kimi to, Subete no Uta ni) A guy stumbles across a singing android known as Miku abandoned in the cold outside. After helping her into his apartment, and installing her software (not a euphemism), it turns out she can't even speak! What crazy antics could possible come next?

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  27. Yume Miru Kusuri: A Drug That Makes You Dream

  Covered in blog entry #08 // 24.07.11

  A high school is never a fun place to be. Kouhei finds this out the hard way when he encounters three different girls all with the worst kinds of problems. But the question is, whose voice will he heed?

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  28. Leaf

  Covered in blog entry #32 // 15.01.12 (VN name: LEAVEs)

  Tomohiro and Touka are two childhood friends that starting dating and living together as adults. They, along with their friend Matsuri, have to cope with the troubles and turmoil that exist in the very notion of surviving in a cruel world.

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  29. Downhill Night

  Covered in blog entry #14 // 04.09.11

  On a delivery trip, Daichi gets hit by a car. The owner of that car is convinced that he is an amazing racing navigator, which lands him in way over his amnesia-filled head when he helps her in a string of downhill races.

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  30. Narcissu

  Covered in blog entry #16 // 18.09.11

  Confined to a hospital for the rest of her life, Setsumi convinces a new admittance into the hospital to break out. The pair, on their adventure of stealing to make do, soon realise there's more to life than simply being alive.

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  31. Let's Meow Meow

  Covered in blog entry #27 // 11.12.11

  Ibuki Takao takes care of all the stray cats in his town, and as a result he gets a visit from the cat god who grants him one wish. Ibuki knows exactly what he wants, his very own cat girl!

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  32. Hitomi - My Stepsister

  Covered in blog entry #10 // 07.08.11

  It's a pretty big shock for Takahiro when he finds out his dad has suddenly remarried. Now his life includes a new mother and stepsister, who he is convinced wants him... What could possibly go wrong? Right?

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  33. Which girl should I choose?

  Covered in blog entry #03 // 19.06.11

  When Natsuki stumbles onto a coffee shop run by an old teacher of his, and luckily manages to get a part time job there. Things only escalate when he and his sister start living there too! A tale of tough choices that I I'magine it pretty close to reality

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  34. Heart de Roommate

  Covered in blog entry #34 // 29.01.12

  After a hilarious amount of coincidences, Yusuke Sawada finds himself transferring to a school with no place to live. Luckily, after some supposed blackmail against his childhood friend Asumi Hirota, she lets him live with her. The only problem is it's a girl's only dorm! Ensue hijinks galore!