BEST FREE TO PLAY VISUAL NOVELS ON STEAM PSP

Originally released on the PSP and Nintendo 3DS, Edo Blossoms is a revamped version of the classic game with a whole host of new routes and characters. Kyoto Winds essentially establishes the characters and how the protagonist came to be in their company, but the main heart of the story and most of its action takes place in Edo Blossoms, which is why it's the one that finds a place on this list.

BEST FREE TO PLAY VISUAL NOVELS ON STEAM SERIES

It's worth noting right from the off that Edo Blossoms is the second entry in the two part series of Haukoki games, with the first being Kyoto Winds. The amount of choice and freedom you have to decide how the story unfolds makes Arcade Spirits highly replayable, and the memorable line-up of characters and engaging storyline make it one of the most enjoyable recent additions to the visual novel library. The different personality traits appeal to certain characters, so you play around with how you want your character to be and see who's drawn to you, or tailor your responses to a personality train in order to get to know someone in particular person. The dialogue choices you make throughout will also determine your character's personality. With a total of seven romanceable characters, it's entirely up to you to decide how you'll form relationships with them - be it friendships, platonic, or something more intimate. Filled with a cast of fun characters, plenty of creative nods to arcade games interwoven into its story, and very appealing artwork, there's a lot to love about Arcade Spirits. The protagonist you play has just lost their job and manages to land a position at the Funplex arcade. Set in the year '20XX,' Fiction Factory Games' visual novel takes place in a world where arcade machines are still the current rage.

BEST FREE TO PLAY VISUAL NOVELS ON STEAM PC

Arcade SpiritsДЄvailable on: PC (coming to PS4, Xbox One and Switch in 2020)

As protagonists go, Cinders is incredibly likeable, and with so many different outcomes to experience, it has a lot of replay value. Essentially you get to decide what her 'happily ever after' is, and that can be as unconventional as you'd like it to be. With over 300 choices to make and plenty of meaningful decisions that will affect the outcome of the story, you have the power to decide how Cinders story unfolds as well what kind of person she'll be. From the outside it might just seem like a retelling of the classic Cinderella story, but with so many twists and unexpected turns, it will surprise you more than you might expect. Made by indie studio MoaCube, this visual novel has a distinct artstyle that gives it oodles of personality. Cinders puts in you charge of your very own fairytale that takes the classic tale and turns it on its head with mature themes and a strong protagonist who wants to decide her own fate.

Best free to play visual novels on steam