Summary
- Cyberpunk visual novels offer players a glimpse into dystopian worlds ruled by megacorporations and advanced technology.
- These visual novels often explore thought-provoking themes like transhumanism, government control, and the ethics of AI.
- Whether it's solving a murder mystery, fighting against injustice, or simply mixing drinks, cyberpunk visual novels offer a range of unique gameplay experiences.
Science fiction often gives people an optimistic vision of the future but the Cyberpunk genre presents a more cynical outlook. These works are set in dystopias, feature megacorporations, hackers, AI, and cybernetics, and show people what happens when these things gain too much power and influence over society.
Best Cyberpunk Anime, Ranked
The compilation of the best within one of the most popular genres ever in anime.
Japanese media, including anime, manga, and visual novels, are no stranger to cyberpunk, with films like Akira and Ghost in the Shell having a huge influence on media beyond anime. Some of the best visual novels, Japanese and Western, explore this dystopian sci-fi genre with their inventive and thought-provoking stories and gameplay.
1 Dry Drowning
VNDB Rating: 6.03
- Release Date: 2 August 2019
- Platform(s): Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Studio V
Set in the year 2066, Dry Drowning is a mystery thriller that follows Mordred Foley, a private investigator on the hunt for a serial killer on the loose. In a totalitarian dystopian city called Nova Polemos, the player, controlling Mordred, faces several difficult choices throughout the game that will influence the ending.
Developed by an Italian company called Studio V, Dry Drowning has received critical acclaim and won several awards, including Best Game at Join the Indie 2019 and Best Italian Debut Game at the Italian Video Game Awards 2020.
2 Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness
VNDB Rating: 6.05
- Release Date: 28 May 2015
- Platform(s): Windows, Xbox One, PS4, PS Vita
- Developer: 5pb.
Based on the Psycho-Pass anime, Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness focuses on completely original characters. It's set in the same cyberpunk dystopia where the government can measure people's potential for criminality and lock them up for it. The player gets to control two Criminal Investigation Division agents - investigator Nadeshiko Kugatachi and enforcer Takuma Tsurugi.
7 Darkest Sci-Fi Anime Of All Time
Dystopian fictions are a common theme in science fiction anime. These shows have the darkest content available.
Since the visual novel's storyline runs parallel to the anime's, one does not need to have watched or even be familiar with the source material's plot. It can be enjoyed on its own terms.
3 Synergia
VNDB Rating: 6.48
- Release Date: 27 July 2020
- Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Linux
- Developer: Radi Art
Synergia is a yuri/girls' love visual novel set in a cyberpunk city. It tells the story of a cynical police officer named Cila and her growing relationship with an android named Mara. Unfortunately for them, a large tech company named Velta Labs has also taken an interest in Mara.
The game's influences are obvious, with several references to cyberpunk classics like Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and Akira. The visual novel has been praised for its characters, and fans of both the yuri and cyberpunk genres are sure to enjoy all of what Synergia has to offer.
4 Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer
VNDB Rating: 7.45
- Release Date: 27 May 2011
- Platform(s): Windows
- Developer: Nitroplus
Written by the legendary Gen Urobuchi, Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer is a kinetic visual novel, meaning there's only one ending and no "choices matter" mechanic. It's a revenge story set in a dystopian future version of Shanghai. Kang Taluo, a Chinese assassin for a crime syndicate, is out for blood after he discovers that his murdered sister's soul is scattered across five different gynoids.
Like many cyberpunk-themed works, Kikokugai explores transhumanism, and what humanity exactly is. The visual novel was remade in 2011, with voice acting, improved graphics, and an all-ages rating.
5 Tokyo Necro
VNDB Rating: 8.00
- Release Date: 13 March 2023
- Platform(s): Windows
- Developer: Nitro Origin
Tokyo Necro is set in the future where the Earth is experiencing another ice age. Tokyo has made use of geothermal heat pipes to deal with the issue, but people are faced with a bigger problem than the cold and snow. Necromancers, unscrupulous individuals who use biotech to reanimate the dead, are terrorizing the city, and it's up to the Living Dead Stalkers to put a stop to them.
Living Dead Stalkers are hired killers who hunt the necromancers and their minions. Nagaoka So'un and Kibanohara Ethica are two such killers, and they're the protagonists of this story. Developed by Nitroplus imprint Nito Origin, Tokyo Necro has been praised for its dark plot and action scenes.
6 The Red Strings Club
VNDB Rating: N/A
The Red Strings Club
A megacorporation named Supercontinent LLC has figured out a way to eliminate depression and fear from society, or so it claims. It plans to launch a system known as the Social Psyche Welfare that uses enhancements to alter people's moods. Donovan, a bar owner, isn't on board though, and he, along with an enhanced human named Brandeis and an android named Akara-184, plans to stop them.
16 Best Cyberpunk Games
The Cyberpunk genre never seems to get old as everyone loves the idea of looking into the future, and these are the best examples of it in video games
The Red Strings Club is a visual novel, but it has other gameplay elements too, like mixing drinks, pottery, and impersonating people. Players get to control Donovan, Brandeis, and Akara-184, and engage with the various gameplay elements to uncover Supercontinent LLC's grand conspiracy.
7 VA-11 Hall-A
VNDB Rating: 7.97
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
- Released
- August 16, 2014
- Developer(s)
- Sukeban Games, Wolfgame
- Genre(s)
- Visual Novel
VA-11 Hall-A lets the player be a bartender in a dive bar called "Valhalla" in Glitch City, a dystopian city-state. Corporations rule everything in this setting, and unlike other cyberpunk works, the protagonist, Jill, is not some action hero trying to put a stop to a megacorp or evil government entity. She's just a regular person, mixing drinks for the city's residents and listening to their stories.
Most of the gameplay involves just that. The player, controlling Jill, gets a sense of what life in Glitch City is like through the patrons' stories. They also have to mix their drinks using a book of recipes, and thankfully, there are no penalties for any mistakes, meaning playing VA-11 Hall-A is an unexpectedly relaxing experience.
19 Games Perfect For Long-Distance Couples
These charming online co-op games are perfect for couples who are in long-distance relationships.