One of the best non - romance visual novels is 'The Walking Dead'. It offers a gripping post - apocalyptic story with complex characters and tough moral choices. The choices you make actually impact the story's progression, making it highly engaging.
For non - romance visual novels, 'Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney' is a classic. You play as a defense attorney and solve various cases in a courtroom setting. It's full of humor and interesting mysteries. 'Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode 1' also has a great non - romance story. It expands on the Bioshock Infinite universe with a noir - like story. Additionally, 'The Stanley Parable' is a unique visual novel that plays with the concept of choice and narrative in a very creative way.
Definitely 'Danganronpa'. It's a mystery - filled visual novel where a group of students are trapped in a school - like environment (but not a typical high school in terms of themes). They have to participate in a 'killing game' and figure out who the murderer is among them. The story is full of suspense and unexpected plot twists.
I highly recommend 'Collar × Malice'. It has an engaging plot where the female protagonist is caught up in a mystery while also developing romantic relationships with several male characters. The character interactions are well - written and the art is beautiful. 'Code: Realize - Guardian of Rebirth' is another great one. It's set in a steampunk world and features a unique love story between the main character and a group of interesting male characters.
I would recommend 'Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc'. It's not anime - style in the sense of being a traditional anime adaptation but has a distinct visual novel feel. It has a mystery - filled plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out the culprit in a series of murders. 'To the Moon' is also a wonderful non - anime visual novel. It tells a heartwarming and deeply emotional story about love and memory. The art style is simple yet effective in conveying the story's poignancy.
The 'Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney' series is excellent. You play as a lawyer, solving various cases with interesting courtroom dramas and unique characters.
For beginners, 'To the Moon' is a great choice. It has a simple yet heartwarming story about two old men traveling through memories. The art is cute and the music is very soothing. 'A Bird Story' which is related to 'To the Moon' is also a good start. It's a short and sweet visual novel. Another one is 'Katawa Shoujo'. It focuses on the lives of disabled students in a school setting and has some really good character - driven stories.
Steam is a great choice. It has a large number of non - adult visual novels, covering various genres like mystery, romance, and adventure. The reviews and ratings on Steam can help you pick out the good ones. Another excellent platform is itch.io. It has a community - driven approach, so you can discover unique and high - quality non - adult visual novels that might not be as well - known elsewhere. Ren'Py - based visual novels are also widely available outside of adult - oriented platforms.
For beginners, 'Kanon' is a great non - translated visual novel. It has a simple yet engaging story that is easy to follow. The art is cute and the characters are likable. You can easily get into the mood of the story just by looking at the visuals.
A really good free non - adult visual novel is 'Long Live the Queen'. In this game, you play as a young princess who has to learn various skills to survive and take the throne. It has a great story with different paths based on your choices. The art is colorful and the characters are interesting.
'Lucah: Born of a Dream' is an underrated one. It has a really interesting art style and a deep story about self - discovery and facing one's inner demons. Another is 'OneShot'. It has a meta - narrative that's really engaging. It makes you feel like you're part of the story in a unique way.