I want a new mystery VN to play. What are some good ones? Let's discuss and rate some mystery games and which ones are the best. Try to keep spoilers to a minimum so people can find new ones to try without having them ruined. I'll start with the ones I've already played.
Higurashi: A great mystery VN that has no gameplay, but the reveal is a tad lame and the game can drag at parts. 8/10
Umineko: Similar to Higurashi and also has no gameplay, but the reveal is probably even worse in this one because it's essentially impossible to puzzle out the reveal. Similar problem of dragging 7/10
Ever 17: Another no gameplay title that probably has the slowest buildup of any mystery title, but the reveal is so mindblowing that it may be worth it for you to sit it out. 6/10 just for the slog that the rest of the game is, but 9/10 reveal.
Danganronpa 1: Mystery game with some interactive choices, features gameplay in the form of minigames and arguments, very flashy with great music and is an all around great murder mystery. Lame twist/reveal, but the rest of the game is great. 9/10
Danganronpa 2: Basically the same as 1, though perhaps borrows a little too heavily from 1. Still a 9/10 title.
Ace Attorney series: Kinda has gameplay in the form of answering questions and item selection but it's very basic. Has a lot of quirk and charm and is very casual and fun. Logic can be kinda all over the place to suit the plot though. 8/10.
So what are some other good mystery VNs or games and what would you rate them?
I don't think Danganronpa 1 or 2 were that great. The tacked on gameplay segments during the trials were really annoying and disruptive. Many of the characters were one-dimensional, stereotypes. That and the hope vs despair shit got really, really retarded towards the end. The trials were still fun though, I'd give them both a 6/10. Good music too.
Try the Professor Layton series and the Zero Escape Series. They both seem things you enjoy if you liked Ace Attorney and Danganronpa. Layton is more about the puzzle gameplay but the stories are serviceable. The fourth, fifth, and sixth games are also a trilogy.
>>336962445
Sadly, I agree with this. The trials were very fun to play through and I actually enjoyed the dating stuff, but the writing is a bit weak overall, ESPECIALLY the overarching story, goddamn.
I've heard Hotel Dusk: Room 215 was pretty good. Also, seconding 999/Zero Escape.
Tsukihime is pretty good. If you liked Danganronpa you'll probably be able to enjoy the slightly chuuni-ish action segments as well as the more introspective mystery parts. The last few routes have some pretty great reveals that make up for the more simple first half. Good story and characters overall.
Also seconding Zero Escape
>>336962796
Hotel Dusk is great, and remember to play the sequel Last Window.
>>336962796
Came here to recommend Hotel Dusk:Room 215. Really love the noir vibe and the story was amazing too.
>>336961389
Try Ghost Trick.
>>336964972
Ghost Trick is amazing. OP should definitely try it.
Steins Gate is fucking fantastic, just finished everything yesterday
>>336966682
There was a new game on that series coming out soon, right?
>>336966834
It's already out. Steins;gate 0 came out in japan late last year but will NEVER EVER be translated in to English.
>>336967087
Why never? The game did p well I thought
>>336964972
Ghost Trick is my favorite videogame.
>>336967167
It's just a meme because lots of people complain about it when S;G was very popular in English.
All they've said is "they have no plans to translate it currently".
Famicom Detective Club 2 on the SNES, not a lot of gameplay but great atmosphere
>>336961389
Try rondo duo
>>336961389
>DR1, DR2 and Ever17 that high
Play 999, it's right up your alley.
>>336961389
Kara no Shoujo 1&2
>>336961389
Have you ever played Zero Escape? It's an escape the room series filled with nothing but mysteries. It's a perfect time to get into the series now since the final entry is coming out on June 28th.
Start with Zero Escape: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors. You might want to use an emulator since it's for the DS but it's all good. The next one, Virtue's Last Reward, is for the 3DS and the Vita.
If you enjoy mystery VNs then you'll definitely enjoy Zero Escape.
>>336962796
They have worse overarching stories than dangan
>but the reveal is probably even worse in this one because it's essentially impossible to puzzle out the reveal
Japs managed to solve that shit around 4 episode anon. What's your fucking excuse.
>>336968685I love shilling my favorite VN.
>>336968685
>forgetting to warm him about the save glitch
One job.
>>336968810
To be fair, there were a fucking load of theories while Umineko was being released. One was bound to be at least slightly correct.
>>336961389
>he fell for the Yasu meme
>>336961389
KnS is good, but it's hard as fuck without a walkthrough.
It angers me that you put DR over AA. With a couple of exceptions (4-3 is most egregious; 2-3 is also questionable) the mysteries are better than the mysteries in DR.
I mean, I know it's just opinions and you still rated both series highly, but somehow I still feel angry. This is what /v/ does to you I guess.
>>336969393
Oh also, consider:
Hotel Dusk
Trace Memory
Fables: The Wolf Among Us
I can't speak to L.A. Noire since I never played it myself, but I have heard good (though not GREAT) things about it.
>>336968983
>he fell for rosatrice meme
>>336969393
DR has higher highs and better characters
>>336969507
Don't spoil it for those still figuring it out.
>>336968950
Theories or not. You can get the picture about what's going on in Umineko in the early chapters. Episode 7 is pretty much only a confirmation of the situation. Saying that it's impossible to puzzle out is like pic related.
>>336969671
It's not a spoiler if it's a wrong theory.
>>336970050
It is though.
>>336967751
There is a pc port scheduled to june 24. I think the desperate ones could try playing it with vnreader.
>>336961389
This right here.
>>336969848
It is impossible to puzzle it out precisely because the game doesn't give you anything concrete enough to actually base those leaps in logic on. It relies on assumptions that could just as easily be wrong or right. It's essentially the same thing as guessing, which is why so many theories for Umineko existed before the conclusion. It's not that easy, quite literally impossible, to puzzle it out before the conclusion by simply drawing upon the available information. That one of the theories was close to the reality of it isn't saying much.
While it might not be impossible, it's closer to say that it's "essentially" impossible to puzzle it out than to say "lol so easy japs got in by chapter 4" which is a worse exaggeration.
>>336966682
Question: is this game similar to Chaos;Head? From what I understand it's the same series. And while the atmosphere in Chaos Head is decent. I fucking hated the protagonist and the conclusion. I've heard good things about S;G but Chaos Head makes me hesitant to try it.
>>336969473
L.A Noire is pretty good though it does get repetitive but it may not be bad if you take breaks after each case.
I guess I'm alone on this one.
Its in my top list because its so quirky and self aware but it fits so I can forgive it.You know what I'm talking about
All solid choices thus far from everyone.
Also, I think the next Danganronpa game is supposed to come out this year, along with a new anime to conclude the original storyline (DR 1 and 2, and all of the novels and spinoffs that have dropped thus far).
>>336970512
I realized this too, and stopped caring about the "detective" part, which actually allowed me to enjoy it. The strength of the game is in the character and their emotions.
R07 called my kind a stupid goat, nowdays I call him dead inside, his later works are trash. Still love him though.
>>336967087
>>336967751
>>336970436
Actually there was some sort of localization confirmation months ago but everything is so weird, maybe I'll get more info tomorrow.
>>336971238
Stupid goats are tryhard detectives though. He clearly was saying that detective part is not that important at the end.
>>336971238
Umienko was never meant to be detective work in the first place anon.
>>336968006
This VN had no excuse in being that beautifully looking, hot damn.
How do the Japanese do it.
>>336969113
All Innocent Grey games that I have played are like that, Cartagra, Caucasus and KnS, still so wonderful and unique, kind of difficult to get a VN with beautiful drawings and music, along with a "realistic" exciting paranoia violent story.
>>336971564
>>336971690
I remember at the pirate raid scenes, one of the goats being the "I will just look and enjoy what happens", kinda felt it was for me too. Last time I read I skipped that whole part, so maybe I'm not fully accurate.
>>336971948
I really wish it had a better story, cause damn that looked so good, even using adobe flash.
>>336972294
>one of the goats being the "I will just look and enjoy what happens", kinda felt it was for me too
I believe that it was meant for the "cruel" type of the reader, the one who don't think or empathize and just has a blast with the killings/magic fighting. I may be wrong though.
Why aren't these types of games more popular in japan when they're so good at making them?
The fact that ZE3 almost didn't happen is heart-breaking.
>>336972887
the same reason why point & click games were almost died in the west
Someone posted a Pokemon VN as the OP of a thread earlier today. I was wondering if anyone knew what that was. When I asked about it in that thread no one answered.
>>336961389
I know jack shit about VNs, but how does the first one you list have no gameplay with a dragging "tad lame reveal" rate an 8/10?
>>336972887
Japs are too used to eroge to care about VNs meant to tell a story
>>336961389
Famicom Detective Club Part 2: Your ass is a detective solving the case of a murdered girl. You find clues and deduce off of what you have. It's sort of like Ace Attorney but there's no opposing Lawyer and you solve thing on the field. Impossible to get a game over tfor though IIRC as it gives you infinite tries at everything
Jake Hunter Detective Story: Your ass is a LOCALIZED Private detective who solves a bunch of connected cases. Pretty reminiscent of Ace Attorney except like in the case of Detective Club,everything is solved on the field. Like Club as well is also pretty much on the rails and you can't lose.
Yu-No: Your ass is a time traveling high school student. You get with girls who are connected to your time traveling powers and the more you get intimate with the more is revealed. There are real puzzles here for you to solve to progress the game and it's actually very recommended to play with a guide just because of how convoluted it gets.
Remember11: Your ass is switching perspectives between a girl and a guy, who both are trying to survive and figure out what the fuck is going on. As name implies its like Ever17 but nowhere near as slow and is satisfyngly paced all the way to the end. Lots of choiices and different outcomes.
Highly suggest Yu-No though senpai.
So, about Danganronpa 2's case 4...Anyone else feel that the compass rotating 180º was too much of a giveaway? That literally tells you the positions of the buildings, which makes the method of killing obvious, and narrows the suspects down to Kazuichi or Gundham. I feel like it could've been a great twist, and still possible to figure out from just examining the Strawberry Tower later.The elevator's movement wasn't even decisive evidence, since it was impossible to tell from inside anyway. The only reason I couldn't decide between the 2 suspects before the trial was that I forgot about the soundproof room thing.
>>336969593
I disagree pretty profoundly. Climaxes to basically any of the final cases in the original trilogy (1-5 as well) is better than pretty much every part of DR.
The characters in DR also felt a lot shallower than AA. Granted, a lot of this is because the characters in DR don't get as much screen-time but Bayakuya is the only moderately complex character in the game. All of the mainline prosecutors (excepting Payne) are fairly complex and Phoenix, Iris, Maya, and the majority of the characters in 1-5 have pretty nuanced characteristics.
>>336973216
Gameplay doesn't mean shit in VNs m8, Higurashi has some fantastic characters and a greart horror/thriller atmosphere most of the way through, it's just that the main reveal could've been handled better.
>install Steins;Gate
>Start Game
>black screen
>>336973987
AMD GPU?
>>336974023
Nvidia
>>336973492
>Famicom Detective Club
Pretty gud game, playing through it right now on my PSP. Does it only have one case though?
>>336974312
Yes. It's a SNES remake of a NES game and back then your dad only had room for 1 game.
>>336974312
Yeah. There's also the first game on the NES and BS, but that was is impossible to emulate. Fuck Nintendo for not reviving the series.
>>336961389
999. Better than any DR.
>>336973987
Japanese locale.
>>336961389
Remember11 and Root Double
I've p ayed most of the ones you have as well and these are still my two favorite VNs. Well root double was recently added for me when it got on steam.
>>336974662
Wait a moment
root double is out?
>>336974596
But its the US release
>>336974904
For a while. I didn't know about it until someone on my list mentioned it was out a while ago. Really enjoyed the suspense of the first route and thecasualnessof the second route.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/438130
>>336975114
Oooooh nice
>>336975048
Try it anyways.
Anyone played/read Umineko? It started so promisingly in the first chapter but 2, 3 and 4 have been shit. Does it get better? It feels like a bit of a waste of time at this point.
>>336975389
5 and 6 are the best chapters. 7 is pretty slow but it's worth it in the end.
8 is a mixed bag and it depends how you feel about the series up to that point. I loved it but I recognize why a lot of people hated it.
>>336975389
I loved 5 6 and 7 but not for the mystery and more for something else
I also loved the culprit
But it depends, you already started so go ahead and finish it. even if you come to hate it, you'll at least appreciate something out of it.
Chapter 5 has very interesting to me, maybe it'll help you pick up interest.
>>336973492
>>336961389
My pic Analogue Hate Plus is also pretty good.
Your ass is basically a space detective who boarded an abandoned ship to get the story on what happened in it. You're fed logs to read by an AI called Hyun-ae and through reading them you give your impression on them through choices which changes the AIs final stance towards you.
There's also a sequel to it called Hate Plus but it has a tendency to leave a bad taste in some peoples mouth.
>>336961389
>Umineko: is impossible to puzzle out the reveal.
10/10 you made me reply
>>336975649
Strange; I liked Hate Plus, and thought it gave a lot of needed context to the events that happened. It answered a lot more questions about what went down on the Munghawa than Analogue.
>>336975692
We already addressed your shitty troll reply in this thread.
lux pain for ds
>>336975649Do you need to finish the prequel? called "Digital: A Love Story" before reading those two?
>>336973605
these pare pretty much the worst opinions I have ever read
>>336975887
That's not a prequel it's a separate story entirely.
>>336973492
>Yu-No: There are real puzzles here for you to solve
There's only like one that requires some real thoughtand it's so bullshit that not only does the SP Disc make fun of how hard it was, the English TL includes the solution in the file.
>Danganronpa 1-2
>9/10
>interactive choices
>great murder mystery
>Ace Attorney Series
>"Kinda" has gameplay
>Logic can be kinda all over the place to suit the plot though.
Did you get some heavy brain surgery between playing AA and DR? Also, what "interactive choices" are there even in DR?
>>336975389
If you didn't like chapters 2-4, I doubt you will like the rest of it.
>>336976039
Yes. As in the logic in AA and the rules of its court system are arbitrary as shit and are changed and made up as it suits the plot, dumbass. AA only has gameplay in that you select evidence and answer questions.
Did you get some heavy brain surgery before you made your dumbshit fanboy post?
>>336976039
>Implying any of that is wrong
No need to be biased, anon
>>336970761
Never played Chaos;Head but its pretty much agreed its really bad even when you don't compare it to Steins;Gate.
S;G has a few offhand references to events in C;H and that's about as deep as it goes.
In regards to characters I found every one of them pretty likable with only a few annoying traits, definitely agreed to be much superior since they come across as actually sympathetic.
There's also Robotics;Notes which is supposedly pretty okay but never played it personally
>>336971487
>maybe I'll get more info tomorrow.You in a position to find that shit out or just waiting other sources?
>>336976352
Are you implying that Danganronpa doesn't have that in droves as well?
>>336969393
Who the heck cares about "mystery" in Danganronpa?
I love it for characters, atmosphere, style and music.
>>336976352
>As in the logic in AA and the rules of its court system are arbitrary as shit and are changed and made up as it suits the plot
They aren't arbitrary if you follow what the characters are asking of you.
Meanwhile, Danganronpa:
>I know the solution of the murder and I will die alongside everybody else if I don't reveal it, but I won't because THE PROTAGONIST has to figure it out
>AA only has gameplay in that you select evidence and answer questions.
So does DR, only it distracts your impressionable retarded brain with shitty minigames and stupid sections that all obfuscate doing the exact same thing: selecting evidence and answering questions.
>>336975558
>>336975621
>>336976093
OK, I'll probably keep going for 5-6 at least
>>336976497
>Who the heck cares about "mystery" in Danganronpa?
I do, and I'll say that DR2 has way better mysteries than DR1. The fact that the second game was such an immense improvement over the first makes me excited for the upcoming game.
>>336976602
>This isn't arbitrary because I say so, but THIS is because I say so
No need to be angry anon, there's only like three good AA games anyway
>>336975389
Honestly I enjoyed it a lot more after I stopped caring about solving the mysteries and only read it for the characters. The author is awful with pacing but it generaly gets better after 4. Overall, it feels like a great premise and characters wasted on a bad story with subpar writing.
>>336976493
>Are you implying that Danganronpa doesn't have that in droves as well?
Except in DR, the rules are plainly stated and adhered to. I can think of maybe 1 or 2 questionable exceptions to this, but it's much more consistent.
There's a reason AA doesn't publish or explain the court system. It's a lighthearted game. It's not meant to have a great, logical and consistent system. It's just meant to be a fun ride. Which is precisely why, while it's fun and quirky, the rules in it and the logic only goes on a case to case basis and the series is incredibly inconsistent on what is and isn't allowed.
>>336976632
It may be a good idea to leave the thread before a faggot comes and tries to spoil you.
Dear /v/, how do Iwritea good mystery VN?
>>336976687
>>This isn't arbitrary because I say so, but THIS is because I say so
If you seriously don't see how what I quoted is arbitrary you're beyond help. But obviously you don't have a rebuttal for that, better call me angry :^)
>No need to be angry anon, there's only like three good AA games anyway
And a grand total of zero good DR games.
Definitely play Hotel Dusk. It's amazing how they managed to make a single boring location so interesting.
>>336976493
Gotta agree with the other anon friend, DR does do it but not to the absolute bullshit levels of AA.
Except the swimsuit.
Fuck that swimsuit.
>The Meat on Bone
So many retarded DR fanboys appeared after the PC version came out.
DR is ok, but it's too easy most of the time, cases are boring because of that. Characters are literally weaboo trash. Style and music are nice though.
>>336976847
>And a grand total of zero good DR games
Totally unbiased, you're right, brb typing up a 10 page essay to respond to every valid point you make because you're the center of the universe and I'm obligated, damn
>>336976602
>I know the solution of the murder and I will die alongside everybody else if I don't reveal it, but I won't because THE PROTAGONIST has to figure it out
I've never played DR, but if you literally think this sentence doesn't apply to AA, then you've never played JFA. The second Ace Attorney game is fucking terrible with this bullshit.
>>336976949
>So many retarded DR fanboys appeared after the PC version came out.
y do ppl liek gud gam i dun liek >:(
>>336976828
Take writing classes and read 100 mystery novels a year.
>>336977104
>and read 100 mystery novels a year.
Recommendations? I can't seem to find a good chart for this kind of thing.
>>336976602
>So does DR, only it distracts your impressionable retarded brain
It's not that I'm being "distracted" you dumb fuck. The game incorporates different mystery solving mini games. It adds another layer of gameplay to the game. You know, the exact fucking thing we're talking about. You are whining because AA just has menu selections for its gameplay. Stop bitching.
>They aren't arbitrary if you follow what the characters are asking of you.
Holy shit you're fucking retarded. I'm guessing you're the mentally handicapped one that can't pay attention to the wildly inconsistent legal system in the AA series.
Magic exist. Prove wrong faggots.
>>336977182
I don't know, I've only read Christie and Sherlock Holmes. You can at least start there, and I'm guessing you can find a lot more through google.
>>336976969
>Totally unbiased
So if I don't like DR I must say that they're good games and overlook the faults I perceive, otherwise I'm "biased"?
>brb typing up a 10 page essay to respond to every valid point you make because you're the center of the universe and I'm obligated, damn
You could at least try and address one. But you're right, it's best if you just stop replying.
>>336976762
>I can think of maybe 1 or 2 questionable exceptions to this, but it's much more consistent.
DR 2 is full of that shit.
Diseases, starving, bazooka.
Case 2 says that murder intent matters, case 5 says otherwise.
>>336976828
Just follow Ackroyd, make the main viewpoint is the killer, but blantantly lie, even if you view the case 90% from the killer because only detective's perpective matters.
Damn it Christie.
>>336977251
I'll prove you wrong by saying that anti-magic end is best end.
>>336977303
What's it like having a head so big you can suck your own dick?
>>336976949
>So many retarded DR fanboys appeared after the PC version came out.
So what is better according to you?
>>336977060
This isn18+ website.
>>336977213
>The game incorporates different mystery solving mini games.
Sure, there's
>pick the correct answer from this list
and
>pitch the correct piece of information against this assertion
and also
>pick the correct answer from this list after playing a rhythm minigame
and how not to forget
>assemble the correct answer using these letters
There's nothing fundamentally different from what you do in AA, you just have to faff around with stupid gimmicks to ultimately do the same thing.
>>336977302
>>336977367
I've also only read Christie, but I guess I have a place to start. Thanks anons.
>>336977781
Having gameplay is a gimmick now? Pull your head out of your ass, Jesus.
>>336977519
Have you tried to read full post? I am not saying that your favorite game is shit. It's just mediocre.
AA is better.
So is 999.
And Ghost Trick.
Even Layton is better.
>>336977367
IIRC he never lied, he just purposefully left out everything incriminating.
>>336977351
>Diseases, starving, bazooka.
Have absolutely nothing to do with rules or logical consistency. While you could argue the disease thing is writing bordering on silly(and you'd be correct), it doesn't break any rules within the universe.
AA constantly contradicts itself in what Phoenix is and isn't allowed to do and the game just basically allows him to do whatever he wants when it's convenient.
>Case 2 says that murder intent matters
No, it doesn't. They aren't busted because of intent, they're busted because they tried to bullshit their way through it byclaiming they weren't a person, which has nothing to do with intent. Peko is a sovereign citizen.
>>336977897
Anon, I've played all those games and I love them all to death.
Why is it a matter of pitching games against each other? They're all appealing in different ways and have their positive and negative aspects.
>>336971157
i could never get passed the starting area. never could figure out what the fuck to do
>>336976828
Motive. Culprit.
Make a motive that's interesting. Don't try to make any original shitty motive, instead focus on writing a solid motive as a basis as to why the events happened. Even something as "accidentally murder" as a motive can be pretty solid in the hands of a good author.
And for the love of god try to make the killer human. Make him/her/xe/alien believable and someone you could meet in real life. Don't write deus ex god rusemasters that can predict the movements of the detective down to the smallest detail, that's just plain bullshit.Yasu was pretty good for the two reasons above. Her/his plan sometimes failed, fucked up hard, and it made the murder case more complicated instead.
>>336977897
Welp, he thinks it's shit.
PLAY REMEMBER11 GO
DON'T LOOK BACK
>>336978865
Already did lad
>>336978245
Motives are fucking hard to come up with. But that makes it so much more satisfying when you finally have something that works.
>>336978045
The question was "what's better". I just answered it.
Dangitronpaul is pretty unique, but some guys praising it like it's the best mystery game out there.
Also, I wanted to rant about cases, aside from 4 and 5, all of them were snorefest. 4 was fun only because of the FDR. Danganronpa 1 is the same, first 3 cases were boring as hell, case 3 being the most stupid.
>>336961389
>DR better than AA
lol ya whatever you say
>>336979086
>Dangitronpaul is pretty unique, but some guys praising it like it's the best mystery game out there.
DR2 is literally the best mystery game out there, yeah
>>336979007
Want to have a solid motive?
write characters without regards for a killer and a victim. Write their characterizations and how they are linked together. Write a scenario. Then progress the scenario forward until a reason for murder/theft/panty stealing comes forward. There, you now have a motive with actual foundation as long as you are good at writing character interaction if this is your first mystery. Again don't come with original deep4u motives, that shit ruins entire stories.
>>336974662
Root Double was great. I loved how the last route wrapped up everything perfectly.
>>336980162
>perfectly
debatable
it had the potential to get absolutely nuts but never really went full nuts
>>336977905
Yeah. Murder of Roger Ackroyd didn't lie at any point. The narrator just skims over certain parts and is vague on what he actually did. He omitted incriminating information, but he didn't say he did something else during that time - he just was vague or kind of skipped out of detailing what he did during those times.
I pirated Avian Attorney, and it seems like an interesting AA-clone. Although, it doesn't have enough oompfh to make it work as well as AA (the court sequences are a bit too slow, and there wasn't any notable themes for said parts), so it hasn't clicked with me.
It's still interesting, and I like the path-gimmick (where the story can change depending on how you do in trials, and that the game continues even if you fail), and it's worth a pirate or a buy when it goes cheap.
Lucid9's a free mystery VN that got put out on steam last month
The art is fucking terrible, and the humor is "us gamers xD" most of the time, just referential bullshit, but the serious parts of it are actually pretty enjoyable and it has a nice idea behind it
Someone rip it off and make a non-shit version of it
>>336973492
>Famicom Detective Club
And written by everyone's favorite Nintendo employeeSakamoto
