How serious is a story allowed to be in a visual novel for adults? Thoughts?

[Syploore]

How serious is a story allowed to be in a visual novel for adults?

I've played quite a few great games, some explicitly attest to their non-seriousness and you get a great, positive story. Some developers hold the bar for a serious and dramatic story... But my question is, how serious can a story in a visual novel be to be playable and desirable?

I'm talking about especially dark, serious themes: murder, drugs, overdoses, betrayals, etc.

P.S I know there are games about slave girls, rape, themes even darker and so on, I'm more interested in the emotional component. My question is more about the adult visual novel aspect with a story and plot.

 

[anne O'nymous]

But my question is, how serious can a story in a visual novel be to be playable and desirable?

Wrong question.

I, and I'm far to be the only one, totally love Desert Stalker. And I don't think that there's a more serious story that this one ; at least when it come to its serious part. Between the daughter trapped then killed if she investigate the noise, the fight, and of course (for those who stayed long enough, but not too long in the ghost house) Julia encouraging the daughter to stand up, this update was a pure enjoyment... and a total turn off.
A story can be as serious as one want, it will always found its public, and there will always be some who will still be able to fap to it.

I'm talking about especially dark, serious themes: murder, drugs, overdoses, betrayals, etc.

Hot Sand of Antarctica have among the most gore scene one can find here, yet is played and loved.
There's Karlsson's Gambit that, in Juliette optional scenes, push sadism to its extreme with death leading tortures. Once again a played and loved game.
I'll not remember the name, but there's a story revolving around junkies that is pretty dark and seem loved. No name cross my mind, but there's games where the MC is a fucking abusing jerk who wouldn't hesitate to use all means in order to reach his goal.

Everything is possible, what don't mean that people who are here only to fap would play those games. But they represent only half of the scene and wouldn't play a too serious story even if it wasn't a dark one.

 

[Hagatagar]

As serious as the dev wants it to be.
Why should there be a limit? It's a visual novel, a story told by it can be literal anything.

There will always be people who complain about something (too serious, not wholesome enough, not enough sex).
But every story can find its own niche with players who will like that kind of stuff, it's just a matter of the right promotion to get to them.

 

[EvolutionKills]

The only limit is the creator's imagination, and their skill at translating that to their medium of choice if they wish to share it with others.

 

[HarveyD]

As everyone's said, as serious as you want it to be.
Though if you want people jacking off every update then probably don't make it too serious.
Probably another one of those porn game vs game with sex kind of debates.

 

[SergeantDauterive]

The themes are more limited to stay realistic if trying to be serious, you typically won't be seeing the MC have a harem or something unless he's a billionaire. But you can still have good sex scenes, I'm sure.

 

[redknight00]

Serious but not pretentious.

 

[VMiller]

I didn't notice any humor in this kind of game. It's an alternative to seriousness.

 

[Meaning Less]

I prefer non-serious stuff, that's how most japanese games are and why I enjoy them on average more than the western stuff.

But if you are going for serious I agree with purpleknight and at least steer away from thinking your story is more serious than it actually is, afterall it is a porn game.

 

[kristijanEX]

I've seen a lot of serious stuff or that wants to be taken seriously, but more often than not, it just doesn't do it for me, it doesn't help that unlike most people on here I couldn't care less about the story as long as the characters are good and there is good sexual content because that's why I play the games for. To get my rock on.

Now if it does have a good storyline, fine, I don't mind, but if it has good story and bad characters + bad sex, dropped.

 

[Doorknob22]

A good story is a good story: It could be an adventure, a comedy, a coming of age or whatever. In AVNs, a good story could be a "poor man's secret weapon", a relatively cheap element which can hook players even when your art is not up to the art of other AVNs.

As for "serious" AVNs, just one word of caution: don't "fall in love with the darkness", by perpetually seeking to shock your players and show how edgy you are, but rather tell a good story which happens to go into dark paths.

Good luck!

 

[artoonu]

It's just a personal preference, but I'd rather have my porn be porn, maybe with some light story, but not too serious. If I'd like a serious story, I'm picking an SFW game.
I mean, let's imagine this scenario: You play an NSFW game with excellent, top-tier storytelling with some porn on the side. Unlike "normal" books, movies, etc. you can't really discuss it with friends and/or family (usually).

So when I'm making games, I try to make the story interesting enough to get to the next sex scene, but not too complex. Another thing to keep in mind - the more serious your story is, the fewer readers/players are forgiving to plot holes and so on.
Take movies - if it's a comedy, you won't mind some continuity errors, cameraman in the mirror... Watch a poorly made thriller, however...

Staying with movies - there's a reason there's not much serious porn with the plot. They could do it, but they don't. I've never seen anyone, even in an NSFW scene discussing the plot and lore of "Return of Lusty MILFS" (title made up).