Recommending Story-first games

[Vasin]

Having played through the updates of Zero's End I've missed, I can say it rapidly advanced to the very top of the story driven urban fantasy mystery AVNs (yes, all 3 of them).

I really liked how high the production value of it is, the ui, soundtrack is evocative, yet unobtrusive, and gameplay elements that are frustrating enough to qualify as actual gameplay but not enough to put you off.

Story progresses at a good pace, it doesn't feel like it's rushed or too drawn out, given the gallery menu, we're about 20% in, and the entire thing should be a length of a decent movie, or at best mini series rather than multiple season monstrosity some games tend to devolve into.

I can't say I share the impression of the above mentioned rooftop scene, at that point I had more compassion for Langdon who at least helped us on his own volition. Brianna was a total bitch and I could not care less about what could have happened. I am missing the reason that forced Caleb to be a dick to her if you choose to go and have a chat, but frankly, I don't care enough to replay and see if there's anything else to it.

The scene that was the highlight of the entire episode for me was when you hang out with Alice. Having to inadvertently hurt her with indifference without even being aware of the reason why was heartwrenching.

 

[365 others]

I finally played Zero End's latest chapter, and I can't believe how much I loved it. No other VN so expertly balances gravity with levity. One minute, you have perfectly in-character humour like:

... and soon have it followed by Brianna's most excellent rooftop sequence. It's so wonderfully well done, especially if you've failed to save her, as I have.

With this chapter, I felt even more strongly that this game is meant to be played without pursuing any LIs, save perhaps Marie. The game actively rewards celibacy with smarter dialogue, insight and intrigue. I love it!

From the beginning, my favourite characters have been the ostensible villains - Marie, Silver, and Swansong. I now feel a bit vindicated for my faith in Marie. Her backstabbing was telegraphed well in advance, but the possibility of her real motivations being agreeable to Caleb is looking stronger than ever. Similarly, Silver and Swansong both have more heart to them than their roles might otherwise imply. Especially for Silver, her connection to Marie and her inability to defy Marie must be related to the Daughter of Eve bit, but it's hard to see the whole picture just yet.

Likewise, Lilith has been a brilliant introduction to the cast. Her motivations are shrouded, but I didn't expect the game to steep her background so heavily in Jewish mythology. It has much creative potential, but I wonder if the dev might write himself into a corner? Lilith's fate in the mythology might not fit fell with the Son of Adam / Daughter of Eve thing that's going on. Still, it should be exciting!


Anyway, it's high time Zero End made it to the list. Better late than never

I just finished playing version 2.4 and could not agree more. Holly shit! I started playing with high expectations due to all the reviews, and I still got amazed at how well-written it is!

I guess saving Brianna is not an option depending on the path. Depending on how you see it, I probably did something wrong (or right) and saved her. Not by option, the VN took the MC there and I had no agency over that decision.

I don't regret it tho, her background and how she explained her story toned down the dislike I initially had for her.

I'm definitively subscribing.

If the past year of content has been up to the standard set by earlier updates it's one of the easiest recommendations on the site

I agree. I was reluctant as the tags and description were not that enticing, and I thought it was just another game with some lore sprinkled here and there. Now it is one of my top 3 favorite VNs.

Having played through the updates of Zero's End I've missed, I can say it rapidly advanced to the very top of the story driven urban fantasy mystery AVNs (yes, all 3 of them).

I really liked how high the production value of it is, the ui, soundtrack is evocative, yet unobtrusive, and gameplay elements that are frustrating enough to qualify as actual gameplay but not enough to put you off.

Story progresses at a good pace, it doesn't feel like it's rushed or too drawn out, given the gallery menu, we're about 20% in, and the entire thing should be a length of a decent movie, or at best mini series rather than multiple season monstrosity some games tend to devolve into.

I can't say I share the impression of the above mentioned rooftop scene, at that point I had more compassion for Langdon who at least helped us on his own volition. Brianna was a total bitch and I could not care less about what could have happened. I am missing the reason that forced Caleb to be a dick to her if you choose to go and have a chat, but frankly, I don't care enough to replay and see if there's anything else to it.

The scene that was the highlight of the entire episode for me was when you hang out with Alice. Having to inadvertently hurt her with indifference without even being aware of the reason why was heartwrenching.

I didn't have the option not to save her, but honestly, I didn't find something that made me hate her either. She's a "villain" but rather a loose one, and after saving her I got to know why. If anything I left feeling rather pity for her.

 

[Canto Forte]

Just a recap so you actually read like you played the game not by skipping, but by reading the lines.

MC is immediately inducted into the demon side of the game world in Zero End when a literal succubus offers a blowie.
Same girl is one of the only love interests MC gets to choose to continue the game with, even.

Now, another girl ends up offering a blowie to MC also - but your conclusion is that she is the bad girl?

Not to mention everyone loves the murdering vampire who literally ragdolls MC and his friends?

Talk about being totally all over the place while playing this game.

MC gets to save the posessed girl from suicide - not from the curses on her, not from the overpowering force that is ruining her life - which is absolutely anticlimactic because MC is a self taught hobbyist exorcist of curses.
From this angle, the posessed girl would be right up his alley, precisely into his wheelhouse of fighting the curse and freeing the girl, which, totally contrarry to his whole backstory, MC does neither - not even recognizing the curse on the girl, not fighting it at all, gets right into the curse if he agrees to investigate while going to the girls dorm - what a pathetic total looser MC is to forget absolutely everything that made his whole interest into the occult - remember the conversation with Marie where MC is literally exhilirated for banishing some actual demon to the depths of hell during one of his banishments - but a girl who comes to him scared out of her mind for being cursed into a perpetual victim of rape and murder - MC is totally oblivious.

That is the absolute dissolution of the story of this whole game - MC is a powerful warlock specialized in banishing great hellish curses - his biggest achievement being to have banished a literal demon back to hell - but MC is totally oblivious and powerless against mere humans and their minor curses they seem to bother MC with to no avail.

I can't say I share the impression of the above mentioned rooftop scene, at that point I had more compassion for Langdon who at least helped us on his own volition. Brianna was a total bitch and I could not care less about what could have happened. I am missing the reason that forced Caleb to be a dick to her if you choose to go and have a chat, but frankly, I don't care enough to replay and see if there's anything else to it.

I didn't have the option not to save her, but honestly, I didn't find something that made me hate her either. She's a "villain" but rather a loose one, and after saving her I got to know why. If anything I left feeling rather pity for her.

I guess saving Brianna is not an option depending on the path. Depending on how you see it, I probably did something wrong (or right) and saved her. Not by option, the VN took the MC there and I had no agency over that decision.

I don't regret it tho, her background and how she explained her story toned down the dislike I initially had for her.

Sure is nice to bring MC back to total neophite sub zero humbling status with every other update.

When will this cycle of MC forgetting his whole practice in the occult, only to get saved by deux ex machina overpowered peers or otherworldly entities stop?

 

[amerika01]

I finally played Zero End's latest chapter, and I can't believe how much I loved it. No other VN so expertly balances gravity with levity. One minute, you have perfectly in-character humour like:

... and soon have it followed by Brianna's most excellent rooftop sequence. It's so wonderfully well done, especially if you've failed to save her, as I have.

With this chapter, I felt even more strongly that this game is meant to be played without pursuing any LIs, save perhaps Marie. The game actively rewards celibacy with smarter dialogue, insight and intrigue. I love it!

From the beginning, my favourite characters have been the ostensible villains - Marie, Silver, and Swansong. I now feel a bit vindicated for my faith in Marie. Her backstabbing was telegraphed well in advance, but the possibility of her real motivations being agreeable to Caleb is looking stronger than ever. Similarly, Silver and Swansong both have more heart to them than their roles might otherwise imply. Especially for Silver, her connection to Marie and her inability to defy Marie must be related to the Daughter of Eve bit, but it's hard to see the whole picture just yet.

Likewise, Lilith has been a brilliant introduction to the cast. Her motivations are shrouded, but I didn't expect the game to steep her background so heavily in Jewish mythology. It has much creative potential, but I wonder if the dev might write himself into a corner? Lilith's fate in the mythology might not fit fell with the Son of Adam / Daughter of Eve thing that's going on. Still, it should be exciting!


Anyway, it's high time Zero End made it to the list. Better late than never

Is the game already ended? I see it has 1 ending, but it is not clear... I don't like uncompleted games as I always forget to update on them :/ if it is not ended I preffer to wait until it is

 

[365 others]

Is the game already ended? I see it has 1 ending, but it is not clear... I don't like uncompleted games as I always forget to update on them :/ if it is not ended I preffer to wait until it is

It is not. It has an "ending" in the sense that at some point MC gets to decide if he wants to deal with the problems he is facing in the university or if he wants to walk away.
If he walks away, you get the mentioned ending. I didn't see it, but some walkthrough I read mentions that depending on the LIs and some choices you get one or other type of ending (but in the same situation: you leave).

I don't know if that's standard for each release, but it seems they have an intro, development, and conclusion, meaning that you can play what there is so far without feeling it is incomplete too much.

 

[burningchrome]

First of all thanks for the thread! Reading through the pages I found a few gems I didn't know existed. Even though I play these games mostly for the lewd content I can't stand cringe/cold/emotionless writing (engrish can be forgiven). I don't know if these have already been mentioned and they don't fit all of your criterias but both have a good well written story:

Companion of Darkness (broke my heart twice and I loved every second of it. Tier 1 game no doubt, deserves more attention)
Karlsson's Gambit (great story, femdom is completely avoidable if you're not into it)

 

[365 others]

jufot I was going through some recommendations on other sites and bumped into The Interim Domain. I don't see it on the list, but having over 2 years of development I think it could be a great match for the list.

So far (I haven't finished playing until the last version) the plot has been very consistent, characters have their depths and development, motivations, and backstory, there are very few lewd scenes and all of them follow the story development rather than being forced into the story.

The only thing that makes me have to play a bit each day instead of going all at once is that its story is very gloomy if not tragic for my liking, but even in that case it's been very well written.

 

[jufot]

The Interim Domain

I haven't played this one, but I tried the dev's previous game once. I gave up after realizing it was a generic Honey Select girl-collector harem and those are four words that do not appeal to me. Is this one any different?

 

[365 others]

I haven't played this one, but I tried the dev's previous game once. I gave up after realizing it was a generic Honey Select girl-collector harem and those are four words that do not appeal to me. Is this one any different?

I haven't got to complete all there is up to the last release, but so far it would seem. MC does have to get to know multiple LIs there, but the premise does not seem to build a harem, but rather (if that is your choice) to have an affair before they move on.

The premise would look like Ghost Whisperer, save that in here all the world (including MC) is dead. What he has to do is to help people (male and female) to solve their pending issues so they can move on to the new world. So while you do have the option to develop some closeness to the LIs, the premise is always to help them move on to the next life, which would remove them from the existence plane MC is (thus not having a harem persé).

Also, another restriction is that no individual (save for MC and his type of "whisperers") has knowledge or even perception of the other people being stuck in that in-between life cycles, so it seems very unlikely the LIs will get to know each other.

 

[FatGiant]

Can anyone please suggest me some 3DCG games where the female protagonist or love interest is a famous actress or model like in hillside, leap of faith and isabella????

No attempt to disrespect you, but, you've asked twice.

My suggestion is for you to open a new thread in this sub-forum. Instead of abusing other threads that are truly not meant for that.

I, for one, even if I knew of one, wouldn't answer you.

Peace

 

[365 others]

Is this one any different?

The premise would look like Ghost Whisperer, save that in here all the world (including MC) is dead. What he has to do is to help people (male and female) to solve their pending issues so they can move on to the new world. So while you do have the option to develop some closeness to the LIs, the premise is always to help them move on to the next life, which would remove them from the existence plane MC is (thus not having a harem persé).

Yup, I just let go of one of the LIs and she has crossed to the other side. A bittersweet feeling, as she had a lot of trouble, and while the romance part was sweet all the baggage she had to solve to be able to cross to the other side was very bad.

I'm gonna miss Mina a lot.

 

[jufot]

Chapter 23 of Price of Power is

You must be registered to see the links

with massive story developments, even explaining story beats from some of the earliest chapters. It should show up here soon, I think

 

[365 others]

Chapter 23 of Price of Power is

You must be registered to see the links

with massive story developments, even explaining story beats from some of the earliest chapters. It should show up here soon, I think

Nice! Was this the last one? I remember the dev saying something about being just a couple of chapters away from the ending.

 

[Mravac Kid]

Nice! Was this the last one? I remember the dev saying something about being just a couple of chapters away from the ending.

IIRC, it's supposed to be 26 chapters.

 

[jufot]

Nice! Was this the last one?

No, there will be 30 chapters. Also, the dev has recently quit his job to do this full-time, so the odds of completion are looking pretty good

 

[365 others]

IIRC, it's supposed to be 26 chapters.

Thanks! I remember reading it in his patreon, but it was quite a while ago (around Chapter 20, I think).

No, there will be 30 chapters. Also, the dev has recently quit his job to do this full-time, so the odds of completion are looking pretty good

Awesome! I greatly like that VN and his writing skills are on point.

 

[365 others]

Chapter 23 of Price of Power is

You must be registered to see the links

with massive story developments, even explaining story beats from some of the earliest chapters. It should show up here soon, I think

It is now! Tho I will still wait for a couple more chapters before catching up. I'd like to have at least 3 chapters with a good chunk of content to read.

 

[Birdnman993]

About 2 months ago I said I would try "The Last Sovereign" and said and done, this game is a tribute to classic j-rpgs and at the same time a mockery of many tropes of the genre such as the chosen ones and the useless quests etc.

As for gameplay, it will be part traditional combat, part economic management and finally my favorite part strategic decision making, so it is very complete in terms of gameplay.

There are also many dialogues on various complex topics such as existentialism, religion, wars or politics, and a recurring topic in the conversation will be about religion, which is curious because our protagonist is an atheist in a world where gods, demons and other existential planes literally exist.

And finally, minor comments regarding the sexual theme, personally it is suuuuper boring, one image and 5 to 9 full pages of boring sex text, if I had stopped to read each scene I would not have even reached the halfway point of the game.

When this game was recommended here I made some argument that it had strong labels like slavery, prostitution and blah blah blah, which intrigued me a little, but leaving aside the sexual jokes that they drop every now and then the reality is that the game is very light, the story is mostly on track for good and the few options to do "bad" things are totally optional and in many cases it is better not to take them because they are counterproductive.

In short, if you like classic RPGs, story and gameplay The Last Sovereign is a good recommendation, but if you are looking for sex I do not recommend it unless you like deep sexual literature.

 

[365 others]

About 2 months ago I said I would try "The Last Sovereign" and said and done, this game is a tribute to classic j-rpgs and at the same time a mockery of many tropes of the genre such as the chosen ones and the useless quests etc.

As for gameplay, it will be part traditional combat, part economic management and finally my favorite part strategic decision making, so it is very complete in terms of gameplay.

There are also many dialogues on various complex topics such as existentialism, religion, wars or politics, and a recurring topic in the conversation will be about religion, which is curious because our protagonist is an atheist in a world where gods, demons and other existential planes literally exist.

And finally, minor comments regarding the sexual theme, personally it is suuuuper boring, one image and 5 to 9 full pages of boring sex text, if I had stopped to read each scene I would not have even reached the halfway point of the game.

When this game was recommended here I made some argument that it had strong labels like slavery, prostitution and blah blah blah, which intrigued me a little, but leaving aside the sexual jokes that they drop every now and then the reality is that the game is very light, the story is mostly on track for good and the few options to do "bad" things are totally optional and in many cases it is better not to take them because they are counterproductive.

In short, if you like classic RPGs, story and gameplay The Last Sovereign is a good recommendation, but if you are looking for sex I do not recommend it unless you like deep sexual literature.

It's because of all of that, plus how rich its lore is, that I think it deserves a spot on the list. I know it may not be of jufot's liking, but I still consider it story-first-oriented and very well-developed.

Awesome review, by the way. You expressed the same view I have of that game in a way I could only dream of being able to do.

 

[Birdnman993]

It's because of all of that, plus how rich its lore is, that I think it deserves a spot on the list. I know it may not be of jufot's liking, but I still consider it story-first-oriented and very well-developed.

Awesome review, by the way. You expressed the same view I have of that game in a way I could only dream of being able to do.

Thank you my friend, I feel flattered. I also wanted to talk about the characters, the harem and the exploration of the world, but I am one to make a bible that covers the entire screen so I focused on the essentials, the rest is discovered only by playing.

I played until the beginning of Chapter 5 to give myself a break and take some time to get back into it, because another great thing about Last Sovereign is that it has a lot of content, you easily have 50 hours of content.