What is the difference between a visual novel and a sandbox?
LOL...
If you're not joking...
A Visual Novel is the style of game 75% of this site hosts. A sequence of still images and animations with a textbox of some type displaying narration or dialogue....
A KINETIC VN is a slideshow with no choices or very few choices that do not alter the story significantly.
A Kinetic VN flows start to end like a film.
A SANDBOX VN typically has a map, branching storylines, multiple locations you can visit in any sequence you like.
A Sandbox VN allows you the freedom to go different places and do many things, without a predetermined sequence of events.
Scenes and storylines typically are not interwoven. Every NPC or Love Interest is isolated, for the most part.
A hybrid Story-rich Sandbox VN is one with storylines that take place over time, but limited freedom to explore during certain times of the gameplay. It may alternate between kinetic and sandbox.