After covering the most effective party games for Switch in 2024, the recent release of Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club , which is as amazing because it is, prompted me to write about what I consider to be the most effective visual novels and adventure games on Switch which you could play straight away. I’ve included each because some games are pure visual novels and some are adventure games (not visual novels). This list includes quite a number of games from different regions and release years, and I hope you discover something you’re keen on here. As all the time, this list is in no particular order.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99) + Famicom Detective Club: Two Case Collection

When Nintendo not only recreated each Famicom Detective Club games in 2021, I couldn’t imagine it. They were amazing adventure games, and my only grievance was the shortage of a physical release on the time. Fast forward to 2024, Nintendo released Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club each physically and digitally as a brand recent entry in the series, and I used to be thrilled to play it. Not only does it feel like a real entry in the series, which could also be a downside for some, but it surely could also be one of the crucial lavish productions I’ve seen in a game of this sort. I don’t want to spoil it, however the ending is shockingly good and really justifies the M rating. I definitely didn’t expect a brand new Famicom Detective Club game in 2024 to make it onto my best games of the 12 months list, but Nintendo has managed to just do that with Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club. Download the demo now.

If you favor to play the primary two games before Emio, grab Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection. If you do not mind old-school adventure game design and gameplay, you will love these.

VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartending Action ($14.99)

If you’ve read the several “best games on Switch” lists I’ve done this 12 months, you’ve seen me cover VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action twice before, but as you understand, I can’t wait to discuss considered one of my favorite games of all time. VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action stands out in its story, music, aesthetics, and most significantly, characters. I’ve played it multiple times over time on every system, so it feels right at home on Switch, and it’s a game I’d recommend to literally anyone. I don’t care in case you like point-and-click adventure games or not. Go mix drinks and change someone’s life.

Fata Morgana House: Ghost Dreams Edition ($39.99)

The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition is the definitive edition of considered one of my favorite stories in any medium. It includes the unique game and more to deliver a shocking version of a masterpiece of storytelling. This is a pure visual novel, and I’m glad that after many releases it has found great success on Switch, where it plays best. If you would like to play something that may stick with you for a protracted time, this gothic horror experience will do far more. It also has among the most amazing music ever.

Coffee Talk episode 1+2 ($12.99 + $14.99)

Okay, that is cheating for the reason that games are sold individually on the eShop, and the physical editions I got from Japan are also separate, but since each games are bundled together on the Switch in North America, I’ve included each Coffee Talk games as one entry. I really like each of them, and while they didn’t quite reach the heights of VA-11 Hall-A, Coffee Talk perfectly met my expectations for a coffee shop game and delivered a really relaxing experience with an amazing story. If you want coffee and listening to interesting individuals with great pixel art and music, that is for you.

Moon Visual Novel Type: Tsukihime, Fate/stay night, and Mahoyo (variable)

This is one other post where I’m cheating. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to include just Tsukihime or Witch on the Holy Night (Mahoyo), however the recent release of Fate/stay night Remastered made it even harder. Instead of worrying an excessive amount of, I’m including all three as essential visual novels for this text on Switch. They’re all very long, but superb. If you would like to try a classic visual novel, Fate/stay night is the best way to go, but I like to recommend the Tsukihime remake on Switch to anyone. Witch on the Holy Night might be the sport to play after those two in terms of quality.

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Secrets of Honjo ($19.99)

Square Enix’s PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo jogs my memory of Nintendo’s Emio in a way that I’m surprised it even exists, let alone that it’s pretty much as good because it is. I went into it with no expectations, but I used to be blown away by the storytelling, the pacing, and even among the wall-breaking that I actually enjoyed at first. Square Enix has put out among the best puzzle-adventure games I’ve ever played, with amazing characters, great graphics, and interesting mechanics, and it’s well value your time in case you need a incredible recent horror adventure game.

Gnosis ($24.99)

People call Gnosia a sci-fi, social deduction RPG, but to me it’s more of a hybrid adventure and visual novel. Your goal is to discover the Gnosia in your group using the data you gather, and then vote to put the Gnosia to sleep. You and your crew grow over time, and apart from some RNG issues to get two specific outcomes, Gnosia was a incredible experience. I enjoyed it a lot on Switch that I purchased the physical version on each Switch and PS5, in addition to on Steam. This game might not be for everyone, but it surely stays one of the crucial enjoyable surprises in the genre.

Steins;Gate Series (Variable)

The Switch releases of Spike Chunsoft’s Steins;Gate series, particularly Steins;Gate Elite , are only as essential as Fate/stay night when it comes to introducing newcomers to visual novels in the genre. While I still hope the publisher ports the unique Steins;Gate , Steins;Gate Elite is a straightforward suggestion for those that watch the anime and want to get into an amazing visual novel. The Steins;Gate games are only really required play after you’ve experienced the unique story in Steins;Gate Elite . I cheated here too by including multiple games, but my list is my rules.

AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES and the nirvanA initiative (variable)

AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES and Spike Chunsoft’s nirvanA Initiative have brought together Zero Escape creator Kotaro Uchikoshi and No More Heroes character designer Yusuke Kozaki to create an incredible set of two adventure games that truthfully feel too good to be true given the budget behind them and the standard they deliver in terms of story, music, and characters. While many individuals lament the shortage of Zero Escape on Switch, I believe the 2 AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES games are absolutely value trying out at full price and are gems of the Switch library. Please don’t make us wait too long for a brand new game in the series.

NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD ($19.99)

When it comes to adventure games or visual novels, I often get really helpful games where a friend will say “trust me and just play it, but don’t look anything up about it.” One such game was NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD after I first played it on PC. It’s an adventure game with multiple endings that may go from disturbing horror to healthful moments. It follows the day by day lifetime of a young girl trying to develop into the most effective streamer. I liked it enough to pre-order a limited edition Switch from Japan, and I’m glad I did. It’s unforgettable.

Ace Attorney Series (variable)

Capcom has now brought your entire Ace Attorney series to the Switch with Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy (1, 2, 3), Apollo Justice Trilogy (4, 5, 6), The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (1+2 of them), and the 2 Ace Attorney Investigations games this week in the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. I’d say there’s no excuse now, but this adventure game series is beloved for a reason, and has spawned a fan base that has endured for years since its DS debut in the West. If you’re recent to the series, I like to recommend The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles as the most effective entry point, even over the unique trilogy, which feels dated in some ways. Either way, now you may play your entire series on one handheld, and I really like that.

Ghost Hunter: Death Mark, NG and Death Mark II (Variable)

Another series, not a single game? Yes. The Spirit Hunter trilogy from Aksys Games and Experience Inc. is now fully available on Switch, and it combines elements of adventure horror and visual novel with one of the crucial striking art styles I’ve ever seen. It’s a bit harder to recommend this series given how grotesque among the designs are, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget among the images I saw while playing the Spirit Hunter games, with their excellent locations and stories. I hope we see a brand new installment in the following few years.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim ($59.99)

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim isn’t a pure adventure game, but one which has real-time strategy battles. I normally try to put the fantasy game last, and the double whammy of not being a full adventure game while also being among the best games I’ve played in a decade made me end this feature on Vanillaware and Atlus’ sci-fi masterpiece 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. I first played it on PS4, and I enjoyed playing it from start to finish on Switch thanks to its OLED screen in portable mode. No matter where you play it, you’ve gotten to experience 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably realized that this isn’t a top 10, but moderately more of a listing of games that I like to recommend playing at full price. I didn’t want to cut out something I actually like to hit any variety of really helpful games, which is why I’ve even included a number of full series here as a substitute of individual games. Here’s my list of the most effective visual novels and adventure games for Switch to play in 2024. If you’ve gotten a game you think that I should include, let me know in the comments below. I’m all the time looking for more amazing stories in two of my favorite genres which are an ideal fit for Switch. As all the time, thanks for reading!

Note: I’m working on a separate list of otome games because there are too many good games in this subgenre.