Visual novels get a bad rap when it comes to trophy hunters due to their ease in obtaining all the achievements. Often, there are auto-skip accessibility functions in-game that can allow you to complete 20+ hour stories in just a few minutes. That makes these games great for players who just want to pump their numbers up as high as possible—and big deterrents for those who want to curate their list with only quality games.
This article will break down the second philosophy and show that there are many visual novels that are worth experiencing for their amazing storytelling, phenomenal music, and interesting gameplay systems. These games are all great visual novels for trophy hunters that put a lot of care into their list. They should be completed at your own pace, not at the breakneck speeds that many trophy guides recommend.
Table of Contents
11. World End Syndrome
World End Syndrome is a unique horror visual novel with a calendar-based system. You play as an unnamed high school student that is moving to a beachside town to escape his troubled past. You end up meeting a quirky cast of characters and join the Tribal Studies Research Club, or the Mystery Club for short. Several people in the area have died, and it’s up to you to figure out the reason why and put a stop to it.
The game has several different routes corresponding with the different characters in the Mystery Club. As you get close to them, you will uncover more details about the overarching mystery in Mihate Town. Each day, you get to choose where you spend time, whether it be at home, school, downtown, or somewhere else. You can learn details about the village’s history, meet your friends, and uncover collectibles along the way.
There are also a few side missions to complete that usually require you to visit certain locales on a specific date. You have to complete all of them to earn the trophy “Jack of All Trades.”
The mission system combined with the “choose your own adventure” day-to-day gameplay makes for a very unique experience for those well-acquainted with more traditional visual novels. Plus, trophy hunters will want to see the story through to its conclusion as the twist is interesting and worth the investment.
Most players will clock in about 20-25 hours getting through World End Syndrome, although some trophy hunters have managed to get it down to 5-6 hours.
10. The Letter
This horror visual novel follows a group of seven people as they grapple with a deadly curse: anyone who sees a bloody chain letter will end up dying at the hands of a bitter ghost. The game has an extraordinary number of deviating routes depending on the player’s choices, many of which lead to members of the main cast meeting a gruesome end.
One of The Letter’s best features is that it boasts full English voice acting for all dialogue. There are also many varied and active background drops with ambient noise, such as birds flying in the skies above. There are also quite a few unique quick-time events that play like minigames; any that are too difficult or frustrating can even be skipped. You just need to make sure you succeed at four different ones for the trophy “Daredevil.”
A regular playthrough of the game will run you about 20 hours. Seeing everything the game has to offer can take anywhere from 50-80 hours depending on your reading speed and whether you skip previously completed segments. Those who seek to get the platinum trophy as fast as possible can do so in a mere 10-15 minutes—while their total platinum number may go up, they are definitely missing out.
9. Buried Stars
Buried Stars is a unique Korean visual novel that takes place when a competitive game show caves in, leaving all the contestants trapped underground. Players must uncover a series of mysteries while trying to survive until emergency services are able to rescue them.
The game can be experienced with either Japanese or Korean voices. It stars six main characters, many of which may die depending on your choices in the game. There are also some interesting gameplay mechanics, such as calling other characters on the protagonist’s cell phone and viewing in-universe social media posts.
The twists in the narrative are surprisingly well-done. Although each character appears to be a caricature, the game explores their various layers and flaws on a deeper level. The music is also quite atmospheric and adds a lot to the experience. To get all the trophies, you will need to gain rapport with your fellow celebrities and see all the endings; nothing too crazy for seasoned hunters.
One playthrough takes about 10 hours, and completionists can sink their teeth into about 30-40 hours of content as they unlock all the endings and various database items. Unlocking the platinum trophy takes about 3-5 hours or less when using a guide. It is a criminally underrated visual novel that deserves a place on your trophy list, especially if you like having unique titles. This game only has 126 platinum achievers out of 269 owners on PSN Profiles.
8. Root Film
Root Film is another visual novel game that delves into light horror and mystery themes. The game follows Rintaro Yagumo, a poor film director, as he is asked to produce a pilot for a murder mystery TV series. In a twist of fate, he finds himself in the middle of a case that he is uniquely qualified to help solve.
It cannot be understated just how gorgeous the game looks; all the characters and backgrounds are intricately detailed and colorful. The Japanese voice acting is also well-done, especially during more humorous moments with Yagumo’s assistant, Magari. There are also gameplay segments where you confront perceived liars with the truth, fitted with health bars and all. These are fun and help break up the narrative.
Trophy hunters will need to be wary of two things while going for this title. You must both fail and succeed in every “Max Mode,” the gameplay segments where you verbally battle against others. These can be done easily with smart save states. There are also a few trophies related to finding certain NPC’s around the map. You can use a simple guide to get this done without too much heartache.
Root Film takes about 15-20 hours to complete normally, with hasty trophy hunters managing to do so in 1-2 hours. Only 349 players on PSN Profiles have this title under their belt.
7. The House in Fata Morgana
The House in Fata Morgana is a visual novel that takes place in a cursed mansion over a millennium. There is a gothic style to the story and art that is somewhat unique to the genre. The story has also spawned a large amount of detailed analyses among fans, with some praising it as not just the best visual novel they’ve played, but perhaps the best story they’ve ever read in any medium. It is an emotional experience that may just change how you perceive the world.
Trophy hunters will just need to play through the story and see all the endings. The game comes with chapter select, so you can easily go back as needed for those you may have missed. Seeing everything will unlock the trophy, “What Was, and What Could Have Been.”
Completing the game will take about 30 hours depending on your reading speed, as there is no voice acting. Dedicated trophy hunters have managed to obtain this platinum in only 30 minutes to an hour. One can only hope that these players have already played through the game before or will come back later.
6. Spirit Hunter: Death Mark
An ongoing horror visual novel series, Spirit Hunter is all about surviving against unknown and paranormal encounters. In Death Mark, a strange mark appears on a person’s body indicating that they will die very soon in unusual circumstances. An amnesiac protagonist finds himself the bearer of this mark and must find a way to survive a cruel fate.
The game consists of six chapters that each have a different spirit that you must figure out how to deal with. This includes exploring the environment to find helpful items and making smart choices during close encounters. The art of these titles is detailed and realistic, which helps to make horrifying scenes even creepier. The music is also quite good and helps heighten the experience.
Death Mark is a must for trophy hunters looking for some recognition. The trophy icons for the game connect with each other to make more cohesive and interesting pictures. These are often detailed images of the game’s various characters and ghosts.
After playing Death Mark, you may want to try the game’s sequel, Spirit Hunter: NG (No Good). The developers also recently released the third entry to the series, Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II in February 2024.
These games take 10-15 hours, but savvy trophy hunters have managed to complete them in 4-5 hours.
5. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Perhaps the most lighthearted series on this list, the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy follows the titular defense lawyer as he unravels many different murder cases to protect his clients in court. The games are loosely visual novels, although they incorporate some puzzle and point-and-click mechanics.
Players can enjoy one of the most addictive and atmospheric soundtracks as they play through these games; songs that work exceptionally well for triumphant, sad, and humorous moments alike. The Trilogy package includes Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Justice for All, and Trials and Tribulations, which each build upon the last in overarching story and gameplay mechanics.
Trophy hunters may be discouraged that there is only one platinum for three games. However, they blend together so well they may as well be considered one title. Each game in the series should take about 20 hours (60 hours in total for the entire package), with some trophy hunters able to slim the platinum run down to only 20-30 hours.
If these games peak your interest, you may also want to check out the other Ace Attorney games on PlayStation. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is quite similar to the original series, but is based in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s in Great Britain with an all-new cast. The Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy recently released in January 2024 and continues many of the storylines from the original trilogy.
4. AI: The Somnium Files
AI: The Somnium Files can only be described as a quirky murder mystery visual novel that will keep you guessing throughout the experience. Date is a detective that is investigating a string of serial murders in a futuristic sci-fi setting. He is accompanied by the ever-helpful artificial intelligence robot Aiba, which allows for some hilarious back-and-forth banter.
Much of the game is relegated to point-and-click puzzles and visual novel sequences. The game is fully English voice acted and hosts several famous talents behind its characters. The Somnium sections are also incredibly fun and likely to keep you on your toes. You may even find yourself theorizing about the game’s events alongside the protagonist.
The platinum journey is more involved than many of the other games on this list, as there are some collectables and a few miscellaneous trophies that are not acquired from normal gameplay. However, there is chapter select should you miss anything. AI: The Somnium Files will take about 30 hours to complete without rushing. The fastest achievers on PSN Profiles managed to do it in under 5 hours, which is a crazy feat.
If you find yourself a big fan of this game, you should check out its sequel, the Nirvana Initiative. The developer, Spike Chunsoft, is also behind the hit series Danganronpa and Zero Escape. These are both great series to play, but are generally more difficult to platinum.
3. Steins; Gate Elite
The most “classic” title on this list, the original Steins; Gate visual novel released all the way back in 2009 and received a fully realized remake worldwide in 2019. It is a science fiction story about university students that have created a way to travel through time and change the past. The Elite version of the game incorporates scenes from the anime adaptation and is widely considered the best way to experience the story.
A completionist run through the various routes in the game will take about 35-40 hours, while trophy hunters have consistently slimmed it down to under 2 hours. Fans may also like to play the remaining titles in the Science Adventure series, including Chaos; Head, Robotics; Notes, and Chaos; Child, all of which have platinum trophies attached.
2. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus
A deceivingly cute high school love story, this visual novel is not for the faint of heart. An unnamed teenaged boy protagonist joins a literature club at the behest of his female childhood friend. He meets three other girls at the club whom he can choose to spend more time with.
Potential readers should be warned that this is ultimately a horror game. You may want to check the appropriate content warnings before proceeding. That said, Doki Doki Literature Club diverts your expectations and has meaningful commentary about mental illness. The game also has an outstanding soundtrack and an interesting minigame that tests your understanding of the core characters.
A casual playthrough will take about 5-10 hours and a completionist run around 20 hours. This includes several optional side stories that explore the main casts’ relationships with one another. With a bit of luck, ambitious trophy hunters can get the platinum trophy in only a couple of hours.
The trophy “Breakthrough” requires the player to achieve 100% data collection, which includes finding the elusive ghost menu. During Act 2 of the game, players have a 1.56% chance to see a unique title screen upon booting into the game. Due to the RNG related to this menu, it may take several dozen resets before you can nab this trophy. This certainly fits the bill of visual novels for trophy hunters that want a bit of challenge with their digital achievement.
If you’d like to experience the game without worrying about the achievements, or if you cannot afford the game, Doki Doki Literature Club may also be experienced for free via the developer’s website or on Steam, so there is no reason not to give it a try.
1. Raging Loop
This horror mystery visual novel follows Haruaki Fusaishi, a man who finds himself stranded in the small countryside town of Yasumizu after crashing his motorcycle. Before the bike can be repaired, a heavy mist sets in on the village, and everyone must take part in a tradition called the Feast of the Yomi-Purge. This event is like the children’s game Werewolf, in which there is a “wolf” in the group that everyone must uncover.
In Raging Loop, this wolf attempts to kill someone in the village each night. The following day, the villagers must work together to try to find out who the killer among them is before it’s too late. There are more intricacies to the plot, including several different roles that the community members serve, such as the “spider” who has the power to protect a single person from the wolf each night.
The deductive nature of the game is extremely engaging and keeps the player guessing throughout the entire story. The reader can accuse different people during the Feast as well as change the direction of the story. The game features Japanese voice acting, which at its best moments lead to some very chilling scenes.
There are also different endings and alternative scenarios that the player can experience that remix who the culprit is. The music in the game is also incredible and fits the menacing atmosphere remarkably well.
Raging Loop takes about 20-25 hours to beat, but exploring everything can take almost 50 hours. Unfortunately, many trophy hunters have collected this platinum in only 15-30 minutes, which is really a shame given the quality of the narrative. Trophies or not, you should definitely check this title out. Of the games on this list, this entry is the author’s absolute favorite.
Conclusion
These games are all A-class in the visual novel genre and should be added to your trophy list without guilt. They add color and can serve as a gentle reprieve between more difficult hunts. What other games do you think are good visual novels for trophy hunters? You can also try balancing out these visual novels with some of the most difficult games to platinum.
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