Since 2016, JAST has published a variety of visual novels in English translation spanning genres and demographics. In fact, at this point, their library is so large that it’s tough to know where to start. Thankfully, our team of visual novel aficionados at Yatta-Tachi (Adam, Anne, John, and Mim) have put together a list to help point you in the right direction. Whether you enjoy Boys’ Love cyberpunk, soothing yuri drama, or gross-out horror, we have recommendations. Just keep in mind that many of the titles on this list are not for the faint of heart!
DRAMAtical Murder
Genres: Sci-fi, BL, romance
Vibes: Cyberpunk, robot sex, Freudian psychology
Content Warning: Includes the following (depending on the route): gangs, yakuza, drugs, mind control, split personalities, human experimentation, familial abuse, relationship abuse, gore, overt sexual situations, nonconsensual situations, etc. (non-exhaustive list)
Our Review: “If you want to play an arguable classic BL game that combines sci-fi and horror in a “brain-blasting” manner, DRAMAtical Murder might be the title for you!”
Synopsis
“I will destroy you.”
Midorijima. Situated to the south of Japan, this beautiful island was once a place where people lived in harmony with nature. Then the Toue Corporation took over, driving off most of the island’s residents and forcing those who would not leave to live in the shadow of Platinum Jail, a walled-off megaresort where the wealthy wallow in luxury.
Aoba is a young man living with his grandmother in the Old Residential District, the last refuge of Midorijima’s people. While his peers join gangs and fight for dominance of the streets or immerse themselves in the virtual reality game Rhyme, Aoba works part-time at a junk shop and hopes only that his peaceful life will last.
But strange things are happening on Midorijima, and Aoba will soon have to fight… or lose everything that he holds dear.
Anne’s reason: DRAMAtical Murder is one of the most well-known BL visual novels for good reason. It has extremely stylish visuals, appealing character designs, a catchy techno soundtrack, and, of course, handsome men doing a variety of cool and sexy things together. Some of my favorite aspects include the cyberpunk narrative with virtual reality battles and a mystery to solve, along with the combination of futuristic and retro tech sprinkled throughout the game’s world. But like Nitroplus Chiral’s other titles, there are elements of horror and extreme content, so caution is recommended before diving straight in.
You can purchase DRAMAtical Murder via JAST Store.
Flowers -Le volume sur printemps-
Genres: Drama, mystery, GL, coming-of-age
Vibes: Cute girls doing cute things, like throwing tea parties, falling in love, confronting their traumas, and solving mysteries.
Content Warning: Emotional child abuse, trauma-related themes, homophobia
Our Review: “An ode to all of the things that make girlhood and growing up both challenging and beautiful.”
Synopsis
In the middle of a forest isolated from the rest of the world lies Saint Angraecum Academy, an all-girls school. This is where Suoh Shirahane, a painfully shy girl with a mysterious past, will begin her first year of high school. Follow her as she navigates new friendships within the academy’s special “Amitiė” partner program and attempts to unravel the many mysteries at the academy, including occult rituals and the mysterious disappearance of fellow students, all while trying to pass her classes.
Within the halls of Saint Angraecum Academy, spring warms into summer, as does Suoh’s friendships until they too blossom into something much more.
Mim’s reason: There are few things in life that bring me more joy than girlhood. Girlhood includes hairbrushing, baking… sharing traumatic lore. You know how it goes. Flowers -Le volume sur printemps- understands that strange, tender mix better than I expected. Between its gorgeous illustrations, abundance of florals, and a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for, this game had me hooked. It strikes a good balance between exploring the daily experiences of teenage girls and the, at times, painful pasts that shaped them. I went into this visual novel for the cute girls and yuri, and I left a mess!
You can purchase Flowers -Le volume sur printemps- via JAST Store.
Full Metal Daemon Muramasa
Genres: Alternate history, mecha, tokusatsu, denpa
Vibes: JAM Project, dead dove do not eat, chunibyo syndrome, “DOTH THOU DESIRE THE POWER?!”
Content Warning: Gore, misogyny, amputation, sexual assault, child abuse, child death, racism, incest
Our Review: “I can’t help but see Muramasa itself as a tsurugi: old, ornate, wonderfully detailed. A relic of a more decadent world.”
Synopsis
This is not a story of heroes. Since time immemorial, warriors called musha have ruled the battlefield, granted supernatural power by their enchanted suits of armor – tsurugi. Minato Kageaki is one such musha, driven by duty to don his crimson armor and challenge the greatest evils of an age. But though madmen and tyrants fall to his blade, never will he claim that his battle is right. For the tsurugi he wields is cursed Muramasa, which five centuries ago brought ruin to the land, and innocent blood is the price it demands in exchange for its terrible might. “Where there are demons, I slay them. Where there are saints, I slay them.” These words are an oath, the unbreakable Law binding him to his armor. But they also tell the story of his past, and of the future to come.
Adam’s reason: Full Metal Daemon Muramasa consists of three routes that are each the length of a typical visual novel. Over a quarter of its length consists of combat scenes rendered in obsessive detail by an unabashed fan of swordsmanship. The rest is a festival of outrageous characters making their mark on an alternate universe Japan: shady arms dealers, cello-wielding superspies, heroes of justice wearing sailor fuku, and a silver-clad force of nature known only as Ginseigo. Last but not least, there’s self-hating protagonist Minato Kageaki, and his grumpy spider armor Muramasa. Their story is the ultimate luxury burger, made with love, for visual novel readers with a stern stomach and an appetite for 2000s edge. Make sure to read those content warnings beforehand though.
You can purchase Full Metal Daemon Muramasa via JAST Store.
The Song of Saya
Genres: Psychological horror, gore/body horror, romance
Vibes: Bleak, heartrenching, edgy (sometimes too much for its own good)
Content Warning: scenes of physical and sexual violence, cannibalism, death, and dismemberment.
Our Review: “I’ll be thinking about Saya for a long time, both for the good and the bad.”
Synopsis
From developer Nitroplus (Steins;Gate, SoniComi) and acclaimed writer Urobuchi Gen (Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Psycho-Pass) comes one of the greatest visual novels ever published, Saya no Uta ~ The Song of Saya. This multimedia adventure puts you in a gripping horror romance that asks how far you are willing to go for love. It features beautiful artwork, haunting music, and a story that you’ll never forget.
Rot. Decay. A wasteland of twisted, pulsing flesh. Sakisaka Fuminori survives a terrible accident only to find himself trapped in a nightmare with no escape. His friends offer him comfort and support, but their warmth cannot reach his frozen soul. Then he meets a mysterious girl named Saya, and little by little, his madness begins to infect the world.
John’s reason: The Song of Saya is a tale that questions what love can mean to a person and how pure devotion can ruin just as readily as it can heal. It’s macabre, foul, and off-putting, but for the most part those aspects feed into an overall message of the ease one can sink into self harm via allowing your mental illness to take over your life. There are quite a few aspects that leak into full-on sexist exploitation and unnecessary SA scenes, but I still walked away from this visual novel with a new perspective and believe that there’s a lot here worth reading and studying.
You can purchase The Song of Saya via JAST Store.
sweet pool
Genres: Horror, BL, romance
Vibes: Tragic BL, omegaverse, not for the squeamish, butt meat (you’ll understand when you play)
Content Warning: Graphic sexual content, sexual assault, cannibalism, child abuse, gore, self-harm
Synopsis
After recovering from a serious illness, Sakiyama Youji hoped that things would finally get back to normal. But shortly upon returning to school, his world begins to change—and no one seems to notice. Bizarre symptoms plague his body, and vivid hallucinations of blood and flesh stalk his every waking moment. At the same time, two fellow students — the stoic Tetsuo and the notorious troublemaker Zenya — begin to take an intense and inexplicable interest in him.
What are Tetsuo and Zenya after? Are his hallucinations really nothing more? Everyone seems to know more than they’re letting on—but by trying to put the pieces together, Youji may be sowing the seeds of his doom.
Anne’s reason: sweet pool immediately engrossed me and didn’t let up until I’d rolled the credits on the final ending. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of BL, if you’re a fan of horror––particularly the body horror variety––I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a relatively quick playthough, even when obtaining all of the endings, but the melancholy visuals and music combined with omegaverse themes make this a title that will stick with you for a long, long time. Just be sure to heed the content warnings!
You can purchase sweet pool via JAST Store.
This piece was sponsored via JAST. Thank you to JAST for making review codes available to our writers. Receiving these keys and compensation had no effect on the opinions of the reviewers as expressed here.
Article edited by: Adam Wescott
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