Summary
Science fiction often gives people an optimistic vision of the future but the Cyberpunk genre presents a more cynical outlook. Theseworks are set in dystopias, feature megacorporations, hackers, AI, and cybernetics, and show people what happens when these things gain too much power and influence over society.
Japanese media, including anime, manga, and visual novels, are no stranger to cyberpunk, with films likeAkiraandGhost in the Shellhaving a huge influence on media beyond anime. Some of the best visual novels, Japanese and Western, explore this dystopian sci-fi genre with their inventive and thought-provoking stories and gameplay.
1Dry Drowning
VNDB Rating: 6.03
Set in the year 2066,Dry Drowningis a mystery thriller that followsMordred Foley, a private investigator on the hunt for a serial killer on the loose. In a totalitarian dystopian city called Nova Polemos, the player, controlling Mordred, faces several difficult choices throughout the game that will influence the ending.
Developed by an Italian company called Studio V, Dry Drowning has received critical acclaim and won several awards, including Best Game at Join the Indie 2019 and Best Italian Debut Game at the Italian Video Game Awards 2020.
2Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness
VNDB Rating: 6.05
Based on thePsycho-Passanime,Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happinessfocuses oncompletely original characters. It’s set in the same cyberpunk dystopia where the government can measure people’s potential for criminality and lock them up for it. The player gets to control two Criminal Investigation Division agents - investigator Nadeshiko Kugatachi and enforcer Takuma Tsurugi.
Since the visual novel’s storyline runs parallel to the anime’s, one does not need to have watched or even be familiar with the source material’s plot. It can be enjoyed on its own terms.
3Synergia
VNDB Rating: 6.48
Synergiais a yuri/girls' love visual novel set in a cyberpunk city. It tells the story of a cynical police officer named Cila and her growing relationship with an android named Mara. Unfortunately for them, a large tech company named Velta Labs has also taken an interest in Mara.
The game’s influences are obvious, with several references to cyberpunk classics likeBlade Runner,Ghost in the Shell, andAkira. Thevisual novel has been praisedfor its characters, and fans of both the yuri and cyberpunk genres are sure to enjoy all of whatSynergiahas to offer.
4Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer
VNDB Rating: 7.45
Written by the legendary Gen Urobuchi,Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayerisa kinetic visual novel, meaning there’s only one ending and no “choices matter” mechanic. It’s a revenge story set in a dystopian future version of Shanghai. Kang Taluo, a Chinese assassin for a crime syndicate, is out for blood after he discovers that his murdered sister’s soul is scattered across five different gynoids.
Like many cyberpunk-themed works,Kikokugaiexplores transhumanism, and what humanity exactly is. The visual novel was remade in 2011, with voice acting, improved graphics, and an all-ages rating.
5Tokyo Necro
VNDB Rating: 8.00
Tokyo Necrois set in the future where the Earth is experiencing another ice age. Tokyo has made use of geothermal heat pipes to deal with the issue, but people are faced with a bigger problem than the cold and snow. Necromancers, unscrupulous individuals who use biotech to reanimate the dead, are terrorizing the city, and it’s up to the Living Dead Stalkers to put a stop to them.
Living Dead Stalkers are hired killers who hunt the necromancers and their minions. Nagaoka So’un and Kibanohara Ethica are two such killers, and they’re the protagonists of this story. Developed by Nitroplus imprint Nito Origin,Tokyo Necrohas been praisedfor its dark plot and action scenes.
A megacorporation named Supercontinent LLC has figured out a way to eliminate depression and fear from society, or so it claims. It plans to launch a system known as the Social Psyche Welfare that uses enhancements to alter people’s moods. Donovan, a bar owner, isn’t on board though, and he, along with an enhanced human named Brandeis and an android named Akara-184, plans to stop them.
The Red Strings Clubis a visual novel, but it has other gameplay elements too, like mixing drinks, pottery, and impersonating people. Players get to control Donovan, Brandeis, and Akara-184, and engage with the various gameplay elements to uncover Supercontinent LLC’s grand conspiracy.
VA-11 Hall-Alets the player be a bartender in a dive bar called “Valhalla” in Glitch City, a dystopian city-state. Corporations rule everything in this setting, and unlike other cyberpunk works, the protagonist, Jill, is not some action hero trying to put a stop to a megacorp or evil government entity. She’s just a regular person, mixing drinks for the city’s residents and listening to their stories.
Most of the gameplay involves just that. The player, controlling Jill, gets a sense of what life in Glitch City is like through the patrons' stories. They also have to mix their drinks using a book of recipes, and thankfully, there are no penalties for any mistakes, meaning playingVA-11 Hall-Ais an unexpectedly relaxing experience.
