All Visual Novel Games with Pre-Orders (2024)

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne is a visual novel-slash-tactical RPG based on the popular anime and light novel series by Tappei Nagatsuki. While centering on the Royal Selection arc from the first season of the anime, the game features an original storyline that deviates from canon and has a mysterious sixth candidate join in the struggle for the throne. The story is overseen by Re:ZERO‘s author, and the new characters are designed by the original artist Shinichirou Otsuka.

Re:ZERO – The Prophecy of the Throne Pre-Order Bonuses →

With the launch of Catherine: Full Body on Switch confirmed, owners of Nintendo’s console will soon be able to step into the shoes of 32-year-old slacker Vincent and experience the dark and mature storyline involving a love square between himself, his long-term girlfriend Katherine, a seductive hottie he meets in a bar, Catherine, and his mysterious amnesiac neighbour, Rin.

Compared to the original Catherine, the Full Body version offers improved visuals, alternate endings, and a safety mode for the game’s puzzle sequences. It has launched for PlayStation 4 last year, so this article is concerned specifically with the upcoming Switch release.

Catherine: Full Body (Switch) Pre-Order Bonuses →

Sakura Wars is a cross-genre title that combines action-based battles with visual novel and dating sim elements. Players step into the shoes of Seijuro Kamiyama, a young captain overseeing the reformation of the all-female Flower Division. Their job? Piloting steam-powered mechs, fighting demons, and during times of peace, producing theater plays.

The game features a fully 3D version of Ginza, Tokyo, which Seijuro can explore on foot and talk to different characters to trigger story events. The interactive LIPS system from earlier Sakura Wars installments makes a return. During dialogue, the player must pick one of the multiple responses within a time limit, and the choice affects the characters’ relationships.

Sakura Wars Pre-Order Bonuses →

Catherine: Full Body is a remaster of the 2011 title Catherine – a puzzle platformer slash visual novel from Atlus. Besides improved visuals and gameplay, the remaster also adds a new character – the mysterious amnesiac, Rin, who moves in next door to protagonist Vincent – as well as alternate endings for both Catherine and Katherine.

Other additions include a new “Safety Mode” for those who just want to experience the story without struggling through the game’s punishing puzzles, as well as a ranked online battle system where players can get matched up randomly or with others around their skill level.

While Catherine: Full Body is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS Vita in Japan, it is a PS4-exclusive in the West. The game will ship with dual audio for those who prefer the original voice acting.

Catherine: Full Body Pre-Order Bonuses →

Our World Is Ended is a sci-fi visual novel developed by Red Entertainment and published by PQube. Originally released back in 2017 as a PS Vita title in Japan, the upcoming version for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC is said to include 30% more story content, new characters, and additional event CG.

Our World Is Ended follows an eccentric group of young developers calling themselves Judgement 7, who are working on an augmented reality game engine capable of changing the landscape in real time. One day, they catch a glimpse of Tokyo in ruins through their AR headset, and the boundaries between the digital and the physical begin to blur in dangerous ways.

Our World Is Ended Pre-Order Bonuses →

Steins;Gate Elite is a visual novel developed by Mages (formerly 5pb) and published by Spike Chunsoft as a part of the Science Adventure series. It follows a ragtag group of tech-savvy students who discover a means to change the past and get in over their heads when agents of SERN, an organization hellbent on world domination, come knocking on their door.

Steins;Gate Elite is a fully-animated remake of the original 2009 title, reusing footage from the Steins;Gate TV series, as well as adding entirely new animation by White Fox studio for the routes and content that weren’t adapted in the anime.

Steins;Gate Elite Pre-Order Bonuses →

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a murder-mystery visual novel developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by NIS America in the West. It plays similarly to the previous installments of Danganronpa, but features a new setting and a fresh cast of characters. Characters from the previous games are said to appear in the upcoming game’s bonus modes, however.

Taking place in the Prison School for the Gifted, the game’s protagonist is Kaede Akamatsu, the Ultimate Pianist. Along with fifteen classmates who possess Ultimate talents of their own, Kaede is forced to participate in a mutual killing game by Monokuma, a deranged robotic bear who serves as the school’s headmaster.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Pre-Order Bonuses →

Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth is a tactical RPG / visual novel hybrid made by Aquaplus and localized by Atlus. As a direct sequel to Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception, it continues Haku’s journey and brings it to a climactic and thrilling conclusion. The upcoming title is said to offer 70+ hours of gameplay, enhanced battle mechanics, and an increased cast of fascinating characters.

In North America, Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth will be available in physical and digital formats for both PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. The game comes with the original Japanese voice acting and English subtitles.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth Pre-Order Bonuses →

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is a tactical RPG and visual novel game developed by Aquaplus and published by Atlus. The story takes place in a rich fantasy world and is said to offer 40 to 50 hours of gameplay. It begins with the protagonist awakening atop a snowy mountain, with no memories of who he is and how he got there. When he is attacked by a giant monster, a beautiful girl with animal ears and a tail comes to his rescue.

The plot of Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception unfolds through a linear visual novel boasting great art and background soundtrack. Integrated with that is a turn-based RPG battle system with various mechanics like elemental affinities and combo attacks that add depth to the combat encounters. The game features English text and Japanese audio.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception Pre-Order Bonuses →

Catherine is an adult video game that combines puzzle platformer gameplay with a story full of erotic and horror elements. It is developed and published by a Japanese company Atlus, with cinematic scenes done by Studio 4°C.

The protagonist of the game is Vincent, a 32-year-old office worker who finds himself torn between two beautiful women. The first is his long-term girlfriend Katherine (shown on the Xbox 360 cover), and the other is a mysterious young Catherine (featured on the PS3 cover) who seduced Vincent after meeting him in a bar. After spending a night with the latter, the main character starts having nightmares in which he has to fight for his life.

Catherine Pre-Order Bonuses →