Five of the sexiest visual novels out there

Valentine's Day might be over (for this year, at least), but what did you do, gaming-wise? Did you have some steamy encounters with some of your favorite erotic visual novels?

Wait, what exactly is a visual novel? The unacquainted see the genre as a repository for saccharine boy-meets-girl-and-dates-girl's-best-friend love triangles or perverted paradises of bunny girls, but there's way more to it than that. There's a VN out there for just about everyone, no matter what you're into. There are plenty of more adult-oriented titles out there as well with plenty of fantastic content to offer, though, and that's what we're going to be focusing on. 

Erotic visual novels can and do feature explicit sexual acts and storylines, so if that's what you're looking for, you'll find it in droves. But not every visual novel is created equally. Some can and will feature acts, visuals, and scenes you may find objectionable. If there’s a fetish out there, there’s a game that’s covered it. Some may be obvious by the title of the game, but others not so much.

You’ll have to be smart about finding a game that’s right for you and one that aligns with your interests and what you deem acceptable. There are resources you can use to filter out what types of games you want to play and other sites that will tell you what you’re getting into beforehand. If there's something totally off limits to you, there are easy ways you can avoid seeing these themes and possibly offensive topics.

With that in mind, we've curated five titles that all players looking for some good, raunchy (and explicit) action should certainly try. You can thank us later. 

Photo: Steam

Katawa Shoujo is an interesting gem of a VN because not only does it give you a chance to find romance with the girls and potential sex scenes to follow, but its leads are all potential suitors with disabilities, making this one of the most inclusive games on this list. Disability in games is an oft-overlooked topic, and this game not only gives its characters ways to feel sexy, but it's incredibly erotic as well. But before you get down to business, you'll be busy falling in love with the girl you've chosen to pursue. That's part of what makes this particular entry the total package. That, and its tasteful sex scenes. 

Photo: MangaGamer

Deardrops is a VN with mass appeal — if you're a music fan looking for melodrama, you'll find something to like here, as well as satisfying erotic scenes that you'll enjoy as much as getting to know the characters. It follows a young man named Shouichi, who used to be a popular and revered violinist, renowned all over the globe until he fell from grace. Shouichi turned his back on fame and moved to his hometown, where childhood friends and several paramours awaited him. On his journey to discover himself again, he discovers a love for rock and roll. Shouichi and crew end up starting a band... and finding love along the way. The rest is up to you, including how spicy it gets. 

Photo: Steam

The Fruit of Grisaia is one visual novel you've probably heard of, as it's extremely popular. It follows protagonist Yuuji Kazami, who attends Mihama Academy with several other students — each of which have some of the strangest personalities you'll have encountered in the world of VNs. Each student has their own reason for attending Mihama Academy, many of which you'll have to learn more about as you spend time with each of the girls. And, well, you know where this will eventually lead. It's surprisingly astute and romantic, and it's also peppered with sarcasm, dry humor, and some laugh-out-loud jokes. So when the series takes a turn for the serious, the sex scenes pay off big time, as you're fully invested in the story by then. Come for the smut, but stay for the story. 

Photo: Steam

If My Heart Had Wings is an intriguing storyline even without the sex scenes, but they certainly help to punch things up. With a cast that includes a healthy mix of familiar tropes like Asa the adorable freshman and her sister Yoru, Amane the "mad scientist," and you childhood friend, there's a different type of character for just about everyone. When you're not entrenched in romantic scenes, you'll be sitting on the edge of your seat thanks to the plot. When it gets steamy, though, it gets super steamy. 

Photo: YouTube

Okay, some folks dig the monster girls. We're talking lamia, centaurs, spider girls, slime girls, all that jazz. Monster Girl Quest combines the world of RPGs with sex in the best way. A boy named Luka sets off on a quest to establish peace between humans and monsters but ends up meeting a lamia monster girl who, well, has a lot more in store for him than he bargained for. This titillating adventure is for all the players out there who've ever fantasized about fox girls or other various monster girls, and it delivers in droves.