


Romance and mystery are among the more popular genres (again, they're much like traditional novels in that regard), but sort for "visual novel" on your favourite PC gaming storefront and you'll find a bit of everything, really. They're a lot like regular novels that way, believe it or not. The term "visual novel" is a broad church indeed, because you can tell almost any story in this medium. But the worst strain I've ever experienced playing a visual novel is when my partner wants to play along and we go hoarse from doing all the voices.

Let's face it, a lot of video game genres can be strenuous, and many's the evening you find yourself too tired to test your reflexes against a horde of simulated enemies - or worse still, player-controlled ones. For those of us who love gaming and reading, visual novels represent the best of both worlds.
