How do I go through this series?

[Vynira Snowy]

After watching part of the anime I was hoping to start going through the VNs as I assumed it would be better to play those first for the parts I had not gotten to yet in the anime. But after a bit of research I'm confused about the vast amount of arcs.

From what I know, there are currently 6 arcs on Steam as remakes of the original games (?), with more planned. How many more are planned for Steam? I've heard there are around 20 or so arcs in total and I assume not all are coming to Steam. I've also heard of anime-exclusive arcs and video games on the PS3 and Switch that function as a collection of arcs.

Can someone please explain the releasing of the arcs and the recommended way to go through them?

[Ohagi-Chan]

From:
http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/05/mangagamer-bring-full-14-chapter-higurashi-series-steam/

"MangaGamer have acquired Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou, the latest game in the Higurashi series, featuring two new characters and new story content. The game also contains the entire original story in addition to the new story content.

This means that MangaGamer’s upcoming release of Higurashi on Steam with new artwork will contain the following: all four Question Arcs, all four Answer Arcs (Higurashi Kai), all three arcs of Higurashi Rei (which were previously never released in English), Hinamizawa Teiryuujyo (the never-before-released original concept story for the Higurashi series), Higurashi Outbreak (a chapter formerly available only in drama CD format), and a brand-new arc exclusive to Higurashi Hou—the Kamikanshi Chapter."

The following games will not be coming to Steam because they aren't part of the Hou collection, but there is a mod that has already started adding them to Himatsubushi.

• Taraimawashi
  
• Tsukiotoshi
  
• Miotsukushi
  
• Someutsushi
  
• Kageboushi
  
• Tokihogushi
  
• Kotohogushi

I recommend just reading them in the order they are releasing, for now. The core arcs (C1-8, "Question" and "Answer" arcs) are being released first and in the correct order (Well, at least in the order that they were released in Japanese; most of them don't have a canonical order.)

[Vynira Snowy]

Originally posted by Ohagi-Chan Devil triggered:

From:
http://www.siliconera.com/2015/04/05/mangagamer-bring-full-14-chapter-higurashi-series-steam/

"MangaGamer have acquired Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Hou, the latest game in the Higurashi series, featuring two new characters and new story content. The game also contains the entire original story in addition to the new story content.

This means that MangaGamer’s upcoming release of Higurashi on Steam with new artwork will contain the following: all four Question Arcs, all four Answer Arcs (Higurashi Kai), all three arcs of Higurashi Rei (which were previously never released in English), Hinamizawa Teiryuujyo (the never-before-released original concept story for the Higurashi series), Higurashi Outbreak (a chapter formerly available only in drama CD format), and a brand-new arc exclusive to Higurashi Hou—the Kamikanshi Chapter."

The following games will not be coming to Steam because they aren't part of the Hou collection, but there is a mod that has already started adding them to Himatsubushi.

TaraimawashiTsukiotoshiMiotsukushiSomeutsushiKageboushiTokihogushiKotohogushi

I recommends just reading them in the order they are releasing, for now. The core arcs are being released first and in the correct order (Well, at least in the order that they were released in Japanese; most of them don't have a canonical order.)

Thanks for the info, it helps a lot!