Games like this?

[Lydian]

I'm not really a visual novel person. I tried getting into Phoenix Wright and Fate/Stay Night, but I just couldn't really feel compelled to play them past the beginning. However, VA-11 Hall-A completely grabbed my attention. I enjoyed it from start to finish and honestly it was what I looked forward to playing most each night. It may be because dialogue choices are gone so I don't have a huge list of 'what ifs' as I play, or because the story is so small-scale compared to other games that revolve around saving the planet, winning the girl, etc. Either way, I loved it.

Does anyone know a game similar to this? Something relaxing and/or funny?

[theoretic]

Well its kinda unique

[Luna]

Hmm, idk. The game reminds me of Papers, Please. Not sure you'd like that one though, but you should give it a try. Papers, Please has a lot less dialogue, but it's still worth a try.

[Null Moon]

Digital: A Love Story comes close in terms of small-scale story and nice atmosphere.

[Pancakes]

Juniper's Knot has a mix of tragedy, humour and romance and is a linear VN (no choices). Free to download and play as well.

It's worth remembering though that it wasn't your dialogue that made the choices in VA11-HALL-A but your performance as a bartender and ability to pay bills. The structure you'll find in most VN's will be based around dialogue choices though. VA11-HALL-A was much more subtle for the method it used.

Your best bet would be to prepare for some tears that will only amplify the happy moments and try the Key VN's; Kanon and Clannad. Give Air a miss though as you'll be wallowing in misery. They are not short games though. You're looking at 90+ hours potentially. They're also some of the finest with wonderful happy and humorous moments as well as the deeply sad parts - a happy end IS possible though!

If you develop a taste for the more feeling based titles then you could then go for Narcissu (it's bittersweet at its happiest - overall it is an Utsuge (depressing game), but very well done and free to download and play).

The problem you are going to encounter is there is a tendency for games to try and avoid the more "mundane" aspects of life. Something that VA11-HALL-A and Papers Please embraced that and let their pacing and characters do their work.

For something with a bit more humour and surreal aspects (although also containing a strong story) you could try Ever 17.

If you're happy to put brain to neutral mode though and just want to laugh at the daftness and don't mind an "Adult" game then Boob Wars 2 should do the trick. I still can't help but laugh at the motivation for the world's conflict in that game.

If and when you develop a taste for something dark and serious though then please do check out Kara No Shojo 1+2. They're monstrous and twisted but superb with an investigation and mystery element included. Very little happiness in them, some quite dark humour though.

[Lydian]

Thanks for the huge response. I'll check out Ever 17 first and then see if the rest are more like what could appeal to me.

[Metadragon]

Most VNs are "small scale." Most VNs are about scoring with whoever and enjoying the story.

But I would REALLY recommend 999 and the Zero Escape series. Same guys who did Ever 17 and that line of VNs. These VNs will require a little brainpower though. They do explain things but they really dont hold your hand as you try to grasp some pretty intense philosophy and pseudo science topics as you solve puzzles and listen on the edge of you seat as the dialogue goes on.

Steins;Gate is probably the best Visual Novel on the planet though. Its also pretty intense. The main impetus are D-Mails which are text messages you send to your past self that you can ignore or answer which change the story significantly. They just release a half sequel recently but your gonna want to read this one before any of their other titles.

Katawa Shoujo is good for different reasons. Its about relationships with people who have various disabilities. It hits some pretty rough topics which is a bit like VA-11 Hall-A and the troubles your customers bring. Its free so give it a try. It is adult and has sex scenes that can be touggled on or off. Though the scene itself is pretty tame and is usually referenced anyway.

Lastly I'd recommend Danganronpa. Its just... crazy. It plays a bit like Ace Attorney and Zero Escape combined. And the designs and dialogue are just rediculously over the top. Its more or less about a school where the kids that are the best in the "field" like best programmer or most lucky student and they play a death game with a psychotic teddy bear and the MC more or less acts like a lawyer to defend the students because the death game itself is being punished with death for any crime at all. Just go check out the store page.

I have more vut those are the big ones. If you want more suggestions feel free to ask.

Otherwise Pancake hit on a bunch of pretty good ones. And he is also right that except for a few like Zero Escape and Steins;Gate the main decision making is dialogue choices.

[LaChouette]

I have a list precisely for this kind of question.

Free VNs:

-every Nomnomnami game: https://nomnomnami.itch.io/
(usually half an hour or so)

-One Thousand Lies: https://keinart.itch.io/one-thousand-lies
(8-10 hours)

-Digital: A love story: http://scoutshonour.com/digital/
(a few hours, kinda special gameplay)

-don't take it personally babe it just ain't your story: http://scoutshonour.com/donttakeitpersonallybabeitjustaintyourstory/
(game about online privacy and stuff, pretty short)

-Autumn's Journey: http://autumn.ishtera.net/
(a few hours, otoge with dragons)

-Juniper's Knot ( and the first chapter of Dysfunctional Systems: https://dischan.co/downloads/
(2 hours, really pretty)

-Katawa Shoujo: http://www.katawa-shoujo.com/
(5-6 hours a route, 5 main routes, annoying MC but great girls)

-Home et The Journey Home: http://www.kongregate.com/games/Raius_/home http://www.kongregate.com/games/Raius_/the-journey-home
(short flash games about an adventurer)

-Socrates Jones: Pro philosopher: http://www.kongregate.com/games/ChiefWakamakamu/socrates-jones-pro-philosopher
(Ace Attorney like flash game, but with philosophy, and you can tell people they look like a baboon's backside)

No-one has to die: http://www.kongregate.com/games/StuStutheBloo/no-one-has-to-die
(emotional flash game about time travel)

Non-free VNs:

-Hatoful Boyfriend: store .steampowered.com/app/310080/
(aka Pigeon dating simulator, a few hours, a secret route unlocked when you've done all the others)

-Analogue: a Hate story and Hate Plus: http://ahatestory.com/
(games where you read logs from an abandoned colony spaceship, helped by AIs, a few hours)

-To the Moon, A Bird Story and soon Finding Paradise: http://freebirdgames.com/
(games with a lot of feels, made with RPGmaker, 2 hours each)

-Long Live the Queen: store .steampowered.com/app/251990/
(the Dark Souls of VNs... prepare to die... a lot)

[Ailes]

You could try any kinetic novel. They have no choices. Everything is presented as is. No fail scenarios, no "what ifs", just story, characters, emotion. There are some visual novels with almost no choices, or none that are important. As far as emotion and unexpected depth goes I would recommend the fault series of kinetic novels although it is Fantasy and not Cyberpunk.

You might want to try Read Only Memories. It's getting an updated version with voice acting in January or so called "2064: Read Only Memories". That game initially drew my attention to VA-11 Hall-A, as it is somewhat advertised in it and vice versa (Plastic Toy Turing is from ROM, it takes place in Neo-SF, Dana Zane has a cameo appearance in it). ROM is a point & click adventure but of the more lightweighted sort, the puzzling in it is rather easy if it can be called as such, it's more of a visual novel at heart just like VA-11 Hall-A.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/286260/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/330820/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/407040/

[Lydian]

Sweet, thanks guys, I'll make a list of my own so I don't forget which VNs I should try lol. I'm still open to more reccomendations if anyone has any.

[Metadragon]

Oh yeah Read Only Memories. Forgot about that one. Its ok.

Theres a bunch of games where you tend a bar or do some other minigame of the sort while you listen and interact with customers. Most are pretty short though

[Frampis]

The Red Strings Club is another cyberpunk bartending game.

[Lydian]

Originally posted by Frampis:

The Red Strings Club is another cyberpunk bartending game.

That game looks...exactly like something I wanted when I made this thread lol. Will pick it up.

[PodRED]

This is an old thread but just so you know there is an upcoming sequel to this game now :

https://store.steampowered.com/app/914210/N1RV_AnnA_Cyberpunk_Bartender_Action/

You might also enjoy Coffee Talk when it releases next year : https://store.steampowered.com/app/914800/Coffee_Talk/