AerielVisual Novels to Play is our new series where we handpick games that tie to a specific theme, such as horror, romance, fantasy, winter, gardening, the list goes on! This month we’ll zero in on a selection of games that will be perfect to play in the upcoming summer months. It’s the season for vacationing, but sometimes we don’t have the opportunity to travel, so that’s why the games below offer players grand adventure, foreign places, and the beauty of the great outdoors.
Tales From Windy Meadow
Platforms: Windows (Steam) (itch.io)
Price: $7.99 USD
Tales From Windy Meadow is a fantasy adventure visual novel that follows the story of three individuals: Vena, Fabel, and Iudicia. Their stories are told in separate chapters which players can select upon the start of the game. Each character has a dilemma they face, and it’s up to you to decide how they will overcome their obstacles. After reading through each of their stories, the final chapter will unlock, where players will enjoy the resolution of the previous chapters that are all intertwined.
Tales From Windy Meadow is an immersive game that will transport you to a fantasy realm in unique way that is unparalleled in its genre. The art style is similar to an RPG or sidescroller game, but the game is still predominantly a visual novel, as the gameplay offers a more casual approach where players simply enjoy the story-rich narrative as it unfolds. The visuals are certainly charming and the animations bring the visual novel to life. If you are keen to play games rich with lore and fantasy, Tales From Windy Meadow will surely give you several hours of entertainment this summer.
Sand Castle
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)
Price: $1.99 USD
When most people think of summer vacation, they think of the beach, and that’s why Sand Castle has made it to our list of games to play this season. Sand Castle is an atmospheric visual novel that focuses on the love story between two characters through a series of romantic dates. Despite the tranquil setting, a difficult choice lies ahead, branching the game into two different endings.
Sand Castle is a slice-of-life game with very descriptive writing and wonderful background art that keeps you immersed in the story. Although the game lasts less than an hour, the story is very emotional and is guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings and leave an impact. The painted art style is a serene backdrop that ties nicely with the sentimental aspects of the story. Sand Castle is perfect for a hot summer day when you’re in the mood for a beach date, but also want to cozy up inside with a visual novel.
World’s Doom: Mission Salvation
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Browser (itch.io)
Price: Free
World’s Doom is the latest otome game by the developer of Renting Love for Christmas, a popular romance game. World’s Doom is illustrated with a similar art style to their previous works, but with a retro twist and an apocalyptic setting where the cast must face the collapse of civilization. A sorceress and a priestess are society’s last hope, so it’s up to them to turn things around. This game is very unique because you get to play the story from the perspective of not one but two main characters, and it’s done in a way that isn’t confusing.
The story of World’s Doom leads you on an adventure through various fictional locations; the first of which is a desert canyon very similar to Arizona’s landscape, but the story is so rich with lore that it carries you into the realm of fantasy. While the world may be on the brink of ending, the opportunity for romance flourishes as players are introduced to a vast selection of love interests—ten, to be exact—and that’s quite rewarding. The heroines of this story are lovable and strong-willed, and the dialogue between them and the other characters is lively and fun which is one of the many great qualities of this game. Be sure to check out World’s Doom: Mission Salvation and save the world this summer!
Anna Mirabella
