Anna MirabellaWith Phantasia Jam entering its very first year in August, VN Game Den would like to look at some great fantasy-themed games. Hosted by Cats on a Lilypad and Two and a Half Studios, this game jam will explore games with mentions of magic, the occult, vast kingdoms and more. Fantasy games are often set in creative and detailed fictional worlds which allow players to escape our own. You get to decide: will you be a pirate or a knight? How about a century-old princess who remains young using magical potions? The possibilities keep growing as more and more games are released in the genre.
Here are some noteworthy games that will transport players to another universe, full of gorgeous characters to romance!
Demonheart: The Ice Demon
The Demonheart series of games is well loved by many fantasy, visual novel, and otome game fans alike. So when Rolling Crown announced the next installment in the game’s lore, fans were ecstatic. The demo was released recently on Steam and itch.io and has already amassed a positive rating from players. Demonheart: The Ice Demon takes place on an entirely different continent than the original Demonheart story, and because of that, it is able to be played as a standalone game. That means new players can enjoy the world’s rich lore without needing to play any other games in the series.
In Demonheart: The Ice Demon, you play as Shar, a witch who is contracted to become an apprentice to a well-known and more powerful witch. Shar will work with Eniri to conduct dangerous experiments and possibly learn more about magic in the process. Along the way, players will get to meet two love interests: the harsh and attractive human, Sirath, or the mysterious ice demon, Esmius. With stunning art, a lively soundtrack, and an interesting protagonist, this visual novel will be sure to take you on an exciting adventure!
Fetch Quest
Fetch Quest is a free otome visual novel released by hollowmend for NaNoRenO 2019. You’ll be able to finish the game in a relatively short amount of time; however, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of content to enjoy. You can romance one of two fellow adventurers on your journey. In this game, you play as Flora, an adventurer hired by the town’s local innkeeper. She’s tasked with trying to find a stolen item. With the help of her companions, she’ll need to infiltrate a bandit’s base and hope for the best…
Fetch Quest follows an interesting and unique premise. The visual novel takes place within the confines of a Dungeons & Dragons game. The all-knowing narrator adds some hilarity as they walk the player through their journey. The game’s meta narrative provides an extra layer to the game’s story. You’ll want to play this game through twice to get both romantic endings! Even years later, Fetch Quest remains a relevant and immersive game for players.
Yonder World: Interview with the Void
Yonder World: Interview with the Void, available on Steam and itch.io, is certainly one of the darker games on this list. However, this doesn’t stop it from providing an adventure for players. Yonder World is a visual novel with psychological horror elements (and three gorgeous characters to romance!). In this game, you get to play as Vellus, a young angel who finds herself trapped in an unfortunate set of circumstances. As you navigate the void, a world full of darkness, you’ll meet mysterious characters who help—or hurt—the young angel along the way. You’ll have the option to make friends or lovers out of certain characters and determine whether or not Vellus abandons her angelic tendencies.
Yonder World: Interview with the Void, developed by Fluttering Abyss, was fully funded on Kickstarter. Its full version was released recently, on June 23, 2022. There’s plenty of content, including nearly ten hours of gameplay, additional puzzle sections, and multiple endings (both good and bad).
What are your favorite romantic visual novels that feature fantastical, adventurous, or supernatural elements?
