Visual novels originated in Japan and are made up of text and pictures. Unlike traditional video games, you make choices throughout the game that affect the story and play through different stories, or just one linear plot, to reach the ending.
RELATED: 10 Anime That Were Inspired By Visual Novels
While most are romance based, some are focused on a non-romantic story. Galge games, in particular, are targeted towards men and have you "capture" the hearts of many beautiful female love interests. But did you know that there are many anime adaptations of Galge games? We're going to be informing you about ten anime that were inspired by them.
10 GIRLFRIEND BETA
Girl Friend Beta is a smartphone game developed by CyberAgent before a PlayStation Vita visual novel was released on November 19, 2015. The anime was animated by Silver Link on October 13, 2014, to December 29, 2014.
While the smartphone game is popular in Japan for the easy way you can attain a girlfriend of your choosing, the overseas fans have thought of the concept as a bit unappealing.
9 AIR
Air is an adult visual novel developed by Key on September 2000 for the many platforms as well as the PlayStation 2. An anime adaption animated by Kyoto Animation was released on January 6, 2005, to March 31, 2005.
There is an all-ages version as well, and that is what the anime adaptation follows. While the visual novel follows a branching plotline, the anime is much more straightforward. It follows the story of a boy who is searching for a girl. When he arrives in a seaside town, he meets three girls who will change his destiny.
8 ISLAND
Island is a romance and science fiction visual novel developed by Front Wing, the same company that brought you adult visual novel The Fruit of Grisaia. An anime adaption from Feel was released on July 1, 2018, to September 16, 2018.
While the anime adaption is questionable in its quality, the visual novel is vastly different. Set on the fictional island of Urashima, it follows Setsuna Sanzenkai as well as three other female love interests. Each has a unique story that you can experience, all surrounding the mysterious fictional Soot Blight Syndrome disease.
7 YOSUGA NO SORA
Yosuga no Sora is an adult visual novel developed by CUFFS. An anime adaption aired through October 4, 2010, to December 20, 2010. This is an infamous anime that is considered hentai rather than an ecchi. The story follows Haruka Kasugano and Sora Kasugano, twins with a questionably explicit relationship.
Despite this, most are unaware of its origins as an erotic visual novel, though it does not take much convincing to sell it off as one. With full-on sexual scenes between all of the cast members, this anime is infamous for the blatant way it sells as an average anime.
6 THE FRUIT OF GRISAIA
The Fruit of Grisaia is an adult visual novel created by Front Wing and received an anime adaption by Eight Bit through October 5, 2014 to December 28, 2014. It received many sequels afterward that adapted the rest of the story as well as spin-offs for the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch.
The story follows Yuuji Kazami and the separate stories of each love interest he meets within Mihama Academy. Despite the cast of pretty girls and comedic tendencies the anime has on the surface, The Fruit of Grisaia is a psychological drama. It's one of the heavier ones on our list.
5 DA CAPO
Da Capo is an adult visual novel developed by Circus Northern on June 28, 2002. It received a fifty-two episode anime adaption by Zexecs and Feel through July 11, 2003, to December 24, 2005. With the name of an Italian musical term that means "from the beginning," it is hard to believe such a pure anime is an erotic visual novel.
Da Capo follows the main protagonist, Junichi Asakura, who lives with his adopted sister. When a girl who left six years ago appears before him again, she tells Junichi that she has returned to fulfill a promise. There is seven love interest in total.
4 GIFT
Gift is an adult visual novel developed by Moonstone for Windows. It inspired many games after as well as a light novel and a manga. The anime adaption was made by Oriental Light and Magic and released through October 6, 2006, to December 22, 2006.
Initially a co-produced work, Moonstone did most of it. The story centers on Haruhiko Amami and his connection to a mysterious power. There is five love interest in total for the player to capture the hearts of as well as five plotlines to play through.
3 THE HILL DYED ROSE MADDER
The Hill Dyed Rose Madder is an adult visual novel, although there is an all-ages version, developed by Feng on July 27, 2007, for Windows. It received an anime adaption on October 2, 2008, to December 18, 2008. It is alright if you never heard of this anime or visual novel, as it is quite an old one.
During the time of Clannad and Clannad After Story, a lot of anime eclipsed it. The story centers on Junichi Nagase, who attends a high-class high school, and six heroines he can get together with.
2 EF: A TALE OF MEMORIES
Ef: A Tale of Memories is a two-part adult visual novel developed by Minori for the Windows and the PlayStation 2. It received an anime adaption for both series, with the first anime being released by Shaft on October 7, 2007, to December 22, 2007.
The anime follows two stories, each containing love interests the player can end up together with as well as act out erotic scenes. The character designs coincidentally happen to have been provided by Naruo Nanao, the artist for the other entry on our list, Da Capo.
1 AMAGAMI SS
Amagami SS is a visual novel released originally on the PlayStation 2 before receiving multiple ports and sequels on the PlayStation Vita. It received multiple anime adaptions, with the first release being on July 2, 2010, to December 23, 2010.
Here we probably have the most visual novel formatted anime, Amagami SS. With each anime adaptation, the anime gives each love interest four parts to adapt their story and route. Because of this, Amagami SS is considered one of the best galge adaptations and continues to be used as an example of how to adapt a visual novel.