7 Best Graphic Novel Games of 2023

Graphic novel games are interactive comic-style adventures on wild rides across realms. You’ll wear the skin of compelling characters and, through your choices, design their fates. That said, graphic novel games aren’t created equally. This is why reviewers at Player.com rounded up seven of the best novel games that are still worth a look in 2023. 

Also Similar: Biggest Video Games in December – 5 Exciting Titles to Look Out For

Top 7 Graphic Novel Games of 2023

Below are seven graphic novel games that you should play before 2023 runs out. Fans of the format will enjoy a variety of genres, such as survival and action-adventure. Ultimately, these games shine because of their great storylines.

“I may be a dunce, but at least I'm a mighty pirate dunce!”

When they said it's #TalkLikeAPirateDay, we bet you had Guybrush in mind.

Speaking of which, "Welcome Aboard!" to our pals at @terribletoybox that #ReturnToMonkeyIsland today. We can't wait to play it as fans! pic.twitter.com/wa4mj8x7lQ

— Telltale (@telltalegames) September 19, 2022

#1: The House in Fata Morgana

The House in Fata Morgana is popular because of its slow-burn narrative that’s both original and innovative. This is purely a visual novel game, so don’t expect RPG elements or 2D graphics. Rather, this title shines because of features such as: 

• The story spans nearly a millennium, spanning tragedies, insanity, and human nature. 
• Horror and gothic elements are at the core of the lore. 
• Enjoy four unique perspectives across four eras with differing protagonists and circumstances. 
• It takes less than 2 GB of your storage space, including the save file. 

#2: Doki Doki Literature Club!

Doki Doki Literature Club! Is a free-to-play indie game from Team Salvato that’s focused on a literature club of cute girls. You chit-chat and engage in fun activities day in and day out, but the campaign remains fresh. Besides that, we also love the immersive soundtrack and music, which make the experience more enjoyable. Other highlights of the game that we want to share are: 

Happy New Year! 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/JWsGHWi0Lv

— Team Salvato (@TeamSalvato) January 1, 2023

• Bond with four unique characters; Sayori, Yuri, Monika, and Natsuki. 
• Ignore its dating simulator elements; This is a genuine horror game. 
• It’s now available in 1080p, so no more low-quality graphics. 
• Game-breaking features that force players to restart the game (It’s better than it sounds). 

#3: Danganronpa

Danganronpa is another graphic novel game with many horror elements. The best part about this game is that it’s available on Android and iOS devices too. So, playing on the go has never been easier, especially as there’s no combat in Danganronpa. It’s a dialogue-heavy title where you make choices from the game’s beginning to its conclusion. 

The biggest reason why this game is such a joy to play is because of its storyline. High school students must murder each other to escape a death royale. The tricky part is that your decisions must never paint you as the killer, or else you lose. It combines third-person shooter elements with dating simulation features to a remarkable level.

#4: Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is an RPG where you control a detective with a plethora of skills at his disposal. Thankfully, the city is ripe for the taking, and along the way, you’ll pick up other abilities for the sake of survival. Also, Disco Elysium lets you interrogate colourful characters to crack elusive cases, showing you don’t need superpowers to be a hero. Other features that made the experience so memorable are:

• Full voice acting across the board, so no NPC is boring.
• Trick characters into fighting each other or pick a side to help.
• A great political compass for determining your quests’ alignment — evil or good.
• Bond with unforgettable characters who offer great insights and chit-chat to make your day or crack a case. 
• Isometric view meets graphic novel in Disco Elysium.
• Hardcore elements such as sex, murder, drug abuse, and death await in Disco Elysium. 

#5: The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series

Remember The Walking Dead series? Well, the game is even better than the series can ever hope to be. It’s a survival experience with more lows than highs. This title contains all four seasons, 400 Days, and The Walking Dead: Michonne, so you’re getting tons of content for the price. Heck, you can look forward to more than 50 hours of gameplay, spanning 23 episodes. Other highlights of the series that we love are:

• Graphic Black game engine improves the lighting, textures, and animations across all four seasons. 
• The game only requires 45 GB of storage space. 
• There’s an embedded music player that includes over 40 tracks from the series. 
• The game benefits from character performance, lip-syncing, and many UI updates. 
• 10+ hours of developer commentary have been added to the game. 

#6: Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator 

Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator flips the whole dating scene on its head, following the adventures of a dad. The gameplay focuses on dialogue options that you enjoy with other hot dads in a fantastic display of romance. To that end, you’ll also enjoy features such as: 

• You can use an avatar creator to build your character. 
• The game is available on Microscopic Windows and macOS. 
• There are multiple endings for each dad in the story. 
• Enjoy tons of daddy-themed minigames, paths, and side quests to explore. 
• There are too many relatable dad jokes in the game. 
• The original score was composed by Jesse Cale. 
• There are seven dateable dads in the campaign. 

#7: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a graphic novel game from CAPCOM CO., Ltd. that lets you play as an attorney. You’ll defend guilty clients from the harsh rules of law in all 14 episodes of the title. Do you remember that this is a trilogy? Thankfully, there are many audiovisual features to love about Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy.

The visuals are impressive, with good textures and art style. Albeit, the game’s graphics aren’t the most impressive. Besides that, top-notch voice actors power the characters, so experiences are immersive. The title is available on Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, and Xbox.

Our Final Say: Graphic Novel Games Aren’t the Most Popular 

Graphic novel games aren’t the most popular, so we hope many gamers will start picking them up in stores. True enough, most of the titles above fit into the horror category, while the others are dating simulators. For visual novels, we think these are the best genres because an action-adventure game is better played in 3D, not through dialogue. You can check out five phenomenal Gacha games here.