Top examples of Kinectic vn?

[wyverngem]

I'm trying to get some inspiration on expectations for Kinetic novels. Does anyone have or know of any really well made ones that keep you interested in finishing the game? What are they like? Do they use mainly backgrounds and still images to tell the story? Are there sprites at all? I'm tempted to start a project, but before that I want to do more research to see if it's the way to go.

[Vatina]

The classic, Planetarian! It uses pretty much all the things a normal vn does, apart from choices. What makes you want to finish is just the story and characters being intriguing enough to make you want to know what happens, I guess.

I'd give more interesting and innovative examples, but can't really think of any at the moment.

[Donmai]

Try Juniper's Knot:
https://dischan.co/downloads/
and Ripples:
http://www.sakevisual.com/ripples.html

[Fuseblower]

Higurashi! If you like mystery/horror novels. You can find walkthroughs of it on youtube. I like the first chapter the best : Onikakushi-hen. It has a great ending ("Where is the needle?").

[Caveat Lector]

Higurashi. It keeps you invested in the characters and story, and actively challenges you to try to solve the mysteries laid out in front of you. It gets off to a bit of a slow start, but once you get into the main hook of the story, the ride is worth it. The original art style is a bit hit-or-miss for some people, though others prefer the original art over the updated art (this is for sprites--the backgrounds are filtered photographs). The Steam release gives you the option to switch back and forth between the two styles, so experiment and see which one you prefer that feels more effective (my advice: go with the updated sprites most of the time, but switch over to the original sprites for some of the more chilling moments). So far, only the first three episodes/chapters have been released on Steam, so if you want to finish it, you'll have to either be very patient with MangaGamer, or switch to either the anime or manga (I'd recommend the manga, since it's closer to the medium and gets the essentials in in a much more compressed amount of time).

[trooper6]

I prefer VNs to KNs...and I am more or less exclusively an EVN person. But my recommendations for KNs are anything done my Donmai. Donmai is amazing. The One In Love is the best thing ever. I've also really been enjoying the Ex Astris series.

[Zelan]

I'm the same as trooper up there in the sense that I really prefer VNs over KNs. The one KN that I have played, though, Starlit Flowers, was extremely well-done and cute and I enjoyed it a lot. The art was cute and consistent, the pacing was good, and the story was very sweet.

[SundownKid]

In terms of innovative, I think Digital: A Love Story is technically a kinetic novel, being linear, although it does have simple puzzle gameplay to continue the story which also makes it interesting enough to keep playing.

[trooper6]

In terms of innovative, I think Digital: A Love Story is technically a kinetic novel, being linear, although it does have simple puzzle gameplay to continue the story which also makes it interesting enough to keep playing.

I never considered Digital: A Love Story a KN because of the gameplay and my understanding of KNs is that they don't have gameplay. Do I misunderstand the usage of the term?

Anyhow, Digital: A Love Story is the game that got me into the world of VNs in the first place...it (and all the things by Christine Love) are amazing!

[Kinjo]

I'm trying to get some inspiration on expectations for Kinetic novels. Does anyone have or know of any really well made ones that keep you interested in finishing the game? What are they like? Do they use mainly backgrounds and still images to tell the story? Are there sprites at all? I'm tempted to start a project, but before that I want to do more research to see if it's the way to go.

In addition to the previously-mentioned Higurashi, 07th Expansion also made Umineko. Similarly it has a slow start, but after about halfway through the first episode things really start to pick up and it gets harder to put down. It uses filtered photographs for backgrounds and hand-drawn sprites, but I mean that doesn't really have anything to do with being a KN; it was just easier for the creators to do. Rather than invest in better-drawn art, they placed an emphasis on using sounds, music, and ambient noises (such as rain and wind) to create immersion and fill the gaps in the readers' imaginations.

The reason it excels at being a KN is because it has a very particular story (a mystery which kept readers coming back for more) that has to be done in a particular order. The game was released in eight episodes across a 4-year development period (same with Higurashi) and bringing choices into the mix would (presumably) throw 07th Expansion's story off-track. If you're deciding whether or not to make a KN, consider whether or not you want player agency interfering with the way your plot is shaped and whether you can afford to invest in the different branches that might occur.

Oh and hey, my own game is a KN and I think it's pretty good so you should definitely check that out too.

[Ark]

Naricissu was another popular one that really catapults people into VNS. Woeth checking out.

I'm also writing a KN since it's more conducive to the novel format. I personally enjoy them, as with well written story and characters it should just be as enjoyable as a book IMO.

[Miss Skizzors]

I second Narcissu (there's only one "i" in it). I personally don't like KN's that much. Some are good, but interactivity is a part of the medium to me. I suppose it's a matter of taste.

[Taleweaver]

Definitely try That Cheap And Sacred Thing. One of the best KN tearjerkers I have ever read. At least on one level with Narcissu, if not better.

[deltë]

I'm trying to get some inspiration on expectations for Kinetic novels. Does anyone have or know of any really well made ones that keep you interested in finishing the game? What are they like? Do they use mainly backgrounds and still images to tell the story? Are there sprites at all? I'm tempted to start a project, but before that I want to do more research to see if it's the way to go.

Narcissu, definitely.

[Rossfellow]

Speaking up for those too ashamed to admit having played it: Saya no Uta.