Venus: Improbable Dream

Venus: Improbable Dream won’t do anything to bring you into its story if you aren’t a fan of visual novels but if you are there is a pretty decent one here for you. It takes a bit to get going and the lack of choices is disappointing but the subject matter it touches on and how it handles it are rarely seen in the video game space. If you’ve struggled with social anxiety then this game will hit right at home and pull on your heartstrings.

Venus: Improbable Dream sits in a very odd position in the visual novel world, and I’m not sure if it’s for better or worse. It doesn’t nearly have the teeth of something like Steins;Gate or The Way We All Go, but it also isn’t as saccharine as Strawberry Vinegar, instead floating somewhere in between. Kakeru and Haruka are a cute pairing without too much insinuation, and Kakeru himself is a fine protagonist, but just fine. He doesn’t have enough humor in his self-loathing, and he has too much awareness in his talent to make his modesty seem genuine. He isn’t unlikable, but he also isn’t the best dude to have to follow around.