Market Research [WEEK 7]

 Top selling Graphic novel games -

AI2u - https://alterstaff.itch.io/ai2u 

Art style - 3D but looks like it is drawn, a lot of pink colours, anime inspired

Narrative subject - Your Ai girlfriend is doing everything she can to keep you in the apartment, you have to try to leave by solving puzzles and uncovering mysteries

Unique selling point - "AI-powered NPCS" uses ChatGPT to create responses between the characters and player, this means each playthrough will be unique.

OBSCURA - https://rottenraccoons.itch.io/obscura

Art style - Anime inspired, angular, dark colours, painterly backdrops

Narrative subject - You are visiting a strange underground market full of masked strangers

Unique selling point - Dating sim with mystery elements

Highest Rated Graphic novel games - 

Our life- https://gbpatch.itch.io/our-life

Art style - Anime inspired, bright colours, detailed backdrops

Narrative subject - A journey through life with an overall positive theme, visiting main "large steppingstones of life" and interacting with those around you.

Unique selling point - This game has a lot of choices and branches allowing your experience to be incredible unique and almost fully customizable.

Adventures with anxiety - https://ncase.itch.io/anxiety

Art style - Simple stick people, bold shapes, somewhat monochromatic

Narrative subject - You play as a human dealing with anxiety who is manifesting itself as a wolf, you carry this wolf with you where ever you go.

Unique selling point - Made for people with anxiety to help reduce feelings of anxiety.

Most popular Graphic novel games - 

You're just imagining it - https://npckc.itch.io/youre-just-imagining-it

Art style - Abstract simple shapes, 3 colours, blue , white and yellow, very sketchy or doodly look

Narrative subject - You are trying to tell your doctor about an illness you have but the doctor is struggling to diagnose you.

Unique selling point - It is an artistic representation of the creators struggle with a chronic illness

The virus game - https://oofteriz.itch.io/the-virus-game

Art style - A lot of chromatic aberration, sharp angles, mixed media?

Narrative subject - In this game you download a virus riddled game, you must talk with the virus to either befriend them or meet a gruesome fate.

Unique selling point - Visually appealing art style and is linked with a comic that provides more information on the world.

Most recent Graphic novel games - 

In 13 hours the sun will swallow the earth - https://thesmoljay.itch.io/in-13-hours-the-sun-will-swallow-the-earth

Art style - Cartoony, simple colour pallet, a lot of patterns, big use of the colour orange.

Narrative subject - "small visual novel game about having 13 hours left to live!"

Unique selling point - Appealing art style and interesting character interactions

Pippa and your phantasmal problem - https://konayachi.itch.io/pippa-and-your-phantasmal-problem

Art style - Anime inspired art style, blues and browns

Narrative subject - a paranormal mystery game in which you have to figure our what is haunting the character's home

Unique selling point - Mystery game with several endings and a magical energy metre

What are the common features of most popular visual novel games -

Dating sims / Centred around interacting with characters

colourful art style that appeal to younger audiences [teen/young adult]

horror elements , psychological horror or horror setting, perhaps characters are inspired by horror tropes

Multiple choices

Examples - 

Doki Doki Literature club - https://teamsalvato.itch.io/ddlc

Fangs for your concern - https://kalamosgames.itch.io/fangs-for-your-concern

Slay the princess - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1989270/Slay_the_Princess__The_Pristine_Cut/

Coffee talk - https://store.steampowered.com/app/914800/Coffee_Talk/

What games are similar to the game we want to make -

Art style - Monster Prom -https://store.steampowered.com/app/743450/Monster_Prom/, Cryptid Crush - https://drowsy-drake-studios.itch.io/cryptid-crush [very popular games] Missed Messages - https://zephyo.itch.io/missed-message [Less popular]

Subject matter - Adventures with anxiety - https://ncase.itch.io/anxiety , Anxiety Puppy-  https://anxietypuppy.itch.io/anxiety-puppy, AnxietyBuster - https://anxietybuster.itch.io/anxietybuster [Less popular, our approach isn't really similar to how most games out there handle the subject, we have approached it in a very matter of fact way and in a way that is sort of more of an autobiography, Quite realistic]

Plot - AnxietyBuster - https://anxietybuster.itch.io/anxietybuster, @Sanie_Dead - https://white-lotus-ae.itch.io/saniedead [Similar to the aforementioned point]

How many games are there like our game -

I feel like there are quite a few games that are similar to what we are going to create, looking at the art styles of these games they all have something unique to them that makes them stand out despite these similarities. I hope that our art style and perhaps the mechanic of the anxiety metre may set our game apart from these other games in the genre.