Are VNs games?

Lately I've been wondering what's a video game.I was thinking what are video games and which traits make video games, video games. The separating lines between what is a video game and what is not is a really vague. So I ask you this; are visual novels games?
I have always been interpreting their name quite literally so I see VNs as books in a visual format. Do you think otherwise?

You play them,control what happens and able to save your place to take a different action than the previous play.
Yup sounds like a game to me.

I'm generally neutral about this topic, all that really mattered was that I enjoyed them~
but this argument sounds pretty legit.

I for one also think it's like reading a book but with pictures, music and different endings.
>the save option works like a bookmark

Meh I'm just disappointed to see all the hate for just asking a question. I cant see how my question was worthy of -rep.

I have to say that I think they are not games, me and some friends are currently in the process of creating one, and I work more closely with our writer than with anyone else, the programming is fairly straightforward, according to my programmer, so I would say that no they are not games.

They're adventure games (ADV). You make wrong choices, you die (probably).

Unless it's a kinetic novel. You don't get choices in those.

I always treat VNs as novels, except for those with RPG and/or other gaming features implemented.

For example:

To Heart 2---->novel.
Tears to Tiara---->game.

Just like that.

Vn's are games with something to learn about, other than shooting someone or chucking grenades at your enemy.

Game or not. It's enjoyable as all hell to read VNs.

They're a media form for sure, and seeing as most non-functional/utility software gets called "game" content, yeah, they're games.

But in any other sense? No, you don't "play" them like a game, but you could say you play them like music: besides clicking to continue, you don't interface with them.
You don't interact (unless you choose a path out of options, then auto-becomes a game), but rather experience.
VNs are more of... experiential software.

I view them more as a choose your own adventure book, so more like a novel than a game, just in a more visual format than a bunch of text. There are VNs out there that are games in their own right, like Sengoku Rance, but if you're talking Da Capo and even Majikoi or Fate/Stay Night, its more a novel.

if there is dialog option I'd call it a game, because we can influenced the storyline, so yea there is bit role playing.

Do you realize what you have done OP?

Nevermind.


They are certainly a type of media.

For myself though, they are basically to computer equivalent of books. A vastly enhanced equivalent - with sounds, colored art backgrounds and sometimes even ability to actually change the story as you read it along, but I don't consider them games in same manner as say, Mass Effect or Ace Combat.

I can't either. The question is legit for various reasons.

You play games. While some VNs do have some gameplay action, most do not.
VNs are heavily oriented on character and setting, and it's almost all text. If you approach a VN as a game expecting to play something you will be disappointed. You read VNs, not play them, therefore it's better to approach them as a book, when you look at is that way, VN's are just another ableit strange way media that has a very unique way of story telling, however it is a game of sorts, putting it in an ugly gray area. I usually say what ever is more convenient, sometimes it's a game others its a book.

Final verdict. It's impossible to say. A visual novel is a visual novel.

If something as bad as "Plumbers Don't Wear Ties" can be considered a video game, then I'm certain visual novels (which [unlike the aforementioned game] are quite fun!) are games.

Depends, some vns are definetly games like sengoku rance for example, in that it is a complex strategy turn based rpg but still a vn. Also, many visual novels are full of dialogue choices like bioware games, the difference being these choices actually have dramatic effects on the story instead of being superficial. In that sense, they are more game-like than a bioware game if we take away its gameplay.

Having said that, some vns have very few choices and primarily tell a story. This being the closest to a novel in visual format.

So they are kind of a blend. It could be said that they are story focused "games" but many gamers would not consider dialogue choices and reading to be what constitutes a game. In otherwords, their definition is contested. In japan, they are definetly considered games and I think we can consider them as such as well so long as we recognize that they are a different type of game. Calling them novels is fine as well though.