A gal game that depicts the love story between the hero and heroine. A variety of software is on sale, including works with moving stories called crying games, and works that allow you to enjoy serious scenarios.
So this time, we will introduce recommended gal game works in a ranking format. We have also picked up popular works that have been made into comics or TV anime, so please take a look.
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table of contents
- Recommended ranking of gal games
Recommended ranking of gal games
1st place Little Busters! Converted Edition
Since its debut as PC software, this popular work has been adapted into various media, including comicalization, novelization, and TV animation. This game, which has been ported to the Nintendo Switch, not only allows you to play in beautiful HD image quality, but also supports touch screen operations.
The main character, Riki Naoe, is a kind boy who is a bit timid and cares about his friends. He lost his parents when he was young and was in despair until he was saved by Kyosuke Natsume, the leader of a group of boys who called themselves the Little Busters. As I developed friendships with the four of them, before I knew it, I had reached the age where I was thinking about going to higher education and thinking about my future path.
Realizing that there is a limit to the amount of time everyone can spend together, Riki begins to wish that “we all want to do something that we can only do now.'' One day, as if in response to the protagonist's wishes, Kyosuke declares, “I'm going to form a baseball team.The team's name will be…Little Busters.''
Although this is a love simulation game, the main theme of this work is friendship. This is a recommended gal game where you can enjoy a youth story filled with laughter and tears.
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2nd place Ebicolle + Amagami
“Amagami'' was released on PS2 in 2009 and has also been made into a TV anime and a comic. The PS Vita ported version of “Ebicolle + Amagami” has added a “Gallery Mode Platonic Archive” where you can enjoy event pictures and newly drawn illustrations, and the appeal is that you can look back on your memories with the heroines at any time you like.
The main character is a second year high school student who has a dislike for Christmas due to a certain past experience. He has become timid in love and has been living a lonely school life, only looking at his idol Haruka Morishima from afar.
One day, when the protagonist's breath begins to turn white, he realizes that “this year is the last chance to spend Christmas with the senior I admire.'' He is determined to overcome his fear of love and spend this Christmas with a girl. The person next to me at Christmas will be Morishima-senpai, who I admire, or…
This work remains popular even today due to its charming heroines. The story is rich, with not only sweet and sour scenes, but also heart-wrenching events. This is a masterpiece gal game that is recommended for both those who value the characters and the story.
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3rd place CLANNAD
A work by the game brand “key” that established the “crying game” genre in romance adventures. Since the Windows version was released in 2004, it has been made into a comic, TV anime, and even a movie, and it remains popular as one of the most moving movies.
The main character, Tomoya Okazaki, is a third-year high school student attending a preparatory school. He entered the school as a sports scholarship student, but his future was cut short due to an injury he sustained in a family fight with his father. He lost his energy, was always late at school and was treated as a delinquent student, and spent his days giving up on even going to higher education.
Meanwhile, Tomoya's daily life begins to take a turn when he meets a girl named Nagisa Furukawa, who returns to school after a long leave of absence.
“CLANNAD'' depicts the bonds between people with the theme of “family.'' In this Nintendo Switch ported version, you can play the game in full HD high resolution. This is a classic gal game that is recommended not only for first-time players but also for those who have already played the game.
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No. 4: Daydream Blueprint
A gal game that has gained a lot of support due to its detailed scenario. This work is not equipped with a choice or preference system, and is created so that you can “relive a story of crazy pure love” by making use of the visual novel medium.
The main character, Kaito, wakes up in a strange room with no memory. In the pure white room, besides himself, there was a girl named Yonagi who had lost her sense of self. While under house arrest, Kaito learns that his dreams are being recorded and that he will help Nagi, and begins to cooperate in recording them.
“Daydream Blueprint'' is characterized by reading three random stories and then consolidating them into one story. What is the “story” that Kaito remembered when he relived his memories…?
This work has been praised not only for its story, but also for its graphics and sound. This gal game is recommended for those who focus on the scenario and want to enjoy the story thoroughly.
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5th place AIR
A romance adventure game created by “key”, which has produced numerous hits. This work depicts a story with the theme of “love between parent and child,” and in the Nintendo Switch version, you can enjoy the delicate feelings of the characters in full voice.
The main character, Kunizaki Outo, is a young man who travels and earns money by doing mysterious street performances that move puppets without touching them. As he continues his journey in search of the meaning of a word entrusted to him by his late mother when he was a boy, he runs out of bus fare and ends up stranded in a small rural town.
A girl named Kansu Kamio, who attends a school in a rural town, appears in front of a man who is in trouble after losing his doll. After meeting her, a summer story begins to unfold.
This work is known as a “crying game” due to its moving scenario. If you want to enjoy a profound story, please check it out.
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No. 6 Four Rhythm Beyond the Blue
A popular love adventure game that has been made into a TV anime and is affectionately known as “Aokana.'' The PC version released in 2014 received high praise, winning multiple awards, and a Nintendo Switch port was released in 2018.
The story is set in a world where the discovery of anti-gravitons has made it easy to fly. Flying shoes (Anti-Graviton Shoes) brought a new field of vision to humans, and Sky Sports (Flying Circus), a competition using shoes, also appeared.
The main character is Akiya Hinata, who once had a promising future at the Flying Circus. Akiya had been away from competition due to overwhelming defeats and setbacks, but as he teaches transfer student Asuka Kurashina how to fly, he regains his old passion.
This work is an enjoyable coming-of-age story that combines romance and sports elements. Many consumer version events are also included, so this gal game is recommended not only for first-time players but also for those who have already played the game.
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7th place WHITE ALBUM -Winter memories spelled out-
This romantic adventure game has been developed into a wide range of media, including animation and novelization, and is still supported by many fans. The Steam port version has been upgraded to full HD resolution, allowing you to enjoy the story with even more beautiful visuals.
The main character is a university student who lives an ordinary life. What makes her different from those around her is that her girlfriend is Yuki Morikawa, an up-and-coming popular singer. The two maintained a strong relationship even after their debut, but the more her popularity grew, the more time they couldn't see each other.
The temperature is dropping and there are signs of winter coming to town. Will the two of them be able to continue their relationship as they spend less and less time together?
This work has received high praise for its heartbreaking story about a shaky romantic relationship and beautiful music. The sequel, “WHITE ALBUM2: The Other Side of Happiness,'' is also a popular work, so if you are interested, please check it out as well.
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No. 8 Amakano
The popular series, which has sold over 100,000 copies in total, is now available on Nintendo Switch. This work, which depicts a life-sized romance during student days, is characterized by the ability to choose whether to confess or not. In addition to being the first to confess and enjoy a sweet lover's life, you can also watch the heroine's struggles without confessing or wait for the other person to confess.
The main character moves to his grandparents' house in the mountainous hot spring village of Yomose Town to help clean up the snow. As he tries to adapt to life in a snowy country, his grandfather tells him, “You're young, so please try to love more, have fun, and work harder.''
Hearing his grandfather's words, he believes that even if he can experience a new life and a new self in the future, his “youth'' is now or never, so he takes the first step to start with love.
The appeal of “Amakano'' is that you can choose your own relationship with the heroine. This software is recommended for those who want to enjoy the realistic dynamics of love, and those who are looking for a gal game with a high degree of freedom.
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9th place ONE.
A refinement of “ONE ~Shining Season~”, which was released as PC software in 1998. This work, which gained popularity for its emotional story, is known as one of the works that pioneered the “crying game'' genre.
The main character is Kohei Orihara, a second year high school student who lost his family when he was young. In the winter of 1998, “another world'' is suddenly born within him, knowing that his happy daily life will not last forever. That world fills our daily lives like falling snow, and it seems to affect the real world in some way…
This work depicts a moving story that intersects the circumstances of the protagonist and his relationships with the heroines. This is a recommended gal game that allows you to immerse yourself in the world of the game with a tear-jerking story.
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No. 10 Uniform Girlfriend
“Seifuku Kanojo” is a school romance adventure game that can be enjoyed on Nintendo Switch. In order to represent a new generation of girlfriends, a system has been adopted that uses SNS to deepen the relationship with the heroine.
While attending school in the city, the main character had the courage to send a confession message to a classmate, but the message was exposed without permission. After a terrible heartbreak, she thought that her youth was over, but at her uncle's suggestion she transferred to Fukuoka.
In a new town, he meets three attractive girls. Let's weave a story while interacting with each other on Constagram, where you can check out their posts, and going on dates at many real-life spots.
This work focuses not only on conversations at school, but also on communication using SNS. This is a recommended gal game where you can enjoy modern “real love”.
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11th place Summer Pockets REFLECTION BLUE
A love adventure created by the game brand “Key”, which is famous for releasing many crying games into the world. In the Nintendo Switch version of “Summer Pockets REFLECTION BLUE,'' you can enjoy an even more expansive scenario, with routes and new heroines added, and a sub-heroine promoted to the main heroine.
The setting is Torishirashima, a remote island with a population of about 2,000 people. The main character, Haori Takahara, visits Torishakushima alone during her summer vacation to sort out her grandmother's belongings. Get in touch with nature and have new encounters that you couldn't experience while living in the city. Haori begins to regret the end of this summer vacation.
The appeal of this work is that you can enjoy the immersive feeling of beautiful visuals and music, as well as the moving story. This is a Nintendo Switch software recommended for those looking for a gal game that will make them cry.
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12th place 9-nine-
The “9-nine-” series is a love adventure game that depicts the stories of different heroines in the same world view and setting. The Nintendo Switch version is a complete package with new chapters added to previously released chapters 1 to 4.
The main character, Shinkaisho, lived a peaceful life in the academic city of Shirami Tsugawa. However, his daily life begins to change when the sacred treasure of Shiroja Kujuku Shrine is damaged by an earthquake. After the sacred treasure is damaged, Sho becomes involved in a strange fate due to the boys and girls awakening to supernatural powers…
There are plenty of elements to enjoy the work even more, such as brushing up the production and interviews with a total of 10 cast members. This is a highly recommended gal game that has received high praise not only for its scenario, but also for its characters and music.
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No. 13 Eustia the Impure Wing
The consumer version of “Eustia the Impure Wing'', which was released as PC software in 2011, is now available. The graphics of the Nintendo Switch version have been increased to 1920 x 1080, and the appeal is that you can play the game with even more detailed graphics.
The setting is Novus Eitel, the last floating city of humanity. Ten years ago, part of the residential area collapsed, known as Gran Forte, and thousands of lives were lost. What was left behind was an incurable sense of loss and the fear that the city would fall.
This work is full of serious and hard scenarios, such as the chaos of the slums and an infectious disease known as Hikari-byou, which causes feathers to grow on your back. If you want to play a gal game with a dark atmosphere, please check it out.
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No. 14 Utawarerumono Trilogy Set
“Utawarerumono Trilogy Set'' is a ported version of the Nintendo Switch that combines the trilogy of software into one. The game is divided into an “adventure part,'' where you read the story, and a “simulation part,'' where you engage in battles, so you can enjoy strategic battles.
The first part, “Lullaby for the Scattered Ones,'' begins with the main character, Hakuoro, being rescued from a serious injury and collapsing, and depicts a story from the past that becomes the prelude to war.
In the second work, “False Mask'', a new protagonist, Haku, appears. When he is attacked by a monster and has lost his name and memory, he is saved by Kuon, a girl with beast-like ears and a tail. Set in the great country of Yamato, you and your friends will overcome the war-torn world, and the third work, “The Two White Emperors,'' will bring the epic story to a conclusion.
If you like fantasy worlds or are looking for works with dramatic stories, please check it out.
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No. 15: A promise to this blue sky – Refine
A full remake of the popular work “Kono Aozora ni Promise wo'', which was also made into a TV anime, with completely new illustrations and background music. In addition, a “map movement system” has been added that allows you to walk around the school and dormitory recreated with dot pixels, making it even more enjoyable for those who have already played the game.
The setting is a remote island a little south of the main island. The factories that accounted for most of the industry were closing down, and the number of students was gradually decreasing. Takamizuka Academy, located on a hill on the island, has a dormitory that has been converted from an old school building, and the protagonist and heroine live in this dormitory.
One day, “Rina Sawashiro”, who has transferred to Takamizuka Academy, moves into Tsugumi Dormitory. For some reason, Rinna, who doesn't want to interact with people, gets involved, and even though she sometimes rebels, she enjoys her days.
This is a highly recommended gal game that not only allows you to play the masterpiece released in 2006 with beautiful graphics, but also has plenty of new elements.
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No. 16 ToHeart
The popular romance adventure game released in 1997 is now available as a full 3D remake. In addition to the character designs, the cast has also been renewed, allowing you to enjoy a newly reborn “ToHeart”.
Voices can be switched between new and old casts. You can enjoy performances by both the nostalgic original cast and the new cast. The story revolves around the main character, who is starting a new school year, and the daily life of a life-sized high school student. As he spends his days at the school, he gradually begins to fall in love with the heroines.
In addition, important scenes are presented in animation-style “visual cinema scenes,” providing a more immersive experience. This is a masterpiece recommended not only for those who like romance games, but also for those who want to learn about the history of bishoujo games.
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No. 17 DC Re:tune ～Da Capo～ Retune
This work is a full remake of the classic gal game “DC ~Da Capo~” released by CIRCUS in 2002. Along with the remake, the character designs and cast have been completely renewed, and a new heroine has also been added. Additionally, improvements have been made to the system to make the game even easier to play.
The story is set on Hatsune Island, where cherry blossoms that never wither bloom all year round. A “bitter and heartrending'' youth love story unfolds between Junichi Asakura, the main character who has fairy-tale-like powers, and a group of unique heroines.
The game has a simple system where routes branch by selecting options, making it easy to play even for beginners. This software is recommended not only for fans of the “DC ~Da Capo~” series, but also for those playing gal games for the first time.
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No. 18 Memories Off -Innocent Fille-
This work is the final work in the “Memories Off” series, the first of which was released in 1999. The theme of “the sadness of love'' has been around since the beginning of the series, and you can enjoy complex human relationships and stories that go beyond just happiness.
“Memories Off -Innocent Fille-'' features a selection system that branches into the “Light Side'' or “Heavy Side'' midway through the story. Depending on the player's choice of which side to discard, it will be decided whether to proceed with a route depicting a pure love story or a serious route related to incidents that happened in the past.
The main character, Yu, attends Sapporo Kairyo High School. He wanted to go somewhere far away, not here, so he was accepted into the special domestic exchange program for scholarship students and temporarily transferred to our sister school, Shonan Kairyo High School. However, this step towards a new place causes ripples and leads to complicated human relationships…
In “Memories Off -Innocent Fille-“, which is the culmination of the series, past heroines appear as guest characters. This gal game is recommended not only for Memo Off fans but also for those who want to enjoy a serious story.
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No. 19 Sakura Cloud * Scarlet's Love
The popular work “Sakura no Kumo * Scarlet's Love'' was released as PC software in 2020. The consumer version of the software for Nintendo Switch and PS4 has new episodes and new characters added, increasing the volume.
The main character, Tsukasa Kazami, is a young man living in 2020. One day, he travels back in time from under a cherry tree to the imperial capital of Tokyo 100 years ago. Tsukasa ends up working as an assistant under the director of the Cherry Detective Agency in the imperial capital. As he becomes involved in numerous incidents, will his fate be determined in the Reiwa era or the Taisho era?
The appeal of this work is that you can enjoy the worldview of Taisho Romance and a detailed scenario sprinkled with various hints. A free trial version is also available, so please check it out if you are interested.
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No. 20 Tokimeki Memorial ~ forever with you ~ Emotional
Tokimeki Memorial, the monumental romance simulation game, is now available on Nintendo Switch. This game, released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its release, maintains the feel and playfulness of the original version, but adds new elements such as “EVS” that calls out the player's name, and new graphics and font switching functions.
The main character enrolls at Kirameki Private High School, where there is a legend that says, “On the day of the graduation ceremony, couples who confess their love to each other under a large old tree at the edge of the schoolyard will be happy forever.'' Players will deepen their relationships with girls while improving their parameters by studying and playing sports.
The game depicts the entire three years of high school, and allows you to enjoy various content such as school events, club activities, and dates. When the main character reaches his graduation ceremony, what is waiting for him under the legendary tree?
This is a recommended masterpiece gal game that you can enjoy with a nostalgic feeling, not only for those who are playing it for the first time, but also for those who have already played the original version.
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A comment from a writer
Many gal games depicting love between a hero and heroine have been developed into a wide range of media, from attractive scenarios to TV animation. The worldview and character design also vary greatly depending on the work, so be sure to find a gal game that suits your tastes.