The popularity of Japanese visual novels in the West has been steadily rising. Titles like Steins;Gate and the Danganronpa series have been turning many heads. Now, Valve appears to be taking an interest in this rising popularity, as 07th Expansion’s Higurashi When They Cry is going to appear for sale on Steam, having been approved on Steam Greenlight. Though no release date has been set for the visual novel, MangaGamer, the series’ digital distributor, is currently in discussions with Valve for an approved release date.
Higurashi When They Cry is a strange visual novel, to say the least, especially in how it lures players into a false sense of security. Introduced to its cutesy character designs and a calm countryside atmosphere, players will witness the small village of Hinamizawa suddenly become a nightmare as a violent, mysterious case turns the community on its head. Filled with ancient curses, paranoia, insanity, violent retribution, and entangled conspiracies, Higurashi When They Cry is an example of when not to judge a book by its cover.
With Higurashi When They Cry soon appearing on Steam, we may start seeing more visual novels appear on the popular digital distribution site, like Steins;Gate, the romance visual novel Clannad, or maybe even the fantasy-styled Fate/stay night.
