u/-Taken_Name-

I feel like I am in a VN slump, and I need something to get me out of it. This year, I’ve only managed to finish 3 VNs: Senmomo, Unravel trigger, and Jewelry Hearts Academia.

Besides those, I have a whopping 11 VNs in my “on hold” list, most of which I’ve slowly stopped reading past the first 3 hours. What I want is a VN with:

-A competent MC who knows how to get shit done
-A variety of characters and not just MC and friends
-A story with stakes. It could be something like survival all the way to preventing world destruction.
-I don’t mind longer VNs; in fact, those are the VNs I lean towards, but I don’t want something with rushed plot points or that takes forever to get to the point. So, good pacing is a must!
-This ties into the above point, and arguably the reason why I have so many VNs on hold, but I want to be hooked. This means a continuously developing story. As for slice-of-life scenes, I like them, but I want them to serve as comic relief from serious moments, or the smoke before the fire, not SoL for the majority of the story.

If you have anything that ticks the above boxes, please let me know! I can read Japanese, so untranslated isn’t an issue. Also, here are some other similar VNs I’ve read in the past and enjoyed. Some don't fit all boxes, but just in case you want to see what kind of VNs I like: Akatsuki no Goei, Aiyoku no Eustia, Grisaia, Ryuusei World Actor, Tokeijikake no Ley Line, Hello Lady!, Sharin no Kuni, BALDR SKY, and Jiangshi x Daoshi.

I am here to find something that could scratch a very specific itch I have. To explain the setting I’m looking for, it’s better if I provide some examples first: Aiyoku no Eustia, Sekien no Inganock, and (Spoiler warning for a Frontwing VN) >'s Winter arc!< are all perfect examples of what I’m looking for.

All three stories take place in a world where people are divided into floors or tiers based on their social status. The lower you descend, the harsher the environment becomes and the poorer the people get. Similarly, the higher you ascend, the brighter and more prosperous it becomes, and the wealthier people get. In these kinds of worlds, acts such as murder, theft, and prostitution are widespread on the lower tiers (slums), and people often resort to them to survive. On the other hand, higher floors often have people living a luxurious life with no care for the people on the lower tiers. Religion and politics are also massive themes.

While there are VNs such as Akatsuki no Goei or Rance that have a somewhat similar setting, the most important aspect is missing: the physical proximity between everyone that other models, aside from vertically stratified cities, just can’t replicate. What I mean is that in the three works I mentioned in the first paragraph, the story takes place in the same area; the only difference is the altitude. It is a literal manifestation of a class hierarchy.

I don’t know who came up with the original idea, but I want more. I made a similar post a couple of years ago, and I’m hoping more have popped up since then or maybe there were ones that weren’t mentioned before. Ideally, I would prefer a VN, but if you know a story like that, I welcome it even if it’s a JRPG, LN, manga, or anything else, really. I can also read Japanese, so I am fine with untranslated.

Thanks in advance!