To get rid of a curse, you have to learn more about it. What’s the name of the curse? How did it become a curse? What kind of candles does it like lit? Can you buy it dinner? Kissing curses away is a valid plan in visual novels. A little flirting makes the heart lighter and wards off unwanted magic. Turning an unfortunate spell into a pathway to romance. Getting to know a curse also means getting to know the person holding it, and sometimes that turns into hand-holding. Open your heart and rid your crush of the weight on their shoulders, but only if they accept your advances. If the date ends in rejection, you both lose. Here is a list of the top five visual novels where love breaks a curse. Number 4 is stretching the rules. I always seem to add one. Number one is near and dear to my heart.

5: Blush Blush

A hot summer day at the zoo erupts into chaos when all of the hot male patrons start turning into animals. It was your job to hand out the non-magic water bottles to customers, but you were distracted. Now you have to round up these animal men and kiss them back to human. I don’t think it’ll save your job, though. Blush Blush is a unique visual novel experience, as it’s an idle clicker game. To progress in the story, players must reach certain in-game conditions for each character. This includes clicking the character to win affection and letting idle tasks run in the background that raise player skills. Blush Blush will continue to run even when the program is closed, continuing player progress while away. I think Blush Blush is a cute game for passing the time. It gets right to the romance, and players have over a dozen characters to romance, and they don’t have to choose. It’s like having all routes open at the same time. Blush Blush is still updated with events that allow players to unlock even more characters to romance. The game is free, but the options to purchase in-game currency and downloadable content are available. I find myself getting sucked into the game every few weeks, and I think you might too. Markiplier played it once, for one character.

4: Oxenfree II -Lost Signals

Unusual radio signals are disrupting the quiet seaside town of Camena. Riley, the player character, takes on the temporary job of assisting scientists in their research of these anomalies. It’s supposed to be an easy night to collect some cash and ignore the life she feels she screwed up. These eerie radio waves have something to say, and their message is chilling. Ghosts who feel their time was cut short, stuck between the veil of the living and the dead, seek to return to life through any means necessary. Their means include possessing the citizens of Camena. Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is still, at its heart, a story about love, but self-love. Instead of ignoring her past, Riley must accept who she is to protect not only her future, but the future of the town she grew up in. I enjoy the world-building of Oxenfree 2. I feel like it adds to the stakes that are presented throughout the story. It’s a game where you walk and listen. Players learn about Camena and what it means to the people who live there. Riley left and came back, so it doesn’t mean as much to her as it might not to the player at first. The appreciation builds as you meet more characters and learn their motivation. I even developed a soft spot for the villain. I think the evil in this game is grey, which makes foiling their plan feel kind of bad. It’s not a traditional romance, but the story sticks with you. The ending made me tear up, and there are several players can unlock.

I’ve written a full article about Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, which you can find here: New Frequency – Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals

3: Slay the Princess

Dropped in a dark forest in the middle of nowhere, you’re given one simple task. Slay the princess to save the world. She’s chained up in the basement of a cottage; she can’t run. It’s easy. Voices swirl in your head: a timid one asking if it’s right, an angry one screaming to get on with it, and a romantic one urging you to rescue her. You raise your knife and make a choice. Slay the Princess is a dark visual novel with body horror, ancient gods, and a lot of different endings. You and the princess will meet many times and dance with death through many lives. Each choice you make changes the princess you’ll meet. Each princess has at least two phases, and sometimes, if you’re lucky enough to survive the second phase, you’ll see a third. I think the art is beautifully haunting black-and-white drawings of a princess twisted into grotesque body horror. I also enjoy the story of the player trying desperately to break a cycle and avoid the fate they’ve been forced to walk. I’ve played a lot of Slay the Princess, and if you’re an avid reader, you know I love time loops. The romance is subtle at first in Slay the Princess, but if you see it through for one cycle, you’ll see how deep and pure the love for the player and princes is. Nothing could tear their very souls from one another. I liked that with each princess I created, I got to know what was at the core of her twisted form. She may have had a strong heart, or a gentle touch past her flesh made of steel. Slay the Princess became build the queen from princess parts. I really liked that I never knew what was going to come next. Find out what dark god you’ll awaken in Slay the Princess.

2: Dandelion – Wishes Brought to You

Studying a major you have no passion for while working a job that eats up your free time, plus an overbearing mother to boot, you’re stressed. The world feels like it’s closing in on you, and nothing brings you joy. When you can, you hide in your apartment, but it doesn’t stop the echoing disappointment of your mother’s voice. In this sorry state, a wizard gifts you 5 animals because having something to take care of will fix everything. I could go on and goof more on this visual novel that has a bad ending called the chicken ending, but it’s well written and a lot of fun. Heejung might be the most depressed visual novel protagonist I’ve ever played as. She starts the game with zero hope for her future. Her animal companions slowly grow on her, and maybe keep her alive. She has to care for them, and they give her hope for the future. When she starts to accept them is when the curse is half broken, and the real game begins. Now there are five bunny boys and cat boys the player can romance:Jieun Jihae Jisoo Jiwoo Jiyeon . Heejung named them, and they never correct her, even as men. Plus a secret sixth option. Each man ended up cursed due to a tragic backstory, and it makes Heejung reflect on her own life. I like that Dandelions- Wishes Brought to You isn’t a story about a man coming in and making a woman’s life better. Getting the love she’s never had gives Heejung courage, but it’s a slow build that she does for herself. Players spend a lot of time in Heejung’s headspace; she’s a very fleshed-out protagonist. Players will juggle their time between school, work, and paying attention to animal boys to break their curse. I have advice for this visual novel, and it’s save often. This is the hardest visual novel I’ve ever played. Take on this cat boy challenge.

1: Hustle Cat

Landing a job at a cat cafe is a dream come true. You’re paid surprisingly well by the small shop; you get to play with cats, and you have cute, quirky co-workers. What everyone neglected to tell you is that as soon as you accepted the job, you took on a curse. Now, when you’re not on the cafe grounds, you’ll turn into a cat. It’s got pros and cons. Hustle Cat might be my favorite visual novel ever. I think the story flows so well, giving the player a chance to get to know all of the love interests before choosing who they pursue. There is a character type for everyone: sweet and doting, shy and anxious, standoffish and cocky, or closed off and cold. Pick your favorite cursed coworker: Landry, Finley, Mason, Hayes, or Reese. Plus a secret option! Date nights include learning what brought your love interest to the cafe and learning witchcraft to break the curse. It’s not all churu’s and lattes as the player delves deeper into the cafe’s magic, unknowingly attracting a dark force. There is an instance where the player is attacked, and the love interest must defend them, and that trope always turns my legs to jelly. I think Hustle Cat feels like a classic visual novel waiting for another chance to shine. I found the story compelling, but concise. There is hardly any filler; I feel like the writers knew exactly what story they wanted to tell and stuck to it. It’s a joy to play again and see the events from other romance interests’ perspectives. Players get a little bit of character customization, though the name of the player character is locked in as Avery. I recommend you go to this cafe, order a large coffee, maybe some cake, and let your heart lead the way.

If you encounter a curse in the wild, remember what you learned from visual novels. It might be a cursed princess looking for an equal to match her strength. Check for signs of cat ears or bunny tails often hidden by hats and baggy clothes. As a professional, I am obligated to warn you that falling in love with a cursed human may come with side effects such as infatuation, protectiveness, and damp eyes. I hope you enjoy the visual novels on this list. If you play or have played one, let me know what you thought!