Common Terminology

This page contains a list of common terminology used in the discussion of Visual Novels.

A
ADV – Abbreviation for “Adventure.” A game that immerses the player into the storyline by forcing the player to make choices that affect the storyline. Experienced through novel-style writing confined within textboxes and static images. Also a visual novel interface style that has a small textbox, often in the bottom of the window.

B
Bishoujo – Literally “beautiful girl.” Indicates content whose primary characters are beautiful girls. Often this sort of content is aimed toward heterosexual men. The protagonists of bishoujo games are men whose romantic candidates are women.

BL – Boys’ Love. Content aimed toward heterosexual women and centered on male-on-male relationships. May also appeal to bisexual women. Often the characters are bishounen (beautiful boys), though lean characters are becoming increasingly popular.

D
Doujin Soft – Sometimes referred to as “Doujin Games.” Japanese equivalent of the term “homebrew games.”

Dating sim – A game centered on making the protagonist more attractive to the player’s desired romantic target. Involves statistics-based gameplay. In Japan, they are referred to as “ren’ai simulation games,” or “romantic simulation games.”

E
Ecchi – When used as an adjective, can mean “lewd,” “sexy,” “lascivious,” or “naughty.” When used as a verb or a noun, it can refer to sexual intercourse. In English usage, “ecchi” often denotes material containing implicit sexual content.

Eroge – Abbreviation for “Erotic Game” (“game” is pronounced gemu in Japanese). Any game with erotic content. In Japan, eroge are also sometimes referred to as 18+ games: “Juuhachi-kin gemu,” or, “Game(s) restricted to eighteen [year-olds]”.

F
Futanari – Content containing transsexuals or characters with both female and male reproductive organs (hermaphrodites), or a term used to refer to the characters themselves. “Male” futanari (hermaphrodites with male secondary sex characteristics or female-to-male transsexuals) are extremely rare.

G
Gei – Derived from the English word “gay.” Content aimed toward homosexual men and centered on male-on-male relationships. Often the characters in these gei media are very muscular, though Jaani (“Johnny.” Japanese equivalent of “twink”) are not uncommon.

GL – Girls’ Love. Content centered on female-on-female relationships. Aimed at heterosexual men, but may also appeal to homosexual/bisexual women.

GUI - Game User Interface. Includes elements such as the textbox, main menu, preference screens, etc.

H
Hentai – A term used in Japan to denote sexual perversion, or perverts themselves. In the West, hentai is a slang term denoting Japanese media with sexually explicit content. Hentai is often shortened to “H.”

K
Kemonomimi – Literally "animal ears." Refers to humanoid characters with a few animal characteristics, such as animal ears and tails.

Kinetic Novel – Games done in the same format as Visual Novels except for the fact they have no choices. Stories are linear.

L
Lolicon – Abbreviation of “Lolita Complex.” Denotes attraction to prepubescent-to-adolescent girls, one who is attracted to prepubescent-to-adolescent girls, or content containing prepubescent-to-adolescent girls in sexual situations.

N
Nekomimi – Literally "cat ears." Usually refers to catgirls, though it can be used to refer to catboys.

NVL - Interface style in which the textbox covers the entire screen.

O
OELVN – Original English Language Visual Novel. Often used as a word for any visual novel of non-Japanese origin.

Otome – Literally “maiden.” Otome games are aimed toward heterosexual girls and women. The protagonists of otome games are women whose romantic candidates are men.

R
Ren’ai – Literally "love" or “romance.” Any game in this genre centers on love.

S
Shotacon – Abbreviation of “Shotaro Complex.” Denotes attraction to prepubescent boys, one who is attracted to prepubescent boys, or content containing prepubescent boys in sexual situations.

V
VN – Abbreviation for “Visual Novel.” These games are experienced through novel-style writing confined within textboxes that are take up most of the screen and are overlayed over static images.

Y
Yaoi – A Japanese acronym originating from the late 1970s. It stands for "YAma nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi," or "No climax, no point, no meaning." It was used to refer to manga centering around homosexual male relationships not authored by the Year 24 Group, which were usually doujinshi (amateur works). These doujinshi usually had little or no plot, and focused primarily on sex, hence the acronym. In the West, the term is often used to refer to content centering around male homosexual relationships, aimed at women, with explicit sexual content.

Yuri – Literally "lily." In Japanese, it is used to refer to content centering around lesbian relationships. Publishers and companies primarily use the term "GL," or "Girls' Love." In Western usage, it is used to denote only explicit content centering around lesbian relationships.