A visual novel is an interactive storytelling medium that combines text, images, and sometimes audio to create a narrative experience. Players read through a story, making choices that can affect the plot and character relationships. This format often features anime-style artwork and can include various genres, such as romance, mystery, and fantasy. Visual novels are popular in Japan and have gained a global audience through platforms like Steam and itch.io. They can range from simple, linear stories to complex narratives with multiple endings, encouraging replayability. Some well-known examples include Doki Doki Literature Club! and Steins;Gate.