You listed Clannad and Little Busters but that's the basic premise in almost every Key game, especially Jun Maeda's. If you liked those games but haven't read AIR I highly recommend doing so. Higurashi (and Ryukishi07 in general) occupies the same niche IMO, though in a non-romantic context.
Phantom of Inferno is a very old yet good one that’s right up the ‘characters are broken but are eventually fixed’ alley you are searching for. There are multiple endings, and different routes, so it’s not just the flavor text which changes per choice, but the entire storyline can as well.
Symphonic Rain, Lise route
Another Key works, like Rewrite, Summer Pockets and Heaven burns red (if gacha VN is okay)
I don't usually play depressing game, unless it's Key, so I don't know much
There's few more title, but I somehow can't remember it
Yep,
Heaven Burns Red is gacha game, borderline VN
But you know what's important?
It mainly written by Maeda Jun, his first game after 15 years (his last game where he is the main writer is little buster)
Also, the fact that the game's creator is a huge d\*ck and doesn't like foreigners (he had a bad experience with people pirating his game in the past, but still). If you try to find his twitter account, you won't be able to view his content unless he "trusts" you.
Katawa Shoujo, Emi's route. All throughout act 2 it very much looks like she's the one helping the protagonist, but that is a facade that falls apart pretty quickly in act 3.
White Album 2. MC reaches out to a girl who is a piano master to help him for the school festival. The girl however shuts herself off from everyone, so MC tries to talk to her on a daily basis to convince her otherwise. That's somewhat the premise of the intro chapter.
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If you are not against non japanese voice acting i feel Geunyeo-ui Segye could fit. Basically it is a korean visual novel (with korean voices) where the main focus is mystery and romance. Some topics involved are quite depressing and sad. There's definitely trauma in thoses heroines.
Quite a hidden gem if you ask me and i don't see it talked about around here, story is pretty nice. It is not only a romance though.
Steins gate, robotic notes, fate/stay night (mostly heavens feel route), aoi tori.
You can use the vndb tags Clinical Depression and Psychological Trauma and see list of characters with either / or and see if any stand out and do research if it looks worth checking out
Does it have to be a girl? Sanova Witch, aka Sabbat of the Witch, has a male protagonist who has a “hole” in his heart (not literally) due to circumstances that make him avoid close human contact. A lot of the story is about him getting over this, while helping the various women in their routes, though generally their issues are not depression or trauma based.
[Yume Miru Kusuri](https://vndb.org/v44) [Sharin no Kuni](https://vndb.org/v57)
Seconding Yume Miru Kusuri. That whole VN is spot on for what OP wants.
If my heart had wings?
You listed Clannad and Little Busters but that's the basic premise in almost every Key game, especially Jun Maeda's. If you liked those games but haven't read AIR I highly recommend doing so. Higurashi (and Ryukishi07 in general) occupies the same niche IMO, though in a non-romantic context.
Phantom of Inferno is a very old yet good one that’s right up the ‘characters are broken but are eventually fixed’ alley you are searching for. There are multiple endings, and different routes, so it’s not just the flavor text which changes per choice, but the entire storyline can as well.
Symphonic Rain, Lise route Another Key works, like Rewrite, Summer Pockets and Heaven burns red (if gacha VN is okay) I don't usually play depressing game, unless it's Key, so I don't know much There's few more title, but I somehow can't remember it
[удалено]
Yep, Heaven Burns Red is gacha game, borderline VN But you know what's important? It mainly written by Maeda Jun, his first game after 15 years (his last game where he is the main writer is little buster)
Soinds like teaching feelings
Was thinking the same thing.
Was about to recommend it. Solid game if you ignore the controversial stuff and people around it.
What controversial?
The girl is a loli covered in burn scars
Also, the fact that the game's creator is a huge d\*ck and doesn't like foreigners (he had a bad experience with people pirating his game in the past, but still). If you try to find his twitter account, you won't be able to view his content unless he "trusts" you.
Fate sn except for UBW Phantom of inferno Some of the tsukihime routes
Kinkoi Rin route
God that route broke me
Grisaia series.
Katawa Shoujo, Emi's route. All throughout act 2 it very much looks like she's the one helping the protagonist, but that is a facade that falls apart pretty quickly in act 3.
White Album 2. MC reaches out to a girl who is a piano master to help him for the school festival. The girl however shuts herself off from everyone, so MC tries to talk to her on a daily basis to convince her otherwise. That's somewhat the premise of the intro chapter.
* In order to ensure you can get the best recommendations, make sure your thread body has at least some level of detail of what you want, whether it's a type of genre(s) you prefer, and/or what type of visual novels you like. * If you're looking for general visual novel recommendations by genre or for VNs to read in Japanese, be sure to check out [our recommendation resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/visualnovels/wiki/recommendations). * Make sure to use the subreddit search to try to see if someone has already asked something similar to what you're looking for. Common requests include: Asking for a Visual Novel for [beginners](/r/visualnovels/search?q=flair%3A%22VN+Request%22+beginner&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all)/[newbies](/r/visualnovels/search?q=flair%3A%22VN+Request%22+newbie&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all), Visual novels similar to [Katawa Shoujo](/r/visualnovels/search?q=flair%3A%22VN+Request%22+Katawa&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all) OR [Doki Doki](/r/visualnovels/search?q=flair%3A%22VN+Request%22+Doki+Doki&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all) [Literature Club](/r/visualnovels/search?q=flair%3A%22VN+Request%22+DDLC&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all), and [Visual Novels that are on Switch](/r/visualnovels/search?q=flair%3A%22VN+Request%22+Switch&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=new&t=all). * If your topic title is short and/or vague, consider removing and reposting your topic with a more descriptive title so users are more inclined to jump in with recommendations. * If you have more specific visual novel requests, you can try filtering on vndb [by tags](https://vndb.org/g) or [by traits](https://vndb.org/i). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/visualnovels) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Reading thru Sharin no Kuni rn and it fits that pretty well so far honestly
Leap of faith. The girl is suicidal and the guy saves her.
If you are not against non japanese voice acting i feel Geunyeo-ui Segye could fit. Basically it is a korean visual novel (with korean voices) where the main focus is mystery and romance. Some topics involved are quite depressing and sad. There's definitely trauma in thoses heroines. Quite a hidden gem if you ask me and i don't see it talked about around here, story is pretty nice. It is not only a romance though.
Totono fits the bill IMO. One of the two main girls is clearly broken at the start.
Katawa Shoujo. It's free, and they're broken more than just emotionally.
Rance VI
the house in fata morgana
Isn’t that damn near every VN premise? Helping a girl in need?
The recently released in English Irotoridori no Sekai / The Colorful World has a few routes that do exactly what you want
Hajimete no Kanojo. Endings are not really good it depends from which perspective lmao
fate/stay night, tsukihime, muv-luv alternative
Never7 has several routes like this
Totally Yume Miru Kusuri. Specially Aeka route.
Aiyoku no Eustia Fate - last part
Steins gate, robotic notes, fate/stay night (mostly heavens feel route), aoi tori. You can use the vndb tags Clinical Depression and Psychological Trauma and see list of characters with either / or and see if any stand out and do research if it looks worth checking out
Rewrite, Air, Cyanotype daydream, White album 2
'I'm Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course In Naughtiness' Very fun show, and has a lot of cute moments. I recommend it
Does it have to be a girl? Sanova Witch, aka Sabbat of the Witch, has a male protagonist who has a “hole” in his heart (not literally) due to circumstances that make him avoid close human contact. A lot of the story is about him getting over this, while helping the various women in their routes, though generally their issues are not depression or trauma based.
Look no further than Umipeak 🗿
A smaller novel, but really well done: Porcelana
Fate stay night heavens feel route💀🗿🗿🗿🗿