Kikokugai

About

Kikokugai is a visual novel that reworks its 2000 predecessor with modern upgrades. Set in a near-future Japan, it follows a journalist digging into a corporate conspiracy after a coworker's suspicious death. Players read through narrative scenes, make dialogue choices, and manage relationships that shape the outcome. The story weaves cyberpunk elements with adult themes, balancing investigative beats with character-driven drama. Gameplay focuses on reading and decision-making, with occasional minigames during key moments. The remake adds full voice acting for main characters, giving scenes more weight. Artwork has been redone in higher resolution with smoother animations, and the interface uses vertical text boxes for easier reading. While the 20-hour runtime skimps on optional content, the core plot remains tight. Community reviews on visual novel sites average around 7.2 out of 10, noting strong writing but polarizing tone. Fans of mystery-driven narratives with a tech edge might find it compelling.