Visual Novel Tropes

Visual Novels are a relatively new medium. They are sometimes categorized as a genre of Video Games, as they are software-based, but given that the relationship ends here, they could also be considered another, independent medium of interactive fiction.

Some of their tropes are shared with Anime, mostly because Visual Novels are one of the three main adaptation sources for them, next to Manga and Light Novels.

Plot Tropes:
These are the unique cornerstones of Visual Novel storytelling that could theoretically happen in any medium, but for certain reasons, this format especially encourages them:

The genre of Visual Novels that have graphic sex scenes (regardless of their amount or significance in the work.) The more grimdark some Bad Ends can be, the more WAFF you can expect from the True End. Not showing the protagonist's face is an old tradition in the medium, even in cases, where, unlike the rest of the trope's examples, he does have a personality. Usually, totally different routes can be started by picking up a slightly different choice in the same decision. From the Multiple Endings tradition. Usually known as 'Good End' or 'True End'. Many times it can only be achieved after going trough many Bad Ends. Related to AFGNCAAP, which allows the player to project their own personality onto the character. This setup commonly happens, but it's less prominent than in Harem Anime, because you can focus on one girl early on. An extremely common way of starting the story, a few days into the future. Known in the fandom as Multiple Route Mystery The most common protagonist type. This subgenre of trashy, plotless eroge exists, but they are less likely to get English fan translations. These sort of eroge are more likely to get an English translation and get known over here. Romantic stories, one of the main genres. A genre name, meaning "Depressing game", usually based on romantic plots.
 * Eroge
 * Earn Your Happy Ending
 * Faceless Protagonist
 * For Want of a Nail
 * Golden Ending
 * H Game POV Character
 * Harem Genre
 * How We Got Here
 * Jigsaw Puzzle Plot
 * Ordinary High School Student
 * Porn Without Plot
 * Porn With Plot
 * Renai Game
 * Utsuge

Interactivity Tropes:
These are the tropes that the medium shares with video games, originating from the choices that the player can make during the story:

Things that look like choices but actually enforce a certain direction. A side effect of the Utsuge Harem genre, where you must ignore the tragedies of every other heroine to solve the chosen route. Usually sequels follow the True End of the original story (see below). It's practically a staple, except for minor subversions and aversions. Bad End, Good End, True End, and Normal End are most commonly used names for them. The entire point of Eroge routes
 * But Thou Must
 * Cruelty Is the Only Option
 * Cutting Off the Branches
 * Dialogue Tree
 * Multiple Endings
 * Optional Sexual Encounter

Adaptation Tropes:
Due to their unique narrative structure, plot, and interactive nature, the adaptions of Visual Novels also have their recognizable quirks:

Usually adaptions are focusing on one route, and importing minor parts of other routes into it. Many anime adaptions can cut out not just the graphical sex scenes, but even the implication of sex, without heavily changing the plot. A visual clue about the nature of the original source, in an anime adaption.
 * Anime of the Game
 * Bleached Underpants
 * Visual Novel Shot