Take on the role of Hisao Nakai, the ordinary boy whose life takes a dramatic twist with the discovery of heart problems. Now he attends Yamaku High School, which is a special educational establishment for students with disabilities. Choose how the story unfolds in this Bishojo-styled visual novel by Four Leaf Studios.
After his life-changing experience and illness, Hisao must come to terms with his newfound situation, but at the boarding school for disabled students, he will meet and interact with girls who have similar yet contrasting predicaments. Each has their own disability, although not all are physical and apparent at first glance.
How the narrative plays out is entirely up to you in this engaging Ren’Py visual novel, which is more of an erotic and romantic adventure, than a porn game. There are certainly plenty of sensual moments to discover, although these will be based on the decisions and choices you make for Hisao, and which romance paths he follows.
Katawa Shoujo, which literally means “Cripple Girls” or “Disability Girls” when translated from Japanese, focuses on a deeply engaging story as the main feature of the game.
The anime artwork is beautifully crafted in 2DCG, serving as the backdrop while the story gathers pace and you choose the romantic adventures of Hisao, and the outcomes of each romantic adventure. But choose your interactions carefully as each path can end well or not, spicing up the narrative with dramatic and emotional conclusions.
If you haven’t played through any erotic visual novels before, then Katawa Shoujo is a great way to start and it’s free. The interactions and growing romance between characters is tasteful and stylish, which means that even experienced VN fans have praised the game highly, still referring to the story and narrative as one of the best examples of the genre.
