CLANNAD
Also known as クラナド
Drama, Romance, Slice of life, Comedy, Fantasy · by Key (VisualArts) · published by Sekai Project (Steam); PROTOTYPE (consoles) · 2015
A cynical delinquent drifting through his last year of school meets a shy girl at the bottom of a hill, and his small town slowly becomes a place worth belonging to.
Who it's for: Readers who want a long, emotional slice-of-life drama about family and growing up, with plenty of comedy along the way.
The story (spoiler-free)
Tomoya Okazaki has given up on school and on his strained home life. One morning he meets Nagisa, a quiet girl hesitating at the foot of the hill to school, and agrees to help her revive the drama club.
Through her he meets a wide cast of classmates, each with their own route of comedy, warmth and quiet sadness, while a parallel fantasy thread about an illusory world runs in the background.
Completing routes opens up a long final arc that carries the story past graduation and is widely regarded as one of the most emotionally affecting stretches in the medium.
Why play it
- +A defining classic of the emotional 'nakige' genre
- +Huge cast with routes that feel distinct
- +Strong comedy balances the heavier drama
- +The after-story arc is a famous payoff
Keep in mind
- −Very long; the full payoff requires finishing many routes
- −Dated art style and resolution
- −Slow start for players who want plot early
Content warnings
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