Healing Genre in VNs! - An VNture Podcast

[@Some_Guy_87]

I'm team tauros on this one. If I just want to wind down I rather look into gameplay-heavy games or watch some KZbin. For VNs I expect to have something gripping. But I definitely get the appeal of escaping to a paradise focused on you - where you don't need to worry about anything and get your ego and other things stroked. Imho Moege are a subcategory of healing VNs focusing on cuteness. Healing VNs can also work without cute aspects, but Moeges kinda automatically have that healing aspect. Not sure if that makes sense :D.

[@__m.r.]

To be frank I definitely relate to times when I'm too tired to read VNs... But then again I am weak to maids so they have a magnetic power on me :D I tend to avoid YT as a pass-the-time activity, but strategy? card games? sign me in (my Readport progress became pathetic due to Chrono Ark bad influence). It's interesting that You proposed for moeges to be a subcategory of healing VNs, I initially thought the opposite 🤔 If the "cutesy slice of life" is the defining factor of this genre branch, then it's sub-genre is one that has next to no conflict and high relatability -> iyashikei. But honestly Your proposition also makes a lot of sense :D

[@lunameower]

I love iyashikei. But I really don't like moege. To me, the romance and slight drama in them feel like they overshadow the slice of life, that I'm looking for. I think the Angel Beats VN does it really well though. There is a ton of slice of life, comedy, action, and the romance feels like it's only a small part of the whole experience, which I really like. Sad Key didn't release the next Beats in the series though

[@VNturePodcast]

Man I'm sad about Angel Beats too. I think KEY featured them in their mobile game though, so there might be a return in the future.

[@lunameower]

@@VNturePodcast They did feature the AB cast in Heaven Burns Red, which is like a gacha by Key. It's getting an English translation this year I think, so I'm looking forward to that

[@__m.r.]

Woah, it's interesting to find a iyashikei lover out in the wild! We were concerned that the lines between moege and iyashikei genres are too subjective and blurry for people to have their own take/distinction! Hmmm, while I focused on intent and relatability of the setting, You propose that the distinction can come from focus on a certain aspect - for example slice of life vs romance/drama. That sounds plausible 🤔

[@lunameower]

@@__m.r. When I think of iyashikei, the first things that come to mind are definitely not moege, but I still think you could argue they have the iyashikei element in them I'm definitely on tauros' side, most of the time I want to read plotge, mysteries, or thought provoking works However, when I do feel like relaxing, I want pure slice of life, which is why I'm not the biggest fan of moege. Can 100% see why people enjoy them though, with the relatability part in them :3

[@__m.r.]

@@lunameower ​ well, it's not like I'm either a iyashikei or moege defender, I still have preference towards dark fantasy style settings 😅 So I completely relate, at least most of the time, to the idea of when choosing of what to read next preferring something of substance over a "moeblob". That being said, You namedropped Angel Beats VN before - You consider that iyashikei or a "good in your eyes" example of moege?