yes! the "VN" phase is in the overworld, at one point you'll enter some "puzzle phases" called somnium which are like people's dreams, you move around an environment and solve "logical puzzles" mainly by choosing options that will cause the environment to change

The game is more point & click, but yes

Which has easier puzzles, this or Zero Time Dilemma? I'm mainly looking for something that is mostly reading to veg out to, but if puzzles can't really be avoided in one of the really, really good VNs then I will do some I guess.

Also, do Zero Time Dilemma and this let you save anywhere? Or only at certain times?

Originally posted by Evilnapkin:

Which has easier puzzles, this or Zero Time Dilemma? I'm mainly looking for something that is mostly reading to veg out to, but if puzzles can't really be avoided in one of the really, really good VNs then I will do some I guess.

Also, do Zero Time Dilemma and this let you save anywhere? Or only at certain times?

ZTD has more actual puzzles than Ai, I would say. the ones here are more like you're presented with choices on how to interact with items in the environments, sometimes you need to trigger stuff in a set order to proceed.

Zero Escape has more actual puzzle solving in general as you do the escape rooms.

as for the saving, ZTD's story presentation happens in cutscenes, so you cannot pause and save in most times outside of an actual escape room or menu. it is a bit of a flawed design that thankfully got fixed on this game. but if you've already played 999 and VLR i'd personally recommend playing ZTD first to wrap up that series

The only other visual novel I've played is the Dead by Daylight dating sim. I decided to get both AI Somnium and SteinsGate. I might also get the Zero Escape games. I've only done one dream in this game so far, but if this is what the puzzles are like then it'll be fine for vegging. Didn't really need brainpower just picking interaction options and seeing how things played out.

Originally posted by Evilnapkin:

The only other visual novel I've played is the Dead by Daylight dating sim. I decided to get both AI Somnium and SteinsGate. I might also get the Zero Escape games. I've only done one dream in this game so far, but if this is what the puzzles are like then it'll be fine for vegging. Didn't really need brainpower just picking interaction options and seeing how things played out.

ah I see, you mentioned Zero Time Dilema which is the title of the third zero escape games so I assumed you meant it specifically. maybe you meant the Zero Escape series.

the first Somnium is definitely just the tutorial, they'll be getting more complex down the line, one in specific is very cryptic on what you need to do (certain added mechanics are added to specific ones at times) but if you liked the baseline you'll probably enjoy it

Well if I get fed up I'll just quit, I think it was $10CAD which is like a quarter in the US (at least used to be, tariff wars might make it $1US).