A Visual Novel That Delights in Being Uncomfortable
Class of '09 bills itself as an "anti-visual-novel," following Nicole, a sharp-tongued teen with genuinely antisocial tendencies, as she schemes her way through an American high school set in the late 2000s. The writing leans hard into biting satire and shock humor, using cruel choices and abrasive dialogue to build a story that's deliberately uncomfortable rather than heartwarming — this is a game for players who enjoy dark comedy and morally messy protagonists rather than a typical coming-of-age tale. Every meaningful choice steers Nicole's story down one of several branching paths, ultimately leading to one of 15 distinct endings that range from genuinely bleak to darkly, absurdly comic.
Reading, Choosing, and Branching the Story
Use the mouse to advance dialogue and select choices at decision points throughout the story. Each choice reflects a facet of Nicole's scheming, antisocial personality, and picking different options across a playthrough leads to noticeably different scenes and consequences later in the story. Since there are 15 endings, no single playthrough reveals the full scope of the narrative — replaying with different choices is the only way to see how drastically the story can shift based on Nicole's decisions. There's no combat or skill challenge involved; the entire experience is about reading, choosing, and watching how the consequences of those choices play out.
Exploring the Branching Story
- Read carefully before choosing. Some choices have consequences that aren't obvious until several scenes later.
- Replay with different choices. With 15 endings, a single playthrough only shows a fraction of the story's branches.
- Pay attention to Nicole's personality cues. Choices that align with her established character often lead to more coherent story branches.
- Don't expect a "good" ending in the traditional sense. The game's tone means even positive-seeming outcomes often carry a dark or ironic twist.
- Take note of recurring characters. Earlier choices involving side characters often echo in later scenes and endings.
Dark Comedy for Visual Novel Fans
Class of '09 stands out in the visual novel space by fully committing to its abrasive, satirical tone rather than softening it for a broader audience. If you enjoy choice-driven narrative games with a comedic or ironic edge, Breaking the Bank shares a similar love of absurd branching outcomes, while A Day in the Office and Barry Has a Secret offer their own takes on choice-driven storytelling with a different tone. It's fully playable in the browser with no download required. Discover more narrative and visual novel games in the full games library on Machita 66.
