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The Visual Novel Database
What it is
The Visual Novel Database (VNDB) is a free database for visual novels and eroge, available on the web and through an API. Its community wiki lets people add information, with coverage spanning general details as well as releases, localisations, and producers. Registered users can vote on visual novels and maintain personal lists of titles they want to play or have finished. VNDB also aims to make visual novels more visible to people across geographic and cultural boundaries. The Kana HTTPS API can query the database and manage user lists, and non-commercial use is listed as free. API access is best-effort, with no guarantees about stability or applicability. It does not expose every site function: forums, database editing, and account creation are excluded. Tokens are available through the Applications tab in My Profile, and a sandbox endpoint at beta.vndb.org/api/kana is available for development and testing. The first version went live in September 2007.
For and against
For
- Community wiki accepts user contributions
- Registered users can vote on visual novels
- Personal lists track planned and finished games
- API queries the database and manages user lists
Against
- API excludes forums, editing, and account creation
- API has no stability or applicability guarantees
- API requests over three seconds are aborted
The verdict
VNDB combines community-maintained information with voting and personal lists for readers. Developers can use its non-commercial API, but should account for its limited coverage and best-effort status.
Who it suits
VNDB suits visual-novel readers who want to explore titles, vote, or track what they plan to play or have finished. Its API may also suit developers seeking database queries and user-list management for non-commercial use.
Plans and prices
API (non-commercial)
200 requests per 5 minutes · 1 second execution time per minute · requests over 3 seconds aborted
Read 30 Sep 2026 · api.vndb.org
On the record
- API
- The Kana HTTPS API queries the VNDB database and manages user lists.api.vndb.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- API coverage
- The API does not expose some site functions, including forums, database editing and account creation.api.vndb.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- API status
- The API is provided on a best-effort basis with no guarantees about stability or applicability.api.vndb.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Audience goal
- VNDB also aims to promote visual novels to a broader audience regardless of geographical location or cultural differences.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
- Authentication
- API tokens can be obtained from the My Profile form's Applications tab.api.vndb.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Development sandbox
- A sandbox endpoint is available at beta.vndb.org/api/kana for testing and development.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
- Information scope
- VNDB's goal includes general visual-novel information and practical information about releases, localisations and producers.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
- Personal lists
- Registered users can keep track of a personal list of games they want to play or have finished.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- VNDB aims to be a comprehensive database for information about visual novels and eroge.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
- Voting
- Registered users can vote on all visual novels.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
- Wiki model
- The website is built as a wiki so anyone can add and contribute information to the database.g.blicky.net · read 30 Sep 2026
