The Visual Novel Database

C
C tier on Game DatabasesScore 6.7 · #8 of 14
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
api, Web
vndb.org
The The Visual Novel Database homepage

Summary

The Visual Novel Database (VNDB) is a free resource for information about visual novels and eroge, available on the web and through an API. Its community wiki lets contributors add database information, including general details and practical coverage of releases, localisations, and producers. Registered users can vote on visual novels and keep personal lists of games they want to play or have completed. VNDB also aims to make visual novels more widely known across geographic and cultural boundaries. Its Kana HTTPS API can query the database and manage user lists. Non-commercial API use is free, with a limit of 200 requests per five minutes and one second of execution time per minute; requests taking longer than three seconds are aborted. API access is best-effort, without guarantees about stability or applicability. It does not expose every site function: forums, database editing, and account creation are excluded. Users can get tokens from the Applications tab in My Profile, and a sandbox endpoint is available for development and testing. The first version launched in September 2007.

Who it is for

VNDB may suit visual novel readers who want a community-maintained database and personal lists. Developers can use the API for database queries and list management, subject to its limits and exclusions.

What is good

  • Free access to the database
  • Registered users can vote and maintain personal lists
  • API can query data and manage user lists
  • Sandbox endpoint available for development

What to know first

  • API stability and applicability are not guaranteed
  • API excludes forums and database editing
  • Requests over three seconds are aborted

Verdict

VNDB combines a community-editable visual novel database with user lists and voting. Its API supports queries and list management, but developers should account for its best-effort status and limited coverage.

The Visual Novel Database plans and pricing

All plans
API (non-commercial) Free free for non-commercial use 200 requests per 5 minutes · 1 second execution time per minute · requests over 3 seconds aborted api.vndb.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on game databases

Free plan
Yesvndb.org
API access
Yesvndb.org
Character data
Yesvndb.org

Facts

Purpose
VNDB aims to be a comprehensive database for information about visual novels and eroge.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026
Wiki model
The website is built as a wiki so anyone can add and contribute information to the database.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026
Personal lists
Registered users can keep track of a personal list of games they want to play or have finished.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026
Voting
Registered users can vote on all visual novels.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026
Information scope
VNDB's goal includes general visual-novel information and practical information about releases, localisations and producers.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026
Audience goal
VNDB also aims to promote visual novels to a broader audience regardless of geographical location or cultural differences.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026
API
The Kana HTTPS API queries the VNDB database and manages user lists.api.vndb.org · 30 Sept 2026
API status
The API is provided on a best-effort basis with no guarantees about stability or applicability.api.vndb.org · 30 Sept 2026
API coverage
The API does not expose some site functions, including forums, database editing and account creation.api.vndb.org · 30 Sept 2026
Authentication
API tokens can be obtained from the My Profile form's Applications tab.api.vndb.org · 30 Sept 2026
Development sandbox
A sandbox endpoint is available at beta.vndb.org/api/kana for testing and development.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026

Company

Founded
The first version of VNDB went live in September 2007.g.blicky.net · 30 Sept 2026

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Sources