The Visual Novel Database

What The Visual Novel Database is

The Visual Novel Database (VNDB) is a free web and API resource for information about visual novels and eroge. Its wiki lets people contribute database information, including general details and practical information about releases, localisations and producers. Registered users can vote on visual novels and keep personal lists of games they want to play or have finished. VNDB also aims to introduce visual novels to a broader audience across geographic and cultural boundaries. The Kana HTTPS API can query the database and manage user lists. Non-commercial API access is free, with a limit of 200 requests per five minutes and one second of execution time per minute; requests taking over three seconds are aborted. API availability is best-effort, without guarantees about stability or applicability, and it does not provide forums, database editing or account creation. API tokens are available through My Profile's Applications tab, and a sandbox endpoint is available for development. The first version went live in September 2007.

Who it suits

VNDB suits visual novel readers who want to explore or contribute information and registered users who want voting and personal lists. Developers may find its Kana API useful for querying data or managing user lists, subject to its limits and exclusions.

Limits

The non-commercial API plan allows 200 requests per five minutes and one second of execution time per minute. Requests taking more than three seconds are aborted; the API also excludes forums, database editing and account creation.

Getting started

1. Visit https://vndb.org/ in a web browser.
2. Register to vote on visual novels and maintain a personal list.
3. For API access, obtain a token from the Applications tab in My Profile.
4. Use the Kana HTTPS API, or try the sandbox at beta.vndb.org/api/kana.

Verdict

VNDB combines a community-edited database with user lists and voting, plus an API for queries and list management. API users should account for its best-effort status, usage limits and excluded functions.