is a Japanese BL visual novel developed and published by Nitro+chiral. It was originally released on March 23, 2012 for Windows PCs as a first press edition, with a regular edition released on April 27, 2012. A sequel titled Dramatical Murder re:connect, also for Windows PCs, was released on April 26, 2013, adding additional scenes, images and songs to the existing routes, as well as four new character routes to play through. On October 30, 2014, a version of the visual novel aimed at ages 15 and above titled Dramatical Murder re:code was released for the PlayStation Vita which removed the sex scenes, toned down the violence, and included an additional route for the character Mizuki.
An anime adaption by studio NAZ premiered on July 6, 2014. It is directed by Kazuya Miura, with Touko Machida and Kabura Fuchii handling series composition, Yukiko Ban designing the characters and Yuki Hayashi composing the music.
On July 4, 2018, it was announced at the Anime Expo that JAST USA's new JAST BLUE branch, which focuses on boys-love games, would release Nitro+CHiRAL's DRAMAtical Murder games and its other visual novel titles in English.
Gameplay
Dramatical Murder is a science fiction and romance visual novel in which players assume the role of Aoba Seragaki. Much of its gameplay is spent reading the story's narrative and dialogue. Dramatical Murder follows a branching storyline with multiple endings. Depending on the decisions the player makes during the game, the plot will progress in different directions.
The game initially features four main plot lines, one for each of Aoba's potential suitors. Following the completion of all four, a fifth one is unlocked for Ren. Throughout gameplay, the player is given multiple options to choose from, and text progression pauses at these points until a choice is made. Each decision awards one point to Koujaku, Noiz, Clear or Mink respectively. The suitor who has amassed the largest number of points is the one whose plot line, "route", will be played.
Once a specific route has been entered, four more options are presented to the player at specific points in the story; depending on which options are picked, the story will end with either a good or bad ending.
Plot
Setting
Dramatical Murder is set in the near future on the fictional island of , Japan. At some point in the game's recent history, the island was privatized by the powerful and turned into a resort called , with the island's original residents being forced to live in the . Protagonist Aoba Seragaki lives on the island and works at a store named Junk Shop , hoping to live a simple life. However, after being forcefully dragged into the popular cyber game with its virtual world and its use of , mobile devices that usually appear as if they are the owner's pets, and hearing rumors about disappearances involving , turf wars between groups, all semblance of a peaceful life for Aoba ends.