What is a non-branching novel game like?

I’m trying something unusual: a visual novel with no branching paths.

Not a kinetic novel in the strictest sense—but close.

You can take detours, side jokes, or bonus scenes… but they always lead back to the same road.

The goal? A story that reads like a novel, not a flowchart.

Some players will love the clarity. Others may miss the illusion of control.

But for this story, I wanted to give readers a ride—not a steering wheel.