They're not that entirely different but this is more like an interactive fiction style than Visual novel. With an IF, reader has to imagine/visualize what the text says more than in VNs where it already shows.
You can add more scenarios in the text but still only show 1 picture, the plot progresses through the text. However it does need to have different outcomes for the choices, different text (definitely different picture), more intense punishment or more gentle, towards good end/ bad end