Sparteh

While language is an important barrier, I think that amount of pornographic content is another big issue. Many countries have problems with it as well. For example, in the region I live, the only true way to find any pornographic content is to google it. You cannot see it on TV or any kind of stores. It is viewed extremely negative. Due to this, it is hard to recommend it or to even talk about it with others.  Majority of VNs have little story and a lot of h-scenes. If you want to sell them, you need to censor them. 
Another point, many cultures don't care about high school that much. While it focuses on specific demographic, but lack of variety is harmful. If more VNs with different settings and without h-scenes were released in the west, it might be easier for younger generation to freely introduce it to others, which in turn would lead to higher fan base. 

While language is an important barrier, I think that amount of pornographic content is another big issue. Many countries have problems with it as well. For example, in the region I live, the only true way to find any pornographic content is to google it. You cannot see it on TV or any kind of stores. It is viewed extremely negative. Due to this, it is hard to recommend it or to even talk about it with others.  Majority of VNs have little story and a lot of h-scenes. If you want to sell them, you need to censor them. 
Another point, many cultures don't care about high school that much. While it focuses on specific demographic, but lack of variety is harmful. If more VNs with different settings and without h-scenes were released in the west, it might be easier for younger generation to freely introduce it to others, which in turn would lead to higher fan base. 

The Western VN fandom has long idolised the Japanese VN market. Before the recent growth of the EVN scene and official localisations, Western VN fans had to subsist only on the occasional fan-translations of Japanese VNs while being told how much better the untranslated VNs were. However this faith in untranslated VNs rested on an unspoken assumption: that Western and Japanese VN fans enjoy the same content. But is it true? Through comparing the largest VN fandom site in Japan (erogamescape) against the largest VN fandom site in the West (VNDB), we sought to find out.
Do we love the same VNs?
While the ability of a numerical rating to summarise a subjective experience (like reading a VN) is debatable, the average score a community assigns a VN provides a useful approximation of how highly esteemed that VN is within the community. Both EGS and VNDB allow users to rate VNs they’ve read, so comparing how the same VN scores on both sites gives us an impression of how much the communities agree on which VNs are best.
 


We can see there’s a strong correlation between the score a VN gets on each site, especially for higher rated VNs, showing that both communities tend to agree on which VNs are considered “the best” (despite the ferocious arguments within each fandom over that same question). But as the score drops, so does the agreement over the VN score. So while both communities tend to agree on what’s good, we disagree on what’s bad.
There’s also another trend that’s a little less noticeable, but becomes more apparent if we remove the untranslated VNs...
 


While the untranslated VNs in the last graph seemed to fairly evenly straddle the equal score line, the translated VNs are frequently below it (meaning these VNs score higher on EGS than VNDB). But is the translation a cause or an effect of the lower score on VNDB (i.e. does the release of a translation lower the score on VNDB, or are only low-scoring VNs being translated)? To answer this, we tracked how the VNDB score of a VN changes immediately after a translation is released.
 


We tracked 117 of the most popular Japanese VNs that had an English translation released in the past 5 years. In the first 60 days after their translation was released, their score dropped an average of 0.146 on VNDB, with Fata Morgana being the blip on the far right that significantly bucked the trend and increased in score. There also seems to be slight correlation with lower-rated VNs on EGS dropping more than higher-rated ones.
So it seems confirmed that the translations are the cause rather than an effect. But why does this happen? This remains the subject of fierce debate among my friends, but we came up with a few theories:
Japanese VNs are made for Japanese tastes, so Western fans might not enjoy them to the same extent. Western fans who learn Japanese and use VNDB might align more with the taste of Japanese fans rather than with their fellow Western fans. Japanese VNs are made for Japanese tastes, so Western fans might not enjoy them to the same extent. Western fans who learn Japanese and use VNDB might align more with the taste of Japanese fans rather than with their fellow Western fans. The high barrier of entry for a Westerner to read an untranslated VN (they have to know Japanese) filters out those who have only a casual interest in the VN. So the pre-translation score is dominated by hard-core fans who are more likely to rate it higher.
The experience of reading a translation can be inferior to reading prose in its original language, so VNDB users rating a VN based on that translation might assign lower scores than those reading the original text.
The larger drop in score for lower-rated VNs might be because they don’t attract the same care and attention by their translators, with any official localisation likely done on a lower-budget.
VN popularity
It isn’t just through scores that we can measure a communities’ tastes, we can also estimate a VN’s popularity through the number of votes it gets. In comparing the number of votes the same VN gets on EGS and VNDB, we can see whether the same VNs are popular in both Japan and the West.
 

Note that this chart is using a log scale.

The most obvious trend is the clear split between translated and untranslated VNs. Unsurprisingly, translated VNs and EVNs do significantly better on VNDB than untranslated VNs. But we Western fans aren’t especially choosey, even fairly unpopular VNs on EGS can attract large fanbases on VNDB if they’re translated.
Given that translations aren’t random, they require either dedicated fan-translators or a localiser willing to invest in them, it’s surprising that the translated VNs span the entire width of popularity on EGS. So we might have expected it to skew more to the right, with unpopular EGS VNs being much less likely to get a translation. While the ratio of translated-untranslated VNs is higher for more popular EGS VNs, no VN seems to be beyond the prospect of being translated, no matter how unpopular it is.
Overall, while there remains a correlation in popularity between EGS and VNDB, it’s far weaker than the score correlation. This mismatch might partially be down to the age of the communities. VNs have been a popular niche of the Japanese market for decades, but were virtually unknown in the West before the 2010s. So there’s quite a number of 80s-00s era JVNs that have hundreds of votes on EGS, but are practically unheard of on VNDB.
Differences in taste
So far we’ve been looking at each VN as a whole, but can we delve deeper? A VN can be seen as a package of tropes: childhood-friend heroine, tsundere heroine, dumb male protagonist that’s inexplicably beloved by all (these 3 criteria should narrow us down to approximately 90% of all VNs ever made /s). Through comparing the scores of VNs that have a trope against those who don’t, we can get an impression of how popular that trope is.
Fortunately we don’t have to determine these tropes ourselves, both EGS and VNDB allow users to apply tags to a VN which denote the type of content it has. So let’s start simple and see which tags are correlated with a higher average score on EGS.
This world cloud ranks the EGS tags by the average score of the VNs they appear in, with higher scores being placed higher on the chart, so we can see what type of content is most lauded on EGS. The text size is proportional to the number of VNs that tag appears in, so we can see what’s a common trope and what’s rare.
 

A full size version of this image is available here, and a spreadsheet version is available here.  Note that this is mostly using google translate for the EGS tags, so the labels are… imaginative.

Generally, it seems like complex VNs (with tags such as “intelligent,” “to solve a mystery” and “difficult to get”) are the most highly rated, while more sexual oriented tags seem to be linked with lower average scores (which is probably due to nukige/porn VNs). It also seems Japanese fans value the *novel* over the *visual* element in their VNs, with “CG is beautiful” being rated quite poorly. Towards the bottom are tags mostly related to being old or low-budget (with tags such as “Low price” and “XP supported”).
This has only shown us what Japanese fans like, but we’re more focused on how Japanese and Western fans compare. So instead, let’s try comparing which VNDB tags are correlated with a VN scoring higher on VNDB or EGS.
 

A full size version of this image is available here, and a spreadsheet version is available here.

It seems like Western fans value romance and slice of life type stories more than Japanese fans do, whereas Japanese fans are more generous with their nukige/porn ratings. Perhaps we’re more judgemental in our view of sexual content here in the West? Japanese settings also seem to be more favoured among the Western fandom than the Japanese, the weeabooism is real /s. Slightly disappointing is how poorly female protagonists do in the Western fandom. While otomes are widespread in the EVN market, they remain a relatively unpopular niche on VNDB.
Differences in the marketplace
We’ve compared the taste between the Japanese and Western fandoms, but we haven’t looked at the differing availability of VNs in the markets. Are certain types of content more likely to be translated than others? How does the the home-grown Western VN industry differ from the Japanese one?
 

A full size version of this image is available here, and a spreadsheet version is available here.

It seems that action/violent type content -whether in the form of police investigations or wars- are especially popular subjects for translated VNs. Female protagonists are also surprisingly high, especially since otomes don’t seem to be translated that often, but that might be because an even smaller proportion of nukige/porn type VNs are translated, and they overwhelmingly have male protagonists.
Lastly, let’s look at the EVNs. With a negligible presence in Japan (there were only 4 EVNs on EGS with at least 4 votes), we can’t really compare what the fans prefer, but we can see how the markets differ in the kind of content they produce. This next chart tracks which VNDB tags are more common in EVNs vs JVNs.
 

A full size version of this image is available here, and a spreadsheet version that includes more tags is available here. The sexual content tags were removed because there’s so little sexual content in EVNs that it seemed a waste of space, and it gave room to include rarer content type tags.

The clearest difference between the markets is in the amount of porn, there’s exceedingly little in EVNs. This is likely due to the smaller budget for EVNs which would preclude h-scene artwork, and restrictions on adult content on Steam discouraging such content.
EVNs encompass a broader range of protagonists than JVNs with LGBTQ+ related content being much more common, and female protagonists being as common as males (unlike JVNs where female protagonists make up only a small proportion of VNs). But JVNs can be inclusive in other ways, like being the sole representation of protagonists who can turn into panties.
Stories relating to personal difficulties, especially regarding depression, seem much more common in EVNs too. They also seem more willing to break from the usual high-school settings of JVNs, having more university aged and above characters.
Criticisms
Before we get carried away with forming any stereotypes of Japanese and Western fanbases from this data, let’s consider a few issues with the data.
The VNDB and EGS userbase might not be representative of the wider Western/Japanese fandom. As per some of our earlier analysis posts, VNDB significantly undercounts the popularity of EVNs for example. So some caution should be taken in extrapolating what the wider fanbase likes based on this data. The VNDB and EGS userbase might not be representative of the wider Western/Japanese fandom. As per some of our earlier analysis posts, VNDB significantly undercounts the popularity of EVNs for example. So some caution should be taken in extrapolating what the wider fanbase likes based on this data. It’s easy to mix up cause and effect. Are sci-fi stories better than other stories and that’s why they’re associated with higher scores? Or is it that VNs that care about their story are just more likely to have a sci-fi setting?
Some trends, like what type of content is more likely to be translated, might just be tracking the changing tastes of the era. With older VNs being less likely to be translated than newer VNs, the charts might just be picking up on what kind of content has become more popular in recent years.
The dataset has some errors. EGS and VNDB catalogue VNs differently and that can cause some mismatches in the data. We’ve done our best to account for that, but with the dataset being so large, some mistakes will have slipped through.
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to /u/8cccc9, Part-Time Storier, and Cibelle for helping with this analysis.
I hope you enjoyed reading through this, and if so, you should check out my tumblr and twitter for more VN analysis posts. If you have any feedback, questions, or suggestions for further analyses then you can reply here, on twitter, or DM me on Discord (Sunleaf_Willow ／(^ n ^=)＼#1616).
Our next analysis post is likely to be on h-scenes. What type of content is most highly regarded by the fandom? How has the popularity in the fandom of certain sexual acts risen erect and fallen limp over time? How is the EVN market handling sexual content in contrast to Japan? Hopefully we’ll have lots of answers (and some painful puns) next time~

Both of them were bad, so I would go with the one which I consider to be lesser of 2 evils: Chaos;Head. 
I will try to put this without spoilers:
11eyes has multiple routes, however they all differ by only a few scenes including h-scene. Otherwise they are identical. After I read this VN, I sincerely regretted wasting time on it. There is literally nothing worth mentioning about the story or characters. Seriously speaking, OP of VN was worth more than entire VN. Chaos;Head had a great concept, but completely failed in using it. Heck, if you can deal with protagonist being what the rest of the world imagine otakus to be, then the beginning of C;H is pretty decent. Though, it completely shifts its tone later on. However, the main idea/concept was interesting enough. 

Emotionally unstable, egomaniac, con-artist, talented in nothing but marketing. Has no agenda and no values other than fueling his overblown ego and his pockets.
People that support him are either cynical (not caring what his values are as long as he delivers on some core promises, such as cracking down on illegal immigration) or delusional (thinking that he cares about anything but himself and possibly his closest family and that his MAGA "ideology" is anything more than an empty slogan). 
He can make positive desitions when he thinks they will serve those interest, but egomaniacs are easily manipulated through flattery etc. And with more and more war hawks populating his cabinet I wonder whether even his positive role in Korea will last longer than a few weeks. If someone can ruin that peace process it's definitely Mark Pompeo as the Secretary of State. Also his economic policies are disastrous and their effects will haunt USA possibly for many decades, even if the next administration tries to clean it all up. 
Edit: Yup, this is all a horrible idea but I couldn't resist. 

Assuming you want more serious type of mystery:
Umineko series - a must read. Personally I consider this to be the best VN series ever. Story is very well written, characters developed. Furthermore, its soundtrack is amazing. Just make sure to read it in the right order. Also, the entire story is very long. From what I heard it took at least 90-100 hours to complete it for most readers. Kara no Shoujo  series - this is another great detective story, but I have to warn you. If you have weak stomach and cannot handle horror elements (dead bodies at least), you might want to avoid it. Sharin no Kuni - probably the closest thing that I can recommend as something similar to G-Senjou, though not really a mystery VN. Not in terms of plot, but rather feeling it gives. Though, G-Senjou was vastly superior to me.  

Umineko hands down. While it is one of the best known and the most popular translated VNs, many people seem to ignore how unique it actually is (and I am not talking merely about the fact that it does not take place in high school). If we include VNs, LNs, WNs, Manga and western literature, I have read over 3000 volumes of literature (though majority of which consist of manga), but I am yet to find a more unique story.
Umineko is:
Murder mystery Modern Fantasy Commentary on the detective genre And does a lot of other stuff romance, philosophy, breaking the 4th wall etc. Furthermore, it claims to be a kinetic novel (aka no choices) and technically has only 1 relevant choice for the ending, but manages to crush even that, by making player do not a physical, but a mental choice how to treat this story. At the same time it can be both: pure murder mystery without fantasy elements and a pure fantasy story.
I could go all day, but I think this much is enough for the explanation.

Umineko hands down. While it is one of the best known and the most popular translated VNs, many people seem to ignore how unique it actually is (and I am not talking merely about the fact that it does not take place in high school). If we include VNs, LNs, WNs, Manga and western literature, I have read over 3000 volumes of literature (though majority of which consist of manga), but I am yet to find a more unique story.
Umineko is:
Murder mystery Modern Fantasy Commentary on the detective genre And does a lot of other stuff romance, philosophy, breaking the 4th wall etc. Furthermore, it claims to be a kinetic novel (aka no choices) and technically has only 1 relevant choice for the ending, but manages to crush even that, by making player do not a physical, but a mental choice how to treat this story. At the same time it can be both: pure murder mystery without fantasy elements and a pure fantasy story.
I could go all day, but I think this much is enough for the explanation.

Umineko hands down. While it is one of the best known and the most popular translated VNs, many people seem to ignore how unique it actually is (and I am not talking merely about the fact that it does not take place in high school). If we include VNs, LNs, WNs, Manga and western literature, I have read over 3000 volumes of literature (though majority of which consist of manga), but I am yet to find a more unique story.
Umineko is:
Murder mystery Modern Fantasy Commentary on the detective genre And does a lot of other stuff romance, philosophy, breaking the 4th wall etc. Furthermore, it claims to be a kinetic novel (aka no choices) and technically has only 1 relevant choice for the ending, but manages to crush even that, by making player do not a physical, but a mental choice how to treat this story. At the same time it can be both: pure murder mystery without fantasy elements and a pure fantasy story.
I could go all day, but I think this much is enough for the explanation.

Personally, I love this genre.  This type of VNs probably the best represent the unique points of VNs as a medium. Take Balrd Sky Dive 1 and 2 for example. 2 VNs x 50+ hours long for a single multi route mystery. It was so good, that I didn't even notice how fast I read it. Considering that it took me 3 weeks, that is a huge achievement. Then we have Dies Irae. I don't think that I need to comment much. The fact remains, multi route mystery genre allows supreme world building experience. 
 
The problem with enforced playing order is that many people confuse it with multi route mystery when they are 2 different things. While both are connected, they are not the same. Mostly people complain about playing unwanted routes to unlock the one way want. This is not the problem of multiple route mysteries, but rather of enforced playing order and terribly written characters

Absolutely nothing wrong? The guy lives in a dream world and his "this is wrong" thing is just stupid. He tries to help people, walks into traps even though everyone points out it is a trap and puts those who trust him into danger over and over again. Heck, the only thing that keeps him and his heroines alive is deus ex machina

My thoughts exactly my friend. If that happened many people would no longer be ashamed to admit that we read VNs. Lets be fair. Many of use live in very conservative countries so we are often misunderstood. VNs as a medium has many advantages. Just route system alone is a major thing. VNs have also proved that they can have an interesting and well written stories: S;G, Umineko, Morgana, Ever 17, Higurashi etc.

My thoughts exactly my friend. If that happened many people would no longer be ashamed to admit that we read VNs. Lets be fair. Many of use live in very conservative countries so we are often misunderstood. VNs as a medium has many advantages. Just route system alone is a major thing. VNs have also proved that they can have an interesting and well written stories: S;G, Umineko, Morgana, Ever 17, Higurashi etc.

I will name 3 because they serve different functions: interface function, narration style, and plot.
Completion percentage. Some VNs have extremely long routes. If you read without checking some sort of source, it can get annoying at times to read something.  Connected routes. Of course it is nice to read routes as completely different stories, but personally I love stuff like Multi Route mystery.  Perception based choices. I mean such choices as Umineko's final/only choice. Those choices that do more than just determine heroine.

I never said that these words contain them, did I?  I merely stated that this translation has such mistakes. As for siscon, as a translator I can say that translating these kinds of expressions is a pain. When you translate, you have to adapt as much as possible to target language. Technically speaking, such words as siscon, loli, NTR etc. are not proper English words, so translators have to be creative here. In fact, depending on the country and company, translators can even be fined if they don't translate in a certain way. So while it may sound strange, there isn't much one can do about it.

The best heroine is without a doubt Asako. If anyone disagrees they need to reread Meikyuu. 
As for order I would say Asako>JB>Kazuki>Sachi>Yumiko=Amane>Michiru=Makina

The best heroine is without a doubt Asako. If anyone disagrees they need to reread Meikyuu. 
As for order I would say Asako>JB>Kazuki>Sachi>Yumiko=Amane>Michiru=Makina

Favorite vn: Umineko
Favorite route: Dies Irae - Marie's and Rea's routes. 
Favorite loli: Illyia
Favorite kyonyuu: Marie - DI
Favorite best girl: Kurisu - Steins;Gate
Favorite art style: Morgana
Favorite genre of vn: kamige XD
Favorite "dere" type: yandere
Favorite  non- canon pairing: MC and Morgana - The House of Fata Morgana
Favorite side character: Archer
Favorite best boy: Mercurius
Favorite translation: Steins;Gate
Favorite OELVN: The Letter
Favorite waifu: Marie
Favorite imouto: Illyia
 
 
As for the lest the answer is none

I think you should edit "when they cry" section a bit. First, I would recommend to list all VNs that belong to these series. Reasoning: if someone actually uses your list they will most likely ether have read these series or be a noobie. New people would like to know such things. Furthermore, if you were a new reader would you pick something that would have been listed as 150+ hours long? Oh, one more thing. If I were you I would split it into Higurashi and Umineko and list approximate length of each story

On request, I'm making up this list.  These aren't necessarily on my absolute favorites list (check my blog for that one), but many of them are among my favorites.  These span most of the genres I've played, with the notable exception of nukige (I'll leave that for the true connoisseurs of the genre).  Feel free to argue with me.  This is my opinion, based on my overall impressions of these games as a whole.  This is not in a specific order, since I don't have an absolute favorite VN.  This list is restricted solely to untranslated games, so ones that made it into my favorites list that are translated - such as Dies Irae, Ayakashibito, Tokyo Babel, and Tsukihime, are excluded.  On the other hand, I am including some that have planned translations, simply because I feel no reason to trust that they will actually ever be finished, lol.
Evolimit- There are a number of reasons to choose this, and any other work by Propeller before its main crew disbanded (in other words, everything after Tokyo Babel sucks).  The biggest one, though, is that it is a chuunige kamige.   This is one of the few games I give the maximum rating for a reason.  The story is great, the characters are awesome, and the setting is fascinating.  If you like science fantasy, heroic characters, and fascinating antagonists, this is a great VN.
Nanairo Reincarnation- This was VN of the Year, 2014, for good reason.  Like many kamige, there is a sense that this VN is much greater than the sum of its parts... and the parts are pretty good, at that.  This is a fantasy mystery-horror VN with a side of comedy, slice-of-life, and nakige elements.  It startles you, it makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it warms your heart, and it engages your mind.  What more could you want from a VN?
Hapymaher- VN of the Year, 2013.  This competed with Komorebi no Nostalgica for the title, and that competition was tight.  It is slated for a translated release, but from the looks of it, the translation isn't going to do the game justice.  This game is a somewhat psychedelic fantasy nakige, where you spend most of your time following the protagonist and the other characters as they walk through a dreamscape, trying to find a way back to waking life... while the protagonist is never quite sure if he wants to wake up.  It is worthy to mention that this game currently holds my title for the number one original soundtrack of all the visual novels I've played, as well as the music direction (placement of the BGMs in scenes).  Some say the story loses out to the music, but that is a matter of opinion, lol.
Komorebi no Nostalgica- This is an emotionally and intellectually powerful science fiction (not science fantasy) VN based in a world where in the past self-aware AIs fought humanity for their freedom and won.  Now they coexist with humanity, and an entire generation has grown up seeing AI self-determination as being a matter of common sense.  This game tackles issues of AI human emulation with both heart and intelligence, and the end result is a VN that is intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying. 
Tiny Dungeon (series)- It should be mentioned that the art for these games is retro/behind the times, and this entire series was carried by the genius of its writer.  This is a fantasy series about a young man named Hime struggling against fate as he tries to choose the best outcome for his friends.  The most powerful element of this game is the characters' growth across the games (each of the games is a story arc based on heroine choice and the resulting fate, save for the fourth game, which is the final episode of the main series).  This series is well-written, strongly emotional, frequently hilarious, and definitely worth reading.
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no- Written in the era in which nakige were at their peak, this is perhaps the single best nakige to come out of that time.  Many VNs have attempted to imitate it, using more modern art styles in futile attempts to match this VN's quality, but they have universally failed, the narrative never even approaching this game.  This is a story of mutual salvation, between the protagonist, a teacher, and his students (the heroines), as they strive against a world that seeks to crush them beneath the weight of their own experiences and fates.
Kitto, Sumiwataru Asairo yori mo- For those not into chuunige, this VN is usually the absolute best VN ever produced by Propeller.  With the now-legendary Shumon Yuu writing this highly emotional, strange story, it is no surprise that those who read this game to the very end tend to come out singing its praises.  Unfortunately, like a lot of games by Shumon Yuu, getting into it in the first place is something of a hurdle, though, lol.
Harumade, Kururu- Beginning as a comedy nukige, this game shifts rapidly into a much stranger genre (won't spoil it for you).  This game frequently makes you go wtf, from the beginning all the way to the end, but as a whole it leaves you strangely satisfied... if you can get past the first chapter, lol.  Ninety percent of the people who try to read this game drop it before the first chapter is over, but those who get past the first chapter will find out why it was done that way fairly quickly, since what comes after wouldn't be a good intro to what is going on by itself, lol.
Karenai Sekai to Owaru Hana- It should be noted that the reader shouldn't seek for the setting as a whole to make sense.  This is a game of feels, not logic... and immense feels they are.  If you have a heart, you will spend most of this game crying, for the heroines, the protagonist... and all the denizens of that world.  The sweet and cheery side shown on the surface barely conceals the despair and broken lives and hearts beneath.
Houkago no Futekikakusha- Despite its flawed setting, I've never encountered a 'hard' utsuge so perfectly orchestrated to prevent the numbness that is usually born during the progression of such games.   The horror of what is going is unrelenting... salvation brutally torn away, love broken in despair. 
Konata yori Kanata made- It should be mentioned that anyone who spoils any aspect of this game should be crucified, for the sake of everyone around them.  That said, I will go so far as to say that this is a classic 'soft' utsuge that has gone unmatched to this day.  The utter humanity of the characters in this game, the deep love, the compassion, the kindness, and the suffering... Despite having played this three times in the past, it still hits me like a stone from a catapult every time.
Bullet Butlers- It should be noted that Bullet Butlers, until recently, was unique amongst VNs for having a fantasy setting with orcs, elves, dragons, and demon gods, yet also possessing firearms, movie noir style detectives with tommy guns, and zombies.  Just the fact that the writer managed to balance so many disparate elements without making them feel off is impressive, but that he did so while writing a powerful story with fascinating characters is all the more impressive.
Chrono Belt- This is the only fandisc on this list, with good reason.  Despite being a fandisc, this game is almost more impressive than the original material (Ayakashibito and Bullet Butlers), in that it not only brought two immensely popular antagonists forward as new protagonists (Kuki-sensei and Alfred), but it also shoved them into the other's setting and linked them together in a way that was, within the bounds of the setting, believable.  It was also just flat out cool to watch Kuki-sensei fighting an army of dragons, orcs, elves, and humans... and winning.
Jingai Makyou- I debated with myself on whether to include this game.  To be honest, Nitroplus's early works just haven't aged well, and this one is no exception.  However, in the end, I had to include this, as one of the three games from Nitroplus worthy of this list.  Jingai Makyou follows a young man who literally possesses no heart and only weak emotions in his interactions with a horrific underworld of non-humans, most of which want to eat him (literally).
Muramasa- It should be noted that this was the VN where Nitroplus's love of infodumping was perhaps the most ubiquitous outside of Hanachirasu.  It is also frequently opaque early on, to the point of frustration.  However, as dark chuunige go, there are few that even approach this in quality.  Bloody, merciless, and  morally ambiguous at all times, this game is a fun ride, if you don't mind that it is devoid of anything resembling a good ending.
Tokyo Necro- I was tempted to ignore this one, despite it being my VN of the Year 2016.  The reason?  I hate zombies, and zombies are portrayed in all their gruesome glory... and in the most horrifying way possible in this game.  In this world, technology has allowed humanity to raise and control the dead, the more skilled necromancers managing to retain the dead's intelligence and skill, and even modifying their bodies with various... 'mechanical wonders' as necessary.  The story in this game is twisted and frequently confusing, the characters are almost devoid of admirable qualities (other than the true heroine), and I found myself wondering if anything good would ever emerge in the future after the game ended.  However, it is undeniable that this game's story is a work of art, despite the writer's lack of taste in subject matter.
Otome ga Tsumugu, Koi no Canvas- One of the few charage on this list... and for good reason.  Most charage simply aren't good enough to be something you should play before you die, lol.  This game is a trap protagonist VN based in a town revolving around art.  The protagonist has a lot of personal issues, but they all revolve around art and his own attitude toward it... and how that attitude involves the heroines. 
Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteiru Futari no Elder- Yes, yet another trap protagonist.  It should be noted that I do not recommend the original game.  This game is a rare charage kamige, and it should be treated as an entity unto itself.  There is little that can be said about games like this except play it.
Floral Flowlove- This game competes with Hatsuyuki Sakura - and wins - for the best VN made by Saga Planets.  For raw quality, this game and Hatsuyuki are almost even, but Hatsuyuki's flaws drag it down just enough to make it a win for Flowlove. 
Hatsuyuki Sakura- Hatsuyuki Sakura was the first VN by Saga Planets I played.  Sometimes a nakige, sometimes light horror, and sometimes a mystery, this VN was one of the more unusual experiences of my early days reading untranslated VNs.  I can honestly say I don't remember every detail of this game (it has been half a decade, after all), but I remember the points I liked most... and what pissed me off about it, lol.
Bradyon Veda- This game's biggest flaw is that it is so hard to read, lol.  That said, this is a rare hard science fiction game hiding behind a fantastical setting.  In fact, the concepts (theoretical physics, chemistry, etc) require so much preexisting knowledge that I doubt most people will get half of what is going on.   However, the action in this game is great and the story is fascinating.  Too bad that it is so hard to read, lol.
Abyss Homicide Club- This game is worth mentioning, despite the fact that its artwork is equally as dated as Tsukihime.  A dark, horrific story with a series of mysteries and layers of lies between you and the truth... it is definitely worth reading if you like this kind of thing, though it should be mentioned that this game's setting is as unbelievable as that of the Secret Game/Killer Queen series.
Kikan Bakumatsu Ibun Last Cavalier- VN of the Year, 2015.  While this was the single weakest VN of the Year I've ever chosen (2015 was a poor year for VNs, overall) it was the single best release of that year, in my mind.  This story is based in an alternate Japan, where mystic stones turn women barren in exchange for immensely increased physical and mental capabilities.  It follows an alternate Okita and Shinsengumi through a Bakumatsu era warped by mysticism and steampunk elements. 
Akeiro Kaikitan- Based in the same setting as Nanairo Reincarnation, this story follows a young man who attracts supernatural beings like a magnet but has no defenses against them as he tries to deal with murderous ghosts infesting his school's old campus.  With endings ranging from shocking in their excess of sorrow to gentle in their endless kindness, this is a game that draws on your emotions, plucking them like strings.
Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate- One of the first 'classic' VNs I've played and my intro into AXL's art and style of creation.  This duology is interesting as being typical of what is best about AXL as a company (excellent settings, solidly developed characters, and a story worth reading).  Since AXL's style for its serious games and the level of quality is relatively identical compared to other companies, I should mention that playing this, Ou no Mimi, or any of their other serious titles will give you a similar experience, if with different emphasis.
Inochi no Spare- Making a 'hard' utsuge satisfying is difficult, but sometimes, as in this case, they manage it.  Inochi no Spare is a masterfully oriented trip through the characters' own personal version of hell, and the catharsis that comes from reading this the first time is immensely satisfying.
Love Kami (the original game)- No, I don't mean those shitty later games focused on kami idols that came out over the last few years.  I mean the game from over six years ago that focused on the first co-ed school for the gods of Japan and humans.  As an intro to some of the concepts from Shinto, this is an excellent choice, and it also happens to be one of the single best charage in existence.  Too bad the sequels are so... not.
Tsuisou no Augment- This is a game and its FD as well (same name, different kanji).  Honestly perverted, almost constantly hilarious, and frequently hard-hitting emotionally, this game that begins with the protagonist committing suicide in his old age by plunging a kitchen knife through his own throat is one of the more memorable reads I've come across over the years.
Vermilion Bind of Blood- The most solid title by Light's second team, a kamige focusing on the vampires of a fictional city called Foggy Bottom in the modern US.  It is a dark, violent glimpse into the life of a vampire who, just by being who he is, defies the expectations of those around him, even as he seeks to fit in, as the Guardian of vampiric law in the city.
Tenshi no Hane o Fumanaide- Sometimes referred to as the 'title by Shumon Yuu that almost doesn't feel like it was written by Shumon Yuu' this is a fantasy title about a world where god is not only known to exist, but he regularly grants miracles that change the very fabric of reality through chosen humans he takes to his side on a yearly basis.  This game takes a hard look at the Christian and Gnostic views of Deus, as well as self-determination as a philosophy.  Typical of Shumon Yuu, the characters have their own answers, but you are left wondering whether he agrees with any of them. 
Semiramis no Tenbin- This game is remarkable for two things (other than its excellent story), its brutally honest portrayal of the essential flaws in Japanese law and society and the uniqueness of its heroines.  This is a game full of psychological manipulation, moral ambiguity, and philosophical questions about the fragility of absolutes.
Minamijuujisei Renka- The third charage on this list, remarkable for its funny and interesting characters (as is appropriate in a charage) and the excellent heroine paths, this game shows off the largest non-nukige VN genre at its best.
Natsuiro Recipe- A rare 'gentle and sweet' VN, based in a backwoods community in Japan.  It is a perfect choice for a reader looking for a healthy, soft, and warmhearted read.
Kaminoyu- The first thing that needs to be mentioned about this game is that there are no human heroines in this game. It is also a well-written mild romance that manages to be interesting without being excessively complex.
Baldr Sky Dive games- These science-fiction third-person action/VNs are notable for being the masterpiece works of Team Baldrhead at its best.  They present a dark, thoughtful picture of a dystopian future, where the unification of humanity into a single world state and the advancement of technology has only served to emphasize the ruin humanity has brought upon itself...
Baldry Sky Zero- A side story told in a parallel version of the same time period and universe as the Sky Dive games, it is a brutally honest look at how humans can dehumanize one another and themselves, given the chance... and again, how technological advancement is not always a good thing.
Ikusa Megami Zero- A grand story that covers centuries, following Serika in his journey from a paladin of the god of storms and adventurers to the legendary Godslayer.  This is perhaps one of the three most well-written jrpgs I've ever played, as well as an excellent VN. 
Sakura, Sakimashita- A science-fiction story about a distant future where humanity has found the secret of immortality... and an asteroid threatens to destroy Earth.  Suddenly, the tokoshie (meaning 'eternals') must face certain death.  As immortals doomed to die, how shall the characters choose to live???
Gin'iro Haruka- A romance story of immense length and incredible quality covering a decade of the characters' lives.  Few visual novels can match this game for character development, romance, or character growth.
Kamikaze Explorer- A 'representative' of the Clochette's story-focused charage.  Anyone who likes a good story in a VN or likes charage should try this one.
Hikoukigumo no Mukougawa- If it weren't for Mishio Eiri's path, I wouldn't be considering this game for this list... but Mishio's path has a force of its own that definitely pushes this into the area of being a 'must play' VN.
Akatsuki no Goei series- Say what you want about this series and the writer's bad habits, it is definitely worth playing.  Highly amusing, sometimes brutal, and strangely dystopian, this is definitely a world and a set of characters worth experiencing.
Reminiscence- Setting aside links to the Akagoei series, this game would be worth putting here on its own... and in particular for the fact that it has the best little sister path I've ever seen in a VN.
Soreyori no Prologue- This is Minori's token entry on this list and the game I found to be the most tolerable amongst their lineup.  Really, feel free to play any game in this company's lineup... you won't see much of a difference between them, in retrospect.
Shirogane no Soleil- The first game and introduction to the heavily Norse Mythology influenced Soleil series.  While its art, story, and characters are somewhat retro by modern standards, this game's quality still shines through even today.
Izuna Zanshinken- I almost didn't add this VN to the list, but there is literally no other VN in existence that can take this one's place.  This is the story about a vigilante assassin associated with a yakuza group, making examples of villains with the sword and the claw.
Re:Birth Colony- A dystopian sci-fi based in a post-apocalyptic arcology with a highly stratified society.  There are so many reasons to play this and none not to.
Bokura no Sekai ni Shukufuku o- This place could go to Sakura Iro Quartet or Otomimi Infinity, but I chose this one for accessibility amongst the three shining stars of the mimikko revolution!
Sanzen Sekai Yuugi- The sole otomege on this list and the only one I have read (of about two dozen) that completely escapes the sin of Damsel-in-Distress Syndrome (otherwise known as DIDS).
Sengoku Koihime X- This place could be taken by Shin Koihime Musou as well, but I picked this one.  Baseson's feminized historical revisionism at its best!

I don't think so. Dies Irae, Eden*, Tokyo Babel are still listed as untranslated, though they have been translated a while ago. 
 
I personally recommend those in this list, because they are really good. In addition, Fata morgana no Yakata and Umineko no Naku Koro ni

I also recommend reverting back and finishing routes in this order Kasumi>Kei>Marie>Rea
It is very important order if you want maximum experience from the game. Or should I say, in order not to ruin that experience. Also, DON'T SKIP ROUTES. Dies Irae is not something like Fate/Stay Night or other similar VNs. You need specific info from other routes or some parts will not make sense. 
As for heroines, personally I was not a fan of Kasumi or her route, but I am glad I finished it in the way it was recommended. To be perfectly honest, out of 4 main heroines, I liked Marie the most even though she wasn't written that well. Also,  for me Rea as heroine dragged down her route, but route itself was EPIC. 

Okay, I went through and changed all of the links from .org to .net.  They should all work now.  @ me if I mixed them up or they still don't work.

As someone who is doing selfstuding for the purpose of reading Japanese I can advise you this much from my personal experience:
Learn grammar ASAP. Basic grammar is very important. From my experience, in terms of importance of importance I would give it 2nd place (after hiragana and katakana). You can always search for words or kanji, but knowing grammar makes your reading that much easier. For grammar I can recommend Tae Kim's guide mentioned above or a book Japanese the Manga Way. It is very important to actually read. This will help A LOT. It will help to improve vocabulary, how to apply grammar, structure of sentences etc.  
For further information I recommend you this:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZMvUMwWe1JwwCDr3KTHrqmf3ridrI8A-AZue3TxGMX0/pub