Clephas

This is a list of good games to begin your journey into playing VNs in Japanese.  Inevitably, most of these games will be moege, charage, or nakige.  There is little to be done about this, as chuuni, sci-fi, and fantasy-action VNs have linguistic barriers that will be too much for someone still struggling with reading conversational Japanese.  In particular, the biggest barrier for someone who is used to dealing with Japanese that is 'spoken', rather than 'written' is the existence of literary Japanese.  The turns of phrase, different wording, etc. that an inexperienced reader might run into can either be seen as a learning experience or as pure confusion, depending on your level and state of mind.  As such, I am only putting down games that are readable for someone who understands spoken Japanese but is weaker in literary Japanese.  I will also put a 'second level' for those who are interested in challenging themselves a little but not too much.  This one will be for those who are willing to see if they can handle the easier action scenes, more difficult event descriptions, and the like.
 
 
First Level:
 
Maji Suki Marginal Skip
Suzunone Seven
Kamikaze Explorer
Tsuisou no Augment (this game is hilarious, and it is not a moege.  I recommend this to people who liked the atmosphere of Yume Miru Kusuri)
Akabanzu - Real na Sekai de Boku ga Kimi ni Dekiru Koto (this game has only minor scientific terms and jargon, mostly related to AI and MMO's.  Since it is distinctly possible you ran into these terms just watching anime, I went ahead and put this up.)
Chuning Lover (this game is just generally rofl)
Ichiban Janakya Dame Desu Ka (one of the few almost-pure comedy in my personal lineup)
Otomimi Infinity
Sakura Iro Quartet (this and the game above are for mimikko fetishists)
Ryuusei Kiseki (sci-fi moege, fairly easy.  Hardest parts are when the protag begins preaching about his hobby)
Shiawase Kazoku-bu
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (surrealist fantasy moege... mildly funny, interesting in general)
Toppara - Zashikiwarashi no Hanashi (use this as your crash course in youkai)
12/30/2014 edit
Love Revenge
Real Imouto ga Iru Ooizumi-kun no Baai
08/15/2016 Edit
Sakigake Generation
Minamijuujisei Renka
Primal Hearts
Primal Hearts 2
World Election
Koko Kara Natsu no Innocence
 
 
Second Level:
Irotoridori no Sekai (yeah, it is being translated, but it isn't done yet)
Konata yori Kanata Made (relatively low-difficulty action/event scenes, as well as being an excellent entry point into the utsuge genre)
Tiny Dungeon series (relatively normal conversational and event scenes, and the actions scenes are relatively low-difficulty, if somewhat fast-paced)
Draculius (similar to above in the action)
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (this game is probably one of the top three non-action/sci-fi/fantasy games I've played and it is harder than the games on the first level... but in exchange it is also a lot better, lol)
Hyper→Highspeed→Genius (relatively high difficulty to first level, but it is easier than the games I'd prefer to introduce people to, lol)
Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate - The Code Name is "Shield 9" (fanboys of fantranslations know this as one of the many dead projects)
Ore no Tsure wa Hitodenashi
Kaminoyu (this one and the one above are your source for non-human love in this stage, lol)
Otome ga Tsumugu, Koi no Canvas (higher difficulty than first level primarily due to the art terms)
Aete Mushisuru, Kimi to no Mirai
Akatsuki no Goei (first one only, later ones are too hard for Second Level)
Re: birth Colony Lost Azurite (this, Tiny Dungeon, and Draculius are probably the hardest games on this list)
Fake Azure Arcology (direct link to the game above, and ditto)
Kimi to Boku to Eden no Ringo
Koiiro Soramoyou (famous for certain VN fanboys)
Kimi to Boku to no Kishi no HIbi (recent release, fairly easy, good protag)
Lunaris Filia (a vampire charage, for those who want some of that)
Naka no Hito nado Inai!! Tokyo Hero Project
Dracu-riot
Sakura Tale
Tojita Sekai no Tori Colony (this game is pretty hilarious, especially if you insist on seeing all of the loop ends before getting to the true end)
Tsuki ni Yorisou, Otome no Sahou (similar to Koi no Canvas, in that the terms that will give you the most trouble are the technical ones - this time for sewing and clothing design)
12/30/2014 edit
Zannen na Oretachi no Seishun Jijou
Kimi no Tonari de Koishiteiru
Sekai wo Sukuu Dake no Kantan na Shigoto
Nanairo Reincarnation (borderline within this if you are familiar with the base concepts of youkai and ghosts as understood by the Japanese)
Sakigake Generation
 
 
 
 
Edit:  This will be the last in my series of lists.  I will edit them with additions occasionally, but I won't be making any new ones.  Have fun yall.

I do like story-focused (rather than heroine-focused) VNs to have a true or grand route.  In a normal charage or moege, it doesn't make much sense to have one, though.  With nakige, it depends on whether there is an over-arching plot, rather than being focused on the romantic elements or the heroines.  Most chuuni games have true or grand routes because the overarching story is more important than the individual heroines.  This is also why story-focused games tend to have longer individual routes that split off earlier from the common route. 
 
'True heroines' are a bit more questionable...   It depends on whether the heroine is worth it.  Heroines such as Eustia from Aiyoku no Eustia are unworthy of being the focus of a true route, but ones like Kagome from Comyu most definitely are. 
 
There are some games, like Rewrite, that would be unworthy of mention without their true routes.  Others, such as Eustia, are actually harmed by the presence of a true route or a true heroine.  Shizuku from Evolimit is a decent true heroine, but her path as the true path is what makes sense, because it ties up most of the loose ends that were left dangling in the other paths while giving the character a definite sense of choice about how things turn out (there are three endings in her route... and they are definitely distinctly different). 

This is a list of good games to begin your journey into playing VNs in Japanese.  Inevitably, most of these games will be moege, charage, or nakige.  There is little to be done about this, as chuuni, sci-fi, and fantasy-action VNs have linguistic barriers that will be too much for someone still struggling with reading conversational Japanese.  In particular, the biggest barrier for someone who is used to dealing with Japanese that is 'spoken', rather than 'written' is the existence of literary Japanese.  The turns of phrase, different wording, etc. that an inexperienced reader might run into can either be seen as a learning experience or as pure confusion, depending on your level and state of mind.  As such, I am only putting down games that are readable for someone who understands spoken Japanese but is weaker in literary Japanese.  I will also put a 'second level' for those who are interested in challenging themselves a little but not too much.  This one will be for those who are willing to see if they can handle the easier action scenes, more difficult event descriptions, and the like.
 
 
First Level:
 
Maji Suki Marginal Skip
Suzunone Seven
Kamikaze Explorer
Tsuisou no Augment (this game is hilarious, and it is not a moege.  I recommend this to people who liked the atmosphere of Yume Miru Kusuri)
Akabanzu - Real na Sekai de Boku ga Kimi ni Dekiru Koto (this game has only minor scientific terms and jargon, mostly related to AI and MMO's.  Since it is distinctly possible you ran into these terms just watching anime, I went ahead and put this up.)
Chuning Lover (this game is just generally rofl)
Ichiban Janakya Dame Desu Ka (one of the few almost-pure comedy in my personal lineup)
Otomimi Infinity
Sakura Iro Quartet (this and the game above are for mimikko fetishists)
Ryuusei Kiseki (sci-fi moege, fairly easy.  Hardest parts are when the protag begins preaching about his hobby)
Shiawase Kazoku-bu
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (surrealist fantasy moege... mildly funny, interesting in general)
Toppara - Zashikiwarashi no Hanashi (use this as your crash course in youkai)
12/30/2014 edit
Love Revenge
Real Imouto ga Iru Ooizumi-kun no Baai
08/15/2016 Edit
Sakigake Generation
Minamijuujisei Renka
Primal Hearts
Primal Hearts 2
World Election
Koko Kara Natsu no Innocence
 
 
Second Level:
Irotoridori no Sekai (yeah, it is being translated, but it isn't done yet)
Konata yori Kanata Made (relatively low-difficulty action/event scenes, as well as being an excellent entry point into the utsuge genre)
Tiny Dungeon series (relatively normal conversational and event scenes, and the actions scenes are relatively low-difficulty, if somewhat fast-paced)
Draculius (similar to above in the action)
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (this game is probably one of the top three non-action/sci-fi/fantasy games I've played and it is harder than the games on the first level... but in exchange it is also a lot better, lol)
Hyper→Highspeed→Genius (relatively high difficulty to first level, but it is easier than the games I'd prefer to introduce people to, lol)
Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate - The Code Name is "Shield 9" (fanboys of fantranslations know this as one of the many dead projects)
Ore no Tsure wa Hitodenashi
Kaminoyu (this one and the one above are your source for non-human love in this stage, lol)
Otome ga Tsumugu, Koi no Canvas (higher difficulty than first level primarily due to the art terms)
Aete Mushisuru, Kimi to no Mirai
Akatsuki no Goei (first one only, later ones are too hard for Second Level)
Re: birth Colony Lost Azurite (this, Tiny Dungeon, and Draculius are probably the hardest games on this list)
Fake Azure Arcology (direct link to the game above, and ditto)
Kimi to Boku to Eden no Ringo
Koiiro Soramoyou (famous for certain VN fanboys)
Kimi to Boku to no Kishi no HIbi (recent release, fairly easy, good protag)
Lunaris Filia (a vampire charage, for those who want some of that)
Naka no Hito nado Inai!! Tokyo Hero Project
Dracu-riot
Sakura Tale
Tojita Sekai no Tori Colony (this game is pretty hilarious, especially if you insist on seeing all of the loop ends before getting to the true end)
Tsuki ni Yorisou, Otome no Sahou (similar to Koi no Canvas, in that the terms that will give you the most trouble are the technical ones - this time for sewing and clothing design)
12/30/2014 edit
Zannen na Oretachi no Seishun Jijou
Kimi no Tonari de Koishiteiru
Sekai wo Sukuu Dake no Kantan na Shigoto
Nanairo Reincarnation (borderline within this if you are familiar with the base concepts of youkai and ghosts as understood by the Japanese)
Sakigake Generation
 
 
 
 
Edit:  This will be the last in my series of lists.  I will edit them with additions occasionally, but I won't be making any new ones.  Have fun yall.

No, I thought Rewrite was average at best, and it was only redeemed by Terra, whose writing and scenario quality was higher than the rest of the game.  To me, the heroine paths were only redeemed by their weak connection to the Moon/Terra true ending. 
 
Also, genre-switching refers to the sudden shift from a certain type of story to another type of story.  Rewrite starts out like a moege/charage and ends up like a chuuni game toward the end of each path. 
 
While the early part of the story hints that there is something shadowy/dark behind the scenes of the city, Kotarou's attitude and manner of speech during those scenes makes taking it seriously difficult, and so the sheer difference in atmosphere between the heroine paths and the common route seems abrupt and poorly planned.  The map minigame that appears frequently in the common route also serves to weaken the story, simply because it feels like an interruption whenever it pops up, not to mention that it is annoying enough that even when I managed to get into the common route, it popped me right back out.  That killed the common route, at least for me. 
 
As for my opinion of the heroines... they would have been better off in a normal Key game, and it is obvious that the writers were trying to draw in the normal Key audience, who love the quirky females that generally define their games.  Oddly, Shizuru's character is not out of place in low-quality chuuni (there is a heroine similar to her in ExE by Yuzusoft), but Chihaya, Kotori, and Lucia all feel distinctly out of place, at least to me.  Akane... could pass for a 'haraguro' heroine with a weak heart in just about any VN, so it is impossible to call her out of place in any genre, lol.  It is also why her path is so surprising in its strength. 
 
I could go on all day about the heroine problems in the game (at least some of which were caused because Key didn't keep the story to a single writer, which would have been best in a game with a strong true path/ending, because of the necessity of 'connecting the dots'). 
 
Edit:  Shizuru's path was just badly done, aside from whether her character fit in with the game's atmosphere.

Also, considering Key's target audience (fanboys of its earlier works), Rewrite's genre-switching and the excessive gaps in quality between its various routes and the story flow greatly weakened it as a game.  To be blunt, the common route feels like 'Key if Key sucked donkey turds' and the heroine routes feel like 'second rate chuuni' in most cases.  The degree to which the writing and scenario quality explodes (in a good way) in Terra in the Japanese version made it feel as if it really were a completely separate game, made at a separate time, with only vague linkages with the rest of the game.  I honestly didn't have a problem with dropping the heroines as they existed in the rest of the game, but I know that Key fanboys might have trouble with that kind of thing, so I don't blame them if they developed a distaste for that aspect of Terra. 

My scores for the routes
 
Common 2.9/10
Chihaya 7.1/10
Lucia 6.8/10
Shizuru 6.6/10
Kotori 4.7/10
Akane 7.7/10
Moon 7.2/10
Terra 8/10
 
FINAL 6.8/10
 
This game suffers from IPS (Idiot Protagonist Syndrome) throughout the entire common route, the heroines are overall slightly weaker than is preferable in a story like this, and the entire map-filling feature of the game would drive anyone who hates meaningless minigame activities insane.

I could start spouting here about how rights come with obligations... but this isn't a class on philosophy. 

My collection is at 153 as of the fifteenth.  I keep the packages unopened though... I've got so many imported jrpgs in my backlog as well...
 
I'll be straight with yall.  When it comes to VNs, I believe in paying if you can.  If you can't... I won't presume to judge, unless it is with officially localized games. 
 
Also, resurrecting the piracy convo on this forum... I honestly don't think it is in good taste.  I love Aaeru, but she and I have greatly differing ideas when it comes to economics.
 
Edit: My feelings on the localized games come from all the years before I got a job, when I shaved every cent I could off my allowance (I wasn't allowed to work part-time by my parents) to save up for games I wanted.  I valued those games greatly, and I enjoyed the good ones all the more for the lunches I didn't eat and the books I avoided buying in order to save up for them.  I know that people habitually upload the localized games on torrents, but if you have the money or can save up the money for them, you should pay. 

My collection is at 153 as of the fifteenth.  I keep the packages unopened though... I've got so many imported jrpgs in my backlog as well...
 
I'll be straight with yall.  When it comes to VNs, I believe in paying if you can.  If you can't... I won't presume to judge, unless it is with officially localized games. 
 
Also, resurrecting the piracy convo on this forum... I honestly don't think it is in good taste.  I love Aaeru, but she and I have greatly differing ideas when it comes to economics.
 
Edit: My feelings on the localized games come from all the years before I got a job, when I shaved every cent I could off my allowance (I wasn't allowed to work part-time by my parents) to save up for games I wanted.  I valued those games greatly, and I enjoyed the good ones all the more for the lunches I didn't eat and the books I avoided buying in order to save up for them.  I know that people habitually upload the localized games on torrents, but if you have the money or can save up the money for them, you should pay. 

This is a list of good games to begin your journey into playing VNs in Japanese.  Inevitably, most of these games will be moege, charage, or nakige.  There is little to be done about this, as chuuni, sci-fi, and fantasy-action VNs have linguistic barriers that will be too much for someone still struggling with reading conversational Japanese.  In particular, the biggest barrier for someone who is used to dealing with Japanese that is 'spoken', rather than 'written' is the existence of literary Japanese.  The turns of phrase, different wording, etc. that an inexperienced reader might run into can either be seen as a learning experience or as pure confusion, depending on your level and state of mind.  As such, I am only putting down games that are readable for someone who understands spoken Japanese but is weaker in literary Japanese.  I will also put a 'second level' for those who are interested in challenging themselves a little but not too much.  This one will be for those who are willing to see if they can handle the easier action scenes, more difficult event descriptions, and the like.
 
 
First Level:
 
Maji Suki Marginal Skip
Suzunone Seven
Kamikaze Explorer
Tsuisou no Augment (this game is hilarious, and it is not a moege.  I recommend this to people who liked the atmosphere of Yume Miru Kusuri)
Akabanzu - Real na Sekai de Boku ga Kimi ni Dekiru Koto (this game has only minor scientific terms and jargon, mostly related to AI and MMO's.  Since it is distinctly possible you ran into these terms just watching anime, I went ahead and put this up.)
Chuning Lover (this game is just generally rofl)
Ichiban Janakya Dame Desu Ka (one of the few almost-pure comedy in my personal lineup)
Otomimi Infinity
Sakura Iro Quartet (this and the game above are for mimikko fetishists)
Ryuusei Kiseki (sci-fi moege, fairly easy.  Hardest parts are when the protag begins preaching about his hobby)
Shiawase Kazoku-bu
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (surrealist fantasy moege... mildly funny, interesting in general)
Toppara - Zashikiwarashi no Hanashi (use this as your crash course in youkai)
12/30/2014 edit
Love Revenge
Real Imouto ga Iru Ooizumi-kun no Baai
08/15/2016 Edit
Sakigake Generation
Minamijuujisei Renka
Primal Hearts
Primal Hearts 2
World Election
Koko Kara Natsu no Innocence
 
 
Second Level:
Irotoridori no Sekai (yeah, it is being translated, but it isn't done yet)
Konata yori Kanata Made (relatively low-difficulty action/event scenes, as well as being an excellent entry point into the utsuge genre)
Tiny Dungeon series (relatively normal conversational and event scenes, and the actions scenes are relatively low-difficulty, if somewhat fast-paced)
Draculius (similar to above in the action)
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (this game is probably one of the top three non-action/sci-fi/fantasy games I've played and it is harder than the games on the first level... but in exchange it is also a lot better, lol)
Hyper→Highspeed→Genius (relatively high difficulty to first level, but it is easier than the games I'd prefer to introduce people to, lol)
Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate - The Code Name is "Shield 9" (fanboys of fantranslations know this as one of the many dead projects)
Ore no Tsure wa Hitodenashi
Kaminoyu (this one and the one above are your source for non-human love in this stage, lol)
Otome ga Tsumugu, Koi no Canvas (higher difficulty than first level primarily due to the art terms)
Aete Mushisuru, Kimi to no Mirai
Akatsuki no Goei (first one only, later ones are too hard for Second Level)
Re: birth Colony Lost Azurite (this, Tiny Dungeon, and Draculius are probably the hardest games on this list)
Fake Azure Arcology (direct link to the game above, and ditto)
Kimi to Boku to Eden no Ringo
Koiiro Soramoyou (famous for certain VN fanboys)
Kimi to Boku to no Kishi no HIbi (recent release, fairly easy, good protag)
Lunaris Filia (a vampire charage, for those who want some of that)
Naka no Hito nado Inai!! Tokyo Hero Project
Dracu-riot
Sakura Tale
Tojita Sekai no Tori Colony (this game is pretty hilarious, especially if you insist on seeing all of the loop ends before getting to the true end)
Tsuki ni Yorisou, Otome no Sahou (similar to Koi no Canvas, in that the terms that will give you the most trouble are the technical ones - this time for sewing and clothing design)
12/30/2014 edit
Zannen na Oretachi no Seishun Jijou
Kimi no Tonari de Koishiteiru
Sekai wo Sukuu Dake no Kantan na Shigoto
Nanairo Reincarnation (borderline within this if you are familiar with the base concepts of youkai and ghosts as understood by the Japanese)
Sakigake Generation
 
 
 
 
Edit:  This will be the last in my series of lists.  I will edit them with additions occasionally, but I won't be making any new ones.  Have fun yall.

This list is entirely devoted to VNs that serve to provide healing, light catharsis, laughs, and warm fuzzy feelings.  Understand, most of the games on this list will be moege, charage, or nakige, with almost no exceptions.  Some of these, I would not rate highly by my own tastes, but in the eyes of someone seeking this quality, would be awesome.  I WILL NOT provide a translated list, as the last time I played a translated VN was more than three years ago, and thus others would be a better judge of what to include in the translated portion of it (hint, hint, Kaguya, Steve, and other Fuwa vets).  A great story is generally not a requirement for this type of game, which is why I didn't always give them as high a rating as they would deserve from fans of the genre.  Heavy drama (outside of the 'it is definitely going to end happily' type that you get in nakige) is not acceptable.  I am going to be very picky for this list, as games that leave you with a bad aftertaste or leave you wondering why you bothered waste people's time, lol. (Hoshimemo would be borderline out of bounds, if you want a clear marker of what not to include.  This kind of game has to be almost devoid of violence and meant to heal or soothe)
 
Untranslated:
 
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (seriously, this game is my universal recommendation from this type)
Moshimo Ashita ga Harenaraba
Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru ~Futari no Elder~ (rare example of sequel far surpassing the original in every aspect)
Toppara Zashiki Warashi no Hanashi
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (yes, this starts out kind of sadly, but its generally light nature and characters definitely make it soothing)
Koisuru Natsu no Last Resort (as I said in my comments on this game, it is like a much weaker imitation of Uruwashi no)
Clover Days (another recent addition, perfect example of a light charage with no serious drama that isn't solved relatively quickly)
Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade (pure moe, stops just short of moeblob, totally light, no really serious drama)
Kaminoyu (no human heroines... but this game is enormously soothing and decently funny)
Shiro no Pikapika Ohoshi-sama (this was the game that came to mind when I thought of making this list)
LoveKami
Sakura Bitmap
Strawberry Nauts
Tenshin Ranman - Lucky or Unlucky!?
Natsuiro Recipe
AI Love: Koisuru Otome wa Kikai-jikake
 
 
YES I am being very picky about this list.  Not every nakige is soothing/healing for the reader, and not every moege is capable of providing easy laughs and adorable cuteness.  The basic reasoning behind all of these choices is: emotional release from sympathy/empathy with the characters and an overall sense of relief of pent-up non-violent stress for the reader.  I could have put up to three times this many games up here if I'd been less picky... but then I would have been wasting the readers' time. 
 
Have fun, yall. 

This list is entirely devoted to VNs that serve to provide healing, light catharsis, laughs, and warm fuzzy feelings.  Understand, most of the games on this list will be moege, charage, or nakige, with almost no exceptions.  Some of these, I would not rate highly by my own tastes, but in the eyes of someone seeking this quality, would be awesome.  I WILL NOT provide a translated list, as the last time I played a translated VN was more than three years ago, and thus others would be a better judge of what to include in the translated portion of it (hint, hint, Kaguya, Steve, and other Fuwa vets).  A great story is generally not a requirement for this type of game, which is why I didn't always give them as high a rating as they would deserve from fans of the genre.  Heavy drama (outside of the 'it is definitely going to end happily' type that you get in nakige) is not acceptable.  I am going to be very picky for this list, as games that leave you with a bad aftertaste or leave you wondering why you bothered waste people's time, lol. (Hoshimemo would be borderline out of bounds, if you want a clear marker of what not to include.  This kind of game has to be almost devoid of violence and meant to heal or soothe)
 
Untranslated:
 
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (seriously, this game is my universal recommendation from this type)
Moshimo Ashita ga Harenaraba
Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru ~Futari no Elder~ (rare example of sequel far surpassing the original in every aspect)
Toppara Zashiki Warashi no Hanashi
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (yes, this starts out kind of sadly, but its generally light nature and characters definitely make it soothing)
Koisuru Natsu no Last Resort (as I said in my comments on this game, it is like a much weaker imitation of Uruwashi no)
Clover Days (another recent addition, perfect example of a light charage with no serious drama that isn't solved relatively quickly)
Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade (pure moe, stops just short of moeblob, totally light, no really serious drama)
Kaminoyu (no human heroines... but this game is enormously soothing and decently funny)
Shiro no Pikapika Ohoshi-sama (this was the game that came to mind when I thought of making this list)
LoveKami
Sakura Bitmap
Strawberry Nauts
Tenshin Ranman - Lucky or Unlucky!?
Natsuiro Recipe
AI Love: Koisuru Otome wa Kikai-jikake
 
 
YES I am being very picky about this list.  Not every nakige is soothing/healing for the reader, and not every moege is capable of providing easy laughs and adorable cuteness.  The basic reasoning behind all of these choices is: emotional release from sympathy/empathy with the characters and an overall sense of relief of pent-up non-violent stress for the reader.  I could have put up to three times this many games up here if I'd been less picky... but then I would have been wasting the readers' time. 
 
Have fun, yall. 

This list is entirely devoted to VNs that serve to provide healing, light catharsis, laughs, and warm fuzzy feelings.  Understand, most of the games on this list will be moege, charage, or nakige, with almost no exceptions.  Some of these, I would not rate highly by my own tastes, but in the eyes of someone seeking this quality, would be awesome.  I WILL NOT provide a translated list, as the last time I played a translated VN was more than three years ago, and thus others would be a better judge of what to include in the translated portion of it (hint, hint, Kaguya, Steve, and other Fuwa vets).  A great story is generally not a requirement for this type of game, which is why I didn't always give them as high a rating as they would deserve from fans of the genre.  Heavy drama (outside of the 'it is definitely going to end happily' type that you get in nakige) is not acceptable.  I am going to be very picky for this list, as games that leave you with a bad aftertaste or leave you wondering why you bothered waste people's time, lol. (Hoshimemo would be borderline out of bounds, if you want a clear marker of what not to include.  This kind of game has to be almost devoid of violence and meant to heal or soothe)
 
Untranslated:
 
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (seriously, this game is my universal recommendation from this type)
Moshimo Ashita ga Harenaraba
Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru ~Futari no Elder~ (rare example of sequel far surpassing the original in every aspect)
Toppara Zashiki Warashi no Hanashi
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (yes, this starts out kind of sadly, but its generally light nature and characters definitely make it soothing)
Koisuru Natsu no Last Resort (as I said in my comments on this game, it is like a much weaker imitation of Uruwashi no)
Clover Days (another recent addition, perfect example of a light charage with no serious drama that isn't solved relatively quickly)
Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade (pure moe, stops just short of moeblob, totally light, no really serious drama)
Kaminoyu (no human heroines... but this game is enormously soothing and decently funny)
Shiro no Pikapika Ohoshi-sama (this was the game that came to mind when I thought of making this list)
LoveKami
Sakura Bitmap
Strawberry Nauts
Tenshin Ranman - Lucky or Unlucky!?
Natsuiro Recipe
AI Love: Koisuru Otome wa Kikai-jikake
 
 
YES I am being very picky about this list.  Not every nakige is soothing/healing for the reader, and not every moege is capable of providing easy laughs and adorable cuteness.  The basic reasoning behind all of these choices is: emotional release from sympathy/empathy with the characters and an overall sense of relief of pent-up non-violent stress for the reader.  I could have put up to three times this many games up here if I'd been less picky... but then I would have been wasting the readers' time. 
 
Have fun, yall. 

This list is entirely devoted to VNs that serve to provide healing, light catharsis, laughs, and warm fuzzy feelings.  Understand, most of the games on this list will be moege, charage, or nakige, with almost no exceptions.  Some of these, I would not rate highly by my own tastes, but in the eyes of someone seeking this quality, would be awesome.  I WILL NOT provide a translated list, as the last time I played a translated VN was more than three years ago, and thus others would be a better judge of what to include in the translated portion of it (hint, hint, Kaguya, Steve, and other Fuwa vets).  A great story is generally not a requirement for this type of game, which is why I didn't always give them as high a rating as they would deserve from fans of the genre.  Heavy drama (outside of the 'it is definitely going to end happily' type that you get in nakige) is not acceptable.  I am going to be very picky for this list, as games that leave you with a bad aftertaste or leave you wondering why you bothered waste people's time, lol. (Hoshimemo would be borderline out of bounds, if you want a clear marker of what not to include.  This kind of game has to be almost devoid of violence and meant to heal or soothe)
 
Untranslated:
 
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (seriously, this game is my universal recommendation from this type)
Moshimo Ashita ga Harenaraba
Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru ~Futari no Elder~ (rare example of sequel far surpassing the original in every aspect)
Toppara Zashiki Warashi no Hanashi
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (yes, this starts out kind of sadly, but its generally light nature and characters definitely make it soothing)
Koisuru Natsu no Last Resort (as I said in my comments on this game, it is like a much weaker imitation of Uruwashi no)
Clover Days (another recent addition, perfect example of a light charage with no serious drama that isn't solved relatively quickly)
Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade (pure moe, stops just short of moeblob, totally light, no really serious drama)
Kaminoyu (no human heroines... but this game is enormously soothing and decently funny)
Shiro no Pikapika Ohoshi-sama (this was the game that came to mind when I thought of making this list)
LoveKami
Sakura Bitmap
Strawberry Nauts
Tenshin Ranman - Lucky or Unlucky!?
Natsuiro Recipe
AI Love: Koisuru Otome wa Kikai-jikake
 
 
YES I am being very picky about this list.  Not every nakige is soothing/healing for the reader, and not every moege is capable of providing easy laughs and adorable cuteness.  The basic reasoning behind all of these choices is: emotional release from sympathy/empathy with the characters and an overall sense of relief of pent-up non-violent stress for the reader.  I could have put up to three times this many games up here if I'd been less picky... but then I would have been wasting the readers' time. 
 
Have fun, yall. 

This list is entirely devoted to VNs that serve to provide healing, light catharsis, laughs, and warm fuzzy feelings.  Understand, most of the games on this list will be moege, charage, or nakige, with almost no exceptions.  Some of these, I would not rate highly by my own tastes, but in the eyes of someone seeking this quality, would be awesome.  I WILL NOT provide a translated list, as the last time I played a translated VN was more than three years ago, and thus others would be a better judge of what to include in the translated portion of it (hint, hint, Kaguya, Steve, and other Fuwa vets).  A great story is generally not a requirement for this type of game, which is why I didn't always give them as high a rating as they would deserve from fans of the genre.  Heavy drama (outside of the 'it is definitely going to end happily' type that you get in nakige) is not acceptable.  I am going to be very picky for this list, as games that leave you with a bad aftertaste or leave you wondering why you bothered waste people's time, lol. (Hoshimemo would be borderline out of bounds, if you want a clear marker of what not to include.  This kind of game has to be almost devoid of violence and meant to heal or soothe)
 
Untranslated:
 
Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashi no (seriously, this game is my universal recommendation from this type)
Moshimo Ashita ga Harenaraba
Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru ~Futari no Elder~ (rare example of sequel far surpassing the original in every aspect)
Toppara Zashiki Warashi no Hanashi
Sukimazakura to Uso no Machi (yes, this starts out kind of sadly, but its generally light nature and characters definitely make it soothing)
Koisuru Natsu no Last Resort (as I said in my comments on this game, it is like a much weaker imitation of Uruwashi no)
Clover Days (another recent addition, perfect example of a light charage with no serious drama that isn't solved relatively quickly)
Chiisana Kanojo no Serenade (pure moe, stops just short of moeblob, totally light, no really serious drama)
Kaminoyu (no human heroines... but this game is enormously soothing and decently funny)
Shiro no Pikapika Ohoshi-sama (this was the game that came to mind when I thought of making this list)
LoveKami
Sakura Bitmap
Strawberry Nauts
Tenshin Ranman - Lucky or Unlucky!?
Natsuiro Recipe
AI Love: Koisuru Otome wa Kikai-jikake
 
 
YES I am being very picky about this list.  Not every nakige is soothing/healing for the reader, and not every moege is capable of providing easy laughs and adorable cuteness.  The basic reasoning behind all of these choices is: emotional release from sympathy/empathy with the characters and an overall sense of relief of pent-up non-violent stress for the reader.  I could have put up to three times this many games up here if I'd been less picky... but then I would have been wasting the readers' time. 
 
Have fun, yall. 

Mmm... with otakus in Japan, VA's are generally honored on the same level as idols, though their private lives are respected a great deal more and there are no real restrictions on how they live their lives.  However... the Japanese tend to put out a lot of mixed signals on sexual issues.  For one, the taboo amongst traditionalists about talking about sex is if anything stricter than it is here.  However, there is also a strong tradition of sexual symbolism in Japanese art (think Greek art, as it has some parallel similarities).  So, since VA's are essentially 'wearing a mask' by not actually acting out the sexual acts, there would be very little in the way of a stigma on them amongst 'normal' people. 
 
However, it is a fine line... sexual issues are always touchy issues in modern cultures. 

Mmm... with otakus in Japan, VA's are generally honored on the same level as idols, though their private lives are respected a great deal more and there are no real restrictions on how they live their lives.  However... the Japanese tend to put out a lot of mixed signals on sexual issues.  For one, the taboo amongst traditionalists about talking about sex is if anything stricter than it is here.  However, there is also a strong tradition of sexual symbolism in Japanese art (think Greek art, as it has some parallel similarities).  So, since VA's are essentially 'wearing a mask' by not actually acting out the sexual acts, there would be very little in the way of a stigma on them amongst 'normal' people. 
 
However, it is a fine line... sexual issues are always touchy issues in modern cultures. 

Now draw her once she becomes an adult and tells Daddy that she is going to marry Uncle Sunohara.

http://vndb.org/v12987  Just finished this.  This game is a nakige, with a protagonist who takes the stereotypical 'kind-heartedness' of harem-plagued protags to extremes.  The fact that that is exactly what is needed for the girls in the story and the general situation as a whole saves the story from being a series of boring tropes.  I won't go into detail - because it would ruin the story - but this game is exactly what lovers of nakige in general are looking for.  You have a deredere (borderline yandere) heroine in Towa, an adorable and expressionless loli in Ena, your classic tsundere (also baka) in Amane, and the seito kaichou (seriously, I've already forgotten her name... her story was by far the weakest of the four).  tbh, this game can be experienced totally without going through the seito kaichou's route.  The most important elements of the overall backstory are revealed in the other three paths, and the most personal emotional moments - aside from romance - in the story are in the other three routes. 
 
I also liked that the protag actually has a skill and talent that he pursues earnestly and competently, which is a huge plus for a VN protag in a nakige/moege/charage.  If I have a complaint about the game it is that they spent less time around the professional doll-making elements and those kind of practical issues, but considering the nature of this kind of game, it isn't a surprise.
 
Overall, this game is one of the better games I've played (non-action) in the last six months, and it is definitely something I can recommend to the lovers of cheap catharsis and emotional situations. 
 
I'm about to start: http://vndb.org/v13651

All the Final Fantasy games after X.

About the same... Dies Irae is slightly more straightforward, so maybe a little easier outside of the combat scenes. 

Hagure Yuusha
Legend of the Legendary Heroes

I've been watching anime for over two decades now, and I've seen so many now that I can't even remember half of them (though, unfortunately for me, seeing five minutes of the first episode of a series brings back the entire story, thus preventing it from being 'fresh' to me).  Unlike VNs, most anime end up translated, one way or the other, and as such, it is much easier for the average person to get involved with them.  Nonetheless... how many of our younger neo-otaku friends have even touched on the older anime, beyond a few choice series people can't help but thrust on others?  Certain anime are indeed timeless, but some fall between the cracks, either because their fans 'graduate' or they aren't vocal.  As such, I thought I'd make a short list of classics (feel free to add your own to the list) that people here might like.  I have no taste for one-off movies, for instance, so people who want to add movies to the list should feel free to do so.
 
Restrict your entries to anime made in or before 2005... at least 9 years ago, in other words.
 
Noir (female assassins, smells of yuri, Beetrain's flagship series)
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (sci-fi space opera with the type of political commentary you would never see in a modern anime)
Record of Lodoss War (old-style swords and sorcery fantasy without the excessive moe that became common in later eras)
Slayers (I imagine that many have seen these, simply because they started the moe-comedy fantasy trend)
Ai Yori Aoshi (a slightly different road than that which is common to modern love comedy, but it is a touching story that has stood the test of time)
Full Metal Panic
Elfen Lied
Escaflowne
Gundam Wing (my favorite early Gundam, simply because of the memories of watching it on Cartoon Network and the awful dubs)
08th MS Team (the most 'realistic' Gundam series ever, in terms of mech combat, lol)
Love Hina (this is not one of my favorites, but it did introduce me to the cliches of the genre)
Tenchi series (all of them)
Ranma 1/2
Fist of the North Star (gore and gore and gore, lol)
DNAngel
Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai
Angelic Layer
Chobits
 
 
For the simple reason that I despised Shinji, I can't bring myself to recommend Evangelion, but I'm well-aware that it is a beloved classic for many. 

No problem.  First level games are about as easy as VNs that don't suck get.  Second level games are harder but not completely out of range for someone just starting (given that they have pre-existing knowledge of Japanese). 
 
I felt that this was better than having someone ask for recommendations every time they make their entry into untranslated VNs, as this forum is getting cluttered with threads like that.

Tasogare is about second level... maybe a little harder because of mythological references.