Chronopolis

I agree with what Plk_Lesiak said. Popular and corporate culture says a lot about what should be glamorous, what success/happiness should look like. None of is grounded in objective reality, and shouldn't be taken to heart. If people insist, it might be good to just keep a diplomatic face, acknowledge what they are trying to do, and assert that you have right to believe in whatever the heck you want, without being berated.

A bunch, but I can testify that it's more satisfying when I'm just concentrating on 1-2 VN's.

The VN I dropped was Sakura no Mori Dreamers (just played the common route). For Aozora I played 3/5 routes and am planning to finish it. The game has some pretty depressing events. On some routes, you get hints of what happens to the other heroines, and its usually not happy. You should really play it if you are curious. Fumino is best girl.

That's awesome! Don't worry, your first untranslated VN is always going to be really hard. But it's very rewarding as well. I recommend new learners focus on grammar the most. There is a very useful set of tools called ITH and Translation Aggregator which will automatically grab the novel's text and let you read their english definitions (more info here https://forums.fuwanovel.net/topic/8239-how-to-install-and-run-untranslated-visual-novel-text-hooking-tools/) There are two reasons I don't have a score for a VN. First are VN's which I played a long time ago. I used to have ratings for them, but I removed them because my rating criteria changed over the years (would have to review them). Otherwise, I leave the score blank if I don't know how to judge the VN, or it's way different from my tastes.

Welcome, glad you joined us. It's great that you are thoroughly interested in VN's. They are perhaps the most immersive genre, because they can have art, voices, music, text, while being able to span 30+ hours. So much room for variety. I remember when I first started reading I got hooked pretty quickly too. Looking at your list, I've only read Tsukihime and G-senjou no Maou. Fatal Twelve looks interesting though, I have it on my desktop. I'm sure you'll be able to find the discussion you are looking for.

Playing 果てしなく青い、この空の下で (vndb). I got interested when I saw it on a 2ch top 100 VN's list (youtube). It starts out with the MC living in a small countryside village in the recent past (1990's perhaps). The MC and mere 5 other students of the village school find out that this year will be their last. Hints of modernization are present, urged on by a tycoon scoundrel Doujima who seeks to take over the village. But as the MC spends time and gets to know some of his female schoolmates a bit better, he can't help but think they have a connection to the supernatural occurrences he starts experiencing. Art direction is more realistic, sort of like Kara no Shoujo. All the heroines have black hair(!). There's lots of little sfx, and periods without music. The CG feels a bit underwhelming because of the art style having few details. But it doesn't feel like the developers cut any corners. The sprite variations are expressive and the background CG blends well. Voice acting is fitting for the characters, is quite good. If I have to say, the story is not really moe. There is some moe appeal in there, but the heriones are quite... hard to approach. They have their own way of thinking, and often defy or baffle the protagonist. That and the VN can be a bit heavy. Not a relaxing or happy VN, instead a bit contemplative and unsettling. I would say it is similar but in many ways better than Kizuato (vndb), and compared to Higurashi it is much more subdued (no comedy, less edgyness). Would recommend if you want some interesting older work with decent plot. PS: speaking of no comedy, it reminds me of Sakura no Mori Dreamers which I played a while back. Full length action/horror with no comedy to lighten the mood. It was so stifling I dropped it.

A JP player said that it was annoying playing it since there are branches whose text only differs slightly but that counts as unread text. The script size is definitely bloated but it's still long as hell.

Game is finally out on steam, mega hype!!! https://store.steampowered.com/app/946560/Dont_Forget_Our_Esports_Dream/https://store.steampowered.com/app/946560/Dont_Forget_Our_Esports_Dream/

Super into this game and its setting despite not playing it.

What's wrong with Island? Haven't played it.

Thanks for running the survey and summarizing the results. It's pretty neat to the predominant arguments, in particular. People who start reading untranslated novels are going to stop reading translated novels, which is probably the reason. Also, 25 visual novels played is quite a lot. If you just consider full-length VN's, that 500+ hours.

A nakige is an emotional vn, literally one that has some scenes that will move you to tears. A utsuge is a depressing game, it feels like there is no hope. Often there is no good ending for the characters. Or the mood can just be very gloomy.

Gosh, like nothing I've read falls under that category. Kami-sama no Game (constant tension, and a degree of realism) Fault (fantasy adventure) 終末なにしてますか？ 忙しいですか？ 救ってもらっていいですか？　(is a LN, but is fantasy with strong pacing and world development)

Well, if you have a story focused on a hero, and then add in the presence of deities, then it very likely becomes a hero's journey. And about the hero's legacy, we humans often seek an explanation or purpose in the world, and adding a legacy that provides meaning for the hero's sacrifice/triumph does this.

I prefer stories with multiple characters... Every hero need not follow this kind of journey, and the world need not revolve around the hero. Enjoyment-wise it feels like a specific movie genre, where all moments supposed to awe you are all the same. As well, it feels like its trivializing those individual events those by listing out as a template.

Ahh, I hate the monomyth, as benign a concept it may be.

That's a fascinating way to think about it, I think you're right. I'm hardly well versed in Chuuni but I was also curious as to its meaning at heart. I think it's about greater purpose/meaning, ascending beyond the bounds of everyday thought and society, power to resist shackles and to be able to carve one's emotions upon the world. It differs from power fantasy in that the focus in about escaping society and having purpose, as opposed to masterfully puppeteering the real world.

Brilliant seems similar in tier to Outstanding, except one is a meta focused work and the other isn't. Works in the outstanding category have not only a great story to tell, but several good design choices exist made by the author in order to strengthen the experience or theme. This could be choice of moods, point of view, guiding expectations, or skillful incorporation of visuals/gameplay. I agree with the pyramid, it makes sense after reading Narcosis's comments.

Aww, poor Lesiak. The nicest looking sites which come to mind are: https://vnreviews.blog/ Conjeurer's Blog https://tanoshimi.xyz/ Moogy and Co. https://mimidoshima.wordpress.com/ Kastel https://gareblogs.wordpress.com/ Garejei https://omochikaeri.wordpress.com/ New releases by Micchi and Zen I don't really follow VN blogs though, I just go look for reviews or vndb comments after finishing a VN.

I think VN's have more detail and exposition, which does make you a little bit smarter. I agree with what soraa said. You'll see and experience new things, but you're not doing analysis probably so it's not a direct brain exercise. Maybe reading various types of prose will make your mind flexible unlike mind-numbing TV. But performance in other areas depends on skill and experience which aren't going to transfer at all from VN's.

Enjoyed reading the scene you wrote. Nice dialogue for the child characters. Good luck on your vn project! I have some stories planned but when it comes to actually writing it I can never even finish a full scene xD

At home. Reading VN's on transit makes for a pretty sub-par experience imo. Unless the train you are on is very quiet and you have a long commute. Novels or podcasts are much better.

Heyy, welcome to fuwanovel. It's nice that you're curious~ So like anime/manga really had an influence on your life? It's become such a part of life that it's hard for me to imagine what things would be without Japanese media.

Suisou Ginka no Istoria is probably my favourite. It sort of carries the spirit of the previous work Kami no Ue no Mahoutsukai, which didn't have a proper OP, just this neat PV.

I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but I think the people who have posted have done a good job answering: "What novel would you recommend to people who fit their demographic."