What VNs should I play if I want to get my foot into the genre?
All I've played are Ace Attorney, ZE and Hotel Dusk.
>What books should I read if I want to get my foot into the genre?
This is almost literally what you asked.
>>334447557
Sorry, I guess it is kind of a loaded question.
What I mean is, you know how those games are pretty mainstream tier? I'm looking for the next tier below that. Not as mainstream but still good for someone inexperienced.
>>334447652
katawa shoujo
>>334447652
Ever17, remember11, cross channel, Cartagra, I/0
>>334446931
Fate/Stay Night is a slow burn, but it's till pretty good.
Did that game ever get translated?
Yume Miru Kusuri is considered baby's first visual novel, not including Katawa Shoujo since it's a English visual novel and not a Japanese one
G-Senjou no Maou is a good one as well, it's a "battle of wits" story
Fate/Stay night is very long but good, and Higurashi no naku koro ni and Umineko no naku koro ni and fantastic
For more, you'd want things like Princess Evangile, and If My Heart had Wings
Go to vndb.org and look at the most popular English translations, those are the best ones
Katawa Shoujo
>>334446931
Katawa Shoujo
Saya no Uta
Grisaia no Kajitsu
Wanko to Kurasou
Steins;Gate
Yaminabe Aries Tail Tale
Some say it's shit but Katawa Shoujo is a great entrance to the genre.
>>334446931
All those are games that are nothing alike the waves of garbage that gets produced.
Namely Katawa Shoujo, which is a literal joke.
Take my advice, read Kara no shoujo.
Planetarian and Saya no Uta.
Interesting premises and each not too long to wear out their welcome.
But yeah, it's probably more down to your taste in fiction and the amount of gameplay/choices in a VN you prefer. If it's the mystery type stuff you're after, Umineko and Danganronpa might be up your street.
>>334449103
This.
If you played and liked AA, you will most probably find DR enjoyable as well
>>334449103
>>334452972
Is the PC version worth the buy? I've heard mixed things about the port.
Check out VNDB.org. It's an entire database on VN's. As for recommendations, I'll just be lazy and plop my list down for you.
https://vndb.org/u56584/list?c=all;v=0;t=-1;o=d;s=vote
Surprised no one's said Steins;Gate.
>>334446931
Tsukihime - Tsuki-Bako Edition
(1 - Tsukihime, 2 - Tsukihime Plus+Disc, 3 - Kagetsu Tohya)https://mega.nz/#!b8lFiALS!ISlilVnRn_SAjFuB7oR_Y-LYEowLIQzu80-gO3Mp-hQ
Melty Blood - ReACT -Final Tuned-http://www.mediafire.com/download/ud9m99e1crs516r/Melty_Blood.zip
Melty Blood - Act Cadenzahttp://www.mediafire.com/download/ye8scp23sp770z2/Melty_Blood_-_Act_Cadenza.zip
Melty Blood - Actress Again Current Codehttp://www.mediafire.com/download/4tdcue1nj77zsv7/Melty_Blood_-_Actress_Again_Current_Code.zip
Melty Blood Drama CD Pack - Ladies In The Water and Back Alley Pyramid Nighthttp://www.mediafire.com/download/9g722crr1mo8urs/Melty_Blood_-_Drama_CD_Pack.zip
Melty Blood Soundtrack Collection - Lossless & Mp3https://bakabt.me/torrent/151276/shingetsutan-tsukihime-melty-blood-soundtrack-collection-flac
Lunar Legend Tsukihime complete manga (v1-v10)https://mega.nz/#!LxNzWK4S!VaOzT06B7W-GSZN6A6B61wbhQk-sYS1JKtjr4NPWRIE
Melty Blood and Melty Blood X complete manga (v1-v11)http://www.mediafire.com/download/a966mu4z64hchbp/Melty_Blood_X_%28v1-11%29.zip
Take Moonhttp://www.mediafire.com/download/ei89fqpv68k8pgt/Take_Moon.zip
All Around Type-Moonhttp://www.mediafire.com/download/0ss4kmd798dpu81/All_Around_Type-Moon.zip
Tsukihime and Melty Blood doujinshi (fan-created, self-published comics)https://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=193057
Holy Grail 2.0 - Rips of Type-Moon's PC games by Keripohttps://mega.nz/#F!BA4yHYoT!NwGVKj4q9Z1vnpKlYY-4UQ
>>334450480
>Grisaia no Kajitsu
>>334446931
OMGWTFOTL
>>334455084
That's one mean bitch ass loli.
>>334454404
Well now.
Thank you.
So far as Fate/Stay Night is concerned, however, I recommend the Realta Nua pc version with this here patch (may want to wait a bit though- it's complete but they're trying to up the cutscene quality and combine the "three" games together): https://www.reddit.com/r/visualnovels/comments/2b60x7/fatestay_night_realta_nua_100_patch_released/
OP, you're in for a ton of reading if you go with FSN, but it's a very popular VN for, I feel, a good reason. Takes place during a war between sorcerers to the death, summoning the spirits of ancient heroes like King Arthur to fight by their side. The winner gets a wish from the Holy Grail, without any catches or limitations.
Also, really kickass scenes like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siwPaiPcxmg