The 'Zero Escape' series, starting with '999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors' is also suitable. It has a great blend of mystery and role - playing. The puzzles and choices are not overly complex at first, allowing new players to ease into the gameplay while still being challenged.
If you like a bit of a fantasy setting, 'Fate/stay night' can be a great start. It has an interesting premise of a magical battle royale. The visual novel gives you choices that shape the story, and the character designs are really appealing, which can draw in new players.
For beginners, 'Clannad' is a good choice. It has a relatively simple and heartwarming story. You'll be able to easily get into the role - playing aspect as you interact with the characters in a school - like setting. It also has beautiful art and music.
One of the best roleplaying visual novels is 'Danganronpa'. It has a unique and engaging plot where you have to solve mysteries and interact with a diverse cast of characters. The choices you make can lead to different outcomes, which adds to the replayability factor.
I'd recommend 'The Lightning Thief' from the 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians' series by Rick Riordan. It combines modern - day settings with Greek mythology in a really engaging way. Beginners can easily relate to Percy and his friends while also enjoying the fantasy elements for roleplaying. 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi is also a good pick. It has a world full of fairies and other magical creatures that are simple enough for beginners to roleplay. 'Ella Enchanted' by Gail Carson Levine has a charming fairy - tale - like world with a cursed girl which is great for novice roleplayers.
A good visual novel for beginners is 'Sakura Wars'. It has an interesting mix of action and relationship - building elements. The story is engaging and not overly complex. 'Grisaia no Kajitsu' is also a great choice. It starts off with a somewhat typical school - life setting but gradually reveals deeper and more complex stories. The art and music are also very appealing for those new to visual novels.
For beginners, 'To the Moon' is a great choice. It has a simple yet deeply emotional story. The gameplay is easy to understand, mainly focusing on exploration and discovery. Another good one is 'VA - 11 Hall - A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action'. It has a unique setting in a cyberpunk world and the interactions with the customers are interesting. It doesn't have overly complex mechanics.
One of the best for beginners is 'Clannad'. It offers a heartwarming story about family, friendship, and love. The characters are well - developed, and the art is beautiful. It also has an anime adaptation, so if you like the visual novel, you can check out the anime as well.
For beginners, 'Katawa Shoujo' can be a great choice. It has a relatively straightforward story with a focus on character relationships. The art is appealing and it gives a good introduction to the visual novel format. Another option is 'Narcissu', which is a short and poignant visual novel that can be easily digested by new players. It tells a simple yet moving story.
There is also 'Long Live the Queen'. It is a visual novel that has a strategic aspect to it. You get to make decisions for the main character, a princess, which affects the story's outcome. The art style is appealing, and it runs smoothly on Linux systems.
For beginners, 'Adastra' is a great start. It has a relatively straightforward story to follow at the beginning, which gradually gets more complex. The in - game instructions are also quite clear. And the furry characters are really charming, which will quickly draw new players into the world of furry visual novels.
Another good one is 'Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney'. It combines mystery and visual novel elements really well. You get to solve cases through the story, which makes it really immersive. The characters are well - developed and the dialogues are sharp.
For beginners, 'Hatoful Boyfriend' is a great start. It's unique as it involves romancing pigeons, which is really fun and different. Another good one is 'LovePlus'. It has simple yet engaging storylines that are easy to follow for those new to visual novels. And 'Dream Daddy' is also a nice choice. It has a friendly and approachable style of presenting romances.