Hello, I would like to ask for visual novel recommendations, since I'm quite picky with them. I'm looking for visual novels with preferably dark storylines, but most importantly, with no moe art - I'm talking about Clannad-like moe here. Preferably the art resembles something like Kara no Shoujo, Swan Song, Shikokku no Sharnoth, Steins Gate, etc.
Huge bonus point if the story is not about school-life. Even more bonus point if it's not focused on the dating aspect (more like Shikokku no Sharnoth / Swan Song).

VNs that I've played (other than those mentioned above) : Ever17, Remember11, Never7, Fate/Stay Night, Sekien no Inganock, Saya no Uta, Demonbane, G Senjou, Forest, Hanachirasu, Kikokugai.

Thank you in advance!

I've heard that 999 is great and the same for it's sequel. The only problem is that I still need to play them.

Lux-Pain is good as well, but the opinions on the game are split. Personally, I liked it. Here is the CGR Review on the game.

[img]http://www.dragonflycave.com/wpay/mew.gif[/img]

This is not a pure visual novel as it also contains puzzles, but if you already played Ever17 and have DS, play 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. The scenario was written by the same person who made Ever17, Kotaro Uchikoshi, except that it's a lot darker and more serious. Also if you have a 3DS or PSVita, you can play its sequel too: Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward. Both games are absolutely fantastic and mindblowing. As expected of Uchikoshi. 🙂

Although I haven't tried playing it myself, I heard a lot of good things about Muv-Luv Alternative. It also holds the highest rating in VNDB at the moment so I guess you can check it out?

Thank you for the recommendations! I don't have DS right now, but I'll keep those titles in mind when I get myself a DS. I actually found mixed reviews on Muv-Luv, but I'll add it on my list for now.

Any other recs for PCs, by the way? 😀

First Muv-Luv is nothing great, but you ought to read it and extra in order to read one of the best vn in the universe epic music - Muv-Luv: Alternative!
cough
So, i'm going ro reccomend you something that i personally liked (and ofc it must match your criteria), all this have complete or partial eng translation btw:
Aiyoku no Eustia
Cross†Channel (in school, but without school theme)
Yume Miru Kusuri (sorry, but with school)
Umineko no Naku Koro ni (dont forget to download umitweak patch for PS3 art and voice)
Hope you'll like it.

You can download a DS emulator and cough illegally download cough the game and play 999 on your PC haha. Trust me, it's totally worth the time

@almond14 coughI tried cough but it freezes right at the first flood scene cough heavy cough
@justneedair I didn't know that Umineko got PS3 patches! It will definitely be on my next list plus Muv Luv alternative. Thank you!

Keep the recommendations coming! 😀 😀

why do ppl use those art patches in umineko and higurashi

that naive kind of odd art is what makes those games playable
makes them stand out and feel fresh
[it is easier to get into the silly stories to when the art is on par with the writing]
when they look like any other CLAMPIFIED piece of shit out there like the ps2/ps3 versions its just not fun
and its dissrespctful to the makers of the game

try asking in
http://vndb.org/

My list, take your pick 🤣
http://vndb.org/u36243/list

Is this me in a nutshell?
Pretty much.
[img]http://www.dragonflycave.com/wpay/ninetales.gif[/img]

Quote from kasumi14

@almond14 coughI tried cough but it freezes right at the first flood scene cough heavy cough

I'm not sure if you tried this but, I would recommend that you go to

Emuparadise.org to download the game and for emulators, try DesmuME

[img]http://www.dragonflycave.com/wpay/mew.gif[/img]

Erm, sorry but your comment is silly. Only plot makes those games playable, we wont read "clampified shit" or some vn with odd art overwise. And the reason why we use it - because we think it's pretty. And I'm sure for many ppl it's easier to read vn w/ photographic background and with nice char sprites.
Other good point is that it have voice, I'm so much in love with Beatos and Battlers seiyus thats I'm w8ing for patch to finish episodes 5-8 (and you cant understand how hard it is, even thought i finished 1-4 a year ago or so(yep, I'm doing that even though i said "plot above everything").
But again it's all about preferences, i can grab any manga\vn that you liked and say that it's "typical seinen\shoujo shit and I cant understand why you liked it" and we'll still have our own opinion.

I don't know if you consider Chaos;Head art to be moe. Anyway there are pics so you can judge for yourself. Still the story is very dark (made by Nitroplus, Steins;Gate, Kikokugai, etc.).

What I like in Trivial Pursuit style. Pick your category:[img]http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo233/Reid4891/Manga/trivia-1.jpg[/img]

@silencecomes : checking your list right now, thank you!
@Transdude1996 : woah, thank you tons for the resource recs, I'll try it again (since this game is way too awesome to pass). Thank you!
@reid1 : Well, Chaos;Head is still okay in art I guess, so I'll add it to my list. Thank you!

Recs, and more recs are hugely appreciated!