Well, 'Lucah: Born of a Dream' is a great non - NSFW visual novel on itch io. It has a unique art style and an engaging story. 'VA - 11 HALL - A' is also very popular. It takes place in a bar where you interact with various characters and uncover their stories. And 'OneShot' offers a really interesting meta - narrative that draws players in without any NSFW elements.
Some popular ones include 'Doki Doki Literature Club'. It's well - known for its unique storytelling and engaging characters. However, it also contains disturbing themes that some may find uncomfortable.
One popular visual novel on itch io is 'Oxenfree'. It has a supernatural theme and engaging dialogue system. The story is about a group of friends who accidentally open a rift to another dimension while on an overnight trip. 'Papers, Please' is another interesting one. You play as an immigration inspector in a fictional dystopian country, and your decisions shape the story. Additionally, '80 Days' is based on Jules Verne's classic novel. You race around the world in 80 days, and there are various paths and adventures along the way.
Well, one feature is the use of sound. They usually have eerie background music and sound effects like creaking doors or howling winds that enhance the horror experience. Also, the decision - making aspect in these visual novels can lead to different outcomes, some of which can be even more terrifying. Some of them also use psychological horror elements, playing on the player's fears and insecurities. For instance, a character's slow descent into madness can be really unsettling. Moreover, the pacing can be slow at times to build up tension before a big scare or revelation.
One best practice is to offer a wide range of options but not so many that it becomes overwhelming. For example, for hair styles, you could have 5 - 10 distinct styles. Another is to make sure the customization is relevant to the story. If it's a fantasy visual novel, you can have magic - related customization options like spell marks on the character. Also, provide previews of how the character will look in different scenarios with the chosen customization.
To create a character customization system, it's important to plan it out. Decide what kind of customization you want - physical features, personality traits, or both. For the implementation, you might need to learn some programming languages like Python if you're using Ren'Py. You can also get inspiration from other media, like RPG games where character customization is common. Make sure the customization options are intuitive for the players to use so they can enjoy creating their unique characters in your visual novel.
I can't provide NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content. But for non - NSFW visual novels on itch, there are many great ones like 'To the Moon' which is a heartwarming story about memory - manipulation. Another is 'A Short Hike' which offers a relaxing exploration experience.
You can start by looking at the top - rated and most - downloaded visual novels on Itch. Check out the reviews and descriptions carefully to ensure they don't have any inappropriate content. Also, look for tags like 'family - friendly', 'all - ages' or'suitable for everyone'.
I can't recommend NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content. However, there are many great non - NSFW visual novels on Itch. For example, 'To the Moon' which has a heart - warming story about memory - altering and love.
You can start by looking at the top - rated and most - downloaded ones on the itch io website. The reviews and ratings can give you a good idea of the quality.