Do you prefer long common route -> shorter character route OR short common route -> longer character route

[Rdddmi]

I prefer shorter common routes. As long as there is a reasonable amount of introduction, world-building, and explanation of the characters' relationships, I'm satisfied.

For character routes, though, I prefer them to be longer. I like it when each character is explored in depth, because it makes me want to experience the routes of more of the characters.

 

[Yashalun]

I'd much rather have a short main storyline and a longer character-driven storyline, I do play games for the story, yes, but often it gets tedious, boring, and pointless, so I end up quitting because the shared route focuses on the main story—and then I get impatient waiting for the good parts. Of course, there are exceptions where all the characters are great and there's no need to choose, plus the shared route is interesting—in those cases, sure, but I rarely come across that kind of situation.
So I'm mainly in the game for the romance and the couple's development story, which only happens in the character routes.