How important is the MC in your opinion?

[O cha]

I completely agree!! I don't think an MC needs to be fully voiced or have an especially beautiful design either. Of course, full voice acting can make it easier to follow the story compared to just reading text, but to me, that's just a nice bonus. An MC's design feels more like a secondary element.

I really agree with what you said about how she's the one we see the world through. That's exactly why I think an MC's way of thinking is so important. Players need to be able to understand why she thinks and acts the way she does. Her decisions and actions should feel believable and make sense within the story.

The LI is definitely important too, but since we're experiencing everything from the MC's perspective, I think the MC is just as important. A well-written MC can really shape the entire experience.

 

[Sphyixz]

Almost as much as the LIs, honestly.

I have to be able to see things from her perspective and empathize with her. Even if I don't agree with every decision she makes, I want to understand why she's making it. As long as her motivations make sense to me, I'm usually on board.

If I can't connect with the MC at all, it becomes a lot harder for me to get invested in the romance because we're with her for the entire game.

 

[puffuxy]

I wont get into a game strictly because of the MC but I might drop a game because of it. I mean we spend more time with the MC then with all the LNs, so having a likeable MC is really important. Honestly tho Im not super picky about MCs, just no Mary Sue (sometimes its fine) very baby like, I cant do anything MCs...

 

[muragaki]

I personally don't even bother with faceless MCs or neutral/generic ones, save for some exceptions here and there. They don't need to be voiced or appear all the time visually, but they at least need to have a good character arc or just something to attach to in order to be able to see the plot through their eyes and thoughts.

a badly developed MC with a "difficult" personality makes me want to rip my hairs out.

 

[LSY]

I totally agree with you! I'm also a semi-self-insert player. If the MC has no mind of her own, I honestly can't bring myself to keep playing the game. So for me, the MC is extremely important. She shouldn't just be an empty 'tool' with zero thoughts of her own.

 

[shunira]

As someone who does not self insert in games, the MAIN CHARACTER should be compelling for you to follow along so i prefer them having a personality of their own that is NOT dependent on which route they are on(many times it flip flops) and for the story not be able to exist without them, because sometimes you get games you could remove mc from the plot and it would carry the same, i understand it is easier to write a blank slate mc, but if i do not like the mc i stop playing since it is their head i will be in.

 

[gaysian]

I believe there was a poll in japanese twitter about how people play otome visual novels. And the two ways that are self-insert and angel-watching-over-the-shoulder are very close in popularity. There was a third one or something but I don't remember.

Personally I don't feel self-insert a lot.