Yes, and what Hannah said
But I saw some really exciting ideas, like one of my favorites: MC was a burnt out writer and they found out about a series of murders that were based on murders from their novel. 
I’m curious now, do you mean a game that’s about being an artist, or a game that’s about something else where the MC just happens to be an artist?
Have you tried the game by @ will – I think it is called the “Gray Painter”?
Both (unless MC’s profession only affects some stats and it’s not very important to the plot).
I started reading it once… but it was strange, so I stopped 
Do you think it’s worth trying again?
I think the released version is better than what it started out as. The feel and flow of the core doesn’t change though, in my opinion. I hope that makes sense.
Yeah, that’s pretty much the vibe I get as well.
There will, apparently, be a way to win the competition, at least, so there’s that. But I get why you got discouraged from following it. The constant game of ‘kick the MC’ gets old, and it seems the beatings will continue until morale improves…
Ooh! I must’ve seen that before, since it took me to the last post, but I didn’t remember it. It being set in the 80s is awesome. And being less toxic sounds great!
You may like it. “Gray Painter” is odd, no matter what, but I beta’d for it and found the writing to be really good. The characters were interesting, too. It just wasn’t really my cup of tea, and the ending was… not my thing.
I don’t know if this game was posted here before, I just found it browsing though itch io. The story and the writing are amazing. The MC is a monster hunter that pretends to be blind, because their eyes give away their identity, and they are running from something from their past. Something very bad, because you have a lot of trauma.
The ROs are absolutely delightful.
–Latest addition to the list | 13 October, 2023–
A Firsthand Murder Ballad
–Latest addition to the list | 13 October, 2023–
Burning Academia
Is it the Capcom kind of Monster Hunter?
I never played Capcom Monster Hunter 
I would say the MC of this game it’s like The Witcher’s monster hunter.
Sounds like typical dark fantasy, like hundreds of others with the same pattern: MC warrior using magic, some trauma, escape from the past, mysterious ROs…
Maybe it’s an overused formula, but I really liked this story. To be honest, I’m still not tired of this kind of setting. The MC can be badass, the ROs treat you like an actual human being - something that it’s rare lately LOL (plus one of the best NSFW scenes that I’ve read 
)
The only setting on IF that I don’t even bother to open the story is some monarchy where your MC needs to fight to get the throne.
I’m so bored with this so I started skipping most of these new wips. I guess, medieval / dark fantasy will never stop being popular…
I would actually like a story about monarchy, but one where MC is the ruler from the beginning of the game. Fighting for the throne and MC (usually) being the black sheep of the family is also overused.
I’m pretty sure I originally found it through here, but it deserves to be shared again.
Tbh this is exactly what I want. Grimdark medieval fantasy, I love even the most cliche ones when it comes to this genre.
I had a long day and am exhausted, but decided to check out Within Your Eyes first… and freaking love it so far!! The MC is perfect, the LIs are great so far, too. Like you said, they treat the MC like a human being instead of an annoyance. And the MC really is a badass. 
Haven’t made it to the NSFW scenes yet, but my Warden got the invite from Lyth already, and is probably going to take him up on it. 
Not shy at all, that one, and I’m loving it.
Thanks for the rec! I’m hoping to finish tonight, but am falling on my face, lol.
Ditto. The MC doesn’t have to be a pariah to make the story interesting.
Edit:
Holy freaking hell that NSFW scene with Lyth was hot!! I can’t wait for more of this game!!
–Latest addition to the list | 15 October, 2023–
Nine Houses
I like both the many options of customizing your MC’s abilities, the story in general so far and most of the ROs. However I was quite put off and turned off by how the narrative after me being given the option to choose the position of the MC in the only sexual scene(s) just decides that my MC would switch things around instead of sticking with what I chose for him. If the writer wants the sexual scenes to be a certain way, that’s completely fair. But when you’re actually given the option to choose at least the main outlines, that choice should be respected instead of the writer deciding to let the MC switch things around to the opposite of what you actually chose and wanted. This just comes off as disrespectful to the choices of the players IMHO. And yes, I should probably make a comment to the writer about this. Apart from this, the IF looks really good and promising.