i generally tend to avoid RPGM games because of the grinding, and sometimes they have pretty rough art. but if the story is good enough i could be tempted. have any recommendations?
Frist advice Use cheats I cheat on all the games that use the default implementation of the combat or any one that shows signs of grindy combat.
as for recomendations.
NTRPG2, and 1 just because 1 has historic value is not that great.
Boy hero ken
Henteria chronicles
Summer Stolen Paradise ( unfinished, buggy, not greeat art but the scenes are great)
the games made by little boy I WON'T LOSE! ~30 DAYS A PRIESTESS
or the ones made by enno The Old Mansion
the games by OreNoHut, though they get repetitive.
kurse of kubel is a game i recomend with cheats.
the games made by GapTax
as you mentioned some of these games have aquired taste art. I am personally ok with it because I prefer unrealistic art. is one of the reasons I do not like VAM games
there is also a couple of games where the characters are 2 girls. but I cant remember the names because they use the "Girl 1 and girl 2 + something else" pattern as their name they all can be found here though.
the only games I recomend to play ant not cheat are the SEQUEL games. but they are japanese grindy but at least you can see the developer put work in the combat and story.