I ALWAYS rename the MC (if given the option) to Beef, and if they want a last name, Lumberyard. Beef Lumberyard. I don't know why, but the names given in the game always seem dumb or off so I just take it all the way, then I chuckle a bit and dive in.
VN tends to be better, but we well made sandbox can blow everything else out of the water. Just needs to have either clearly labeled mechanics or explained in a way that isn't too confusing
The locally run language models do a lot better with a dedicated graphics card, memory is what you need. Might be worth looking at things like koboldai, silly tavern, ooba, things like that
Really big ones can be fun, like anything in the double digits, but they tend to not be as well done as the ones with smaller and more manageable amounts. Plus they seem to end up in the abandoned bin a lot too
Most of them can be great if done right, a really well done hand drawn game with good mechanics is a breath of fresh air among the endless generic DAZ games. (some of the DAZ games are amazing though too)