Like any game, it depends. When they look like the original, it helps a lot. If it's kind of similar in looks but not the same, the story better be damn good.
Right? Plus when it comes to the various exertion noises from things like jumping, swinging a weapon etc., I don't want to repeatedly hear a guy grunting in my ear, I prefer hearing a female voice.
I tend to prefer dating sims or games where a relationship develops. So, yeah, I probably play them because I crave that connection irl. Still not sure why incest games intrigue me though.
I remember jerkin' it to the JC Penney catalogue underwear section as a teenager. Underwear in and of themselves don't really do it for me, but the modesty they can represent can still get me going sometimes.
I don't generally skip, but I tried Lessons in Love a while back and Jesus Christ was there a lot of inane dialogue. Tried skipping some of it to get to the good stuff, but even it got further and further apart. Lesson learned.
I like when characters are drawn natural or cute rather than overtly sexualized. Anything from Dog Princess to SSP. Not a big fan of the Koikatsu style or exaggerated body parts.
If it's just a quick fap game, I don't like it. But a good story or good gameplay can make me forget it's there. I'm a boob guy anyway, and tits generally make the cut.
I like the grind when MC has to slowly get her to trust him while slowly raising her stats, all the while getting little morsels of progress along the way. But I have no life, so...