If the updates are too far apart, then I sometimes go through the game again sped up, just lose interest or wait for a few more updates for that game then replay the whole thing from scratch.
I use to play each update all the way through the game/VN, that was before all the abandoned games/VN's started to come around.
Now I wait for 3-4 updates to come out then try the game/vn once then wait for the completed vn/game then play again.
If I like what is there I would throw some money at the dev.
After supporting 3 games/VN's that got abandoned I stopped all support from now on and only once the game/VN is done and I like what is there then and only then will I give money to the dev.