For me it has to have a Story or Background regardless if its a quick game, text based, VN, or even comic. but it also can't be glichy or to poor of quality you can't tell whats parts are what (ex I have played a game I mistook a head for a foot)
I've played through 2 builds of Tomboy Supremacy; I know what's going on with Cosmo, but I have no idea what the story is.
For me, an RPG or any actual game needs some kind of story. It doesn't need to be Steel Magnolias or The Crying game, From Dusk til Dawn is fine.
For "playable" VNs, I don't care that much. If I pass by some interesting frames, I'll roll back and read up on the immediate situation, but not much more.
AVNs NEED, they absolutely require, a good story. Sure you can spam click to get to the good stuff, but thats not why you're playing a VN is it? You want to be engaged and experience a story. If you want just straight up sex, you can find that online.
It's why games like Eternum are so peak, because it has a robust story and characters that are engaging
Hate to be boring, but without a good storyline, the rest is just pointless erotic window-dressing. The sex is only enjoyable when directly linked to a well-crafted narrative.