Shibuya Scramble is a good one to start with too IMO. I wouldn't even consider myself someone who is into visual novels but I loved that game.
it's a solid choice since it has a few "traditional" gaming bits to ease you in (even if I think the walking around is more detrimental to the experience than anything)
Ace Attorney, 999, and arguably even Layton are probably the best to get into "traditional" visual novels since their gameplay mechanics are more directly tied into the narrative
It's not a VN op, it's an adventure game.Self explanatory title, but if I want to pick one (that is readily available on Mac/PS5/Switch) is this my best shot?
VNs are called adventure games in japan.
I didn't know that, that's cool, just pointing out that it might be different than the OP expects.
nope
In Japanese, a distinction is often made between visual novels (NVL, from "novel"), which consist primarily of narration and have very few interactive elements, and adventure games (AVG or ADV, from "adventure"), which incorporate problem-solving and other types of gameplay.
The former is kinetic and sound novels like F/SN and the PC versions of Higurashi(which are more like actual novels, with a lot of text laid out on the screen). But stuff like Steins;Gate and 13 sentinels are definitely ADV games even if they have sub categories like ギャルゲー and stuff. On digital game stores these will be under アドベンチャー. (Heck you can even go on the japanese wiki pages for them, they'll say ADV or アドベンチャー under ジャンル)
I think it would be a good starting point. Full voice acting helps.
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy is basically on everything and would be a great starting point too. A lot of people get into visual novels because of Phoenix Wright.
I expected the gameplay during the battle segments to be boring from the videos, but I actually found them pretty damn fun.
Man for real, maxed out Demolition Blade is so satisfying to use lmao