I need recommendations like this until ep. 6 comes out. I've played most of the games like Eternum and such so if anyone has any hidden gems please share!
Here's a few:
1. Fates Collide - KatanaVN, FREE (Made a collab with Eternum, haven't played this one yet so I don't have an accurate description)
2. Once in a Lifetime - Caribdis, FREE (Same dev of Eternum, also set in the same universe)
3. Leap of Faith - DriftyGames, PAID (Scenes are not as glorious as the ones above but the story is more impactful, focuses on drama instead of supernatural/mystery)
4. Agent17 - HEXATAIL, FREE w/ extra paid content (MC picked up a phone that a secret agent calls from time to time, uses it to do "things", has multiple routes and avoidable NTR content, choices don't matter that much but the game has a prompt if the choice you're going to make has a big impact on the story)
5. Lucky Paradox - Stawer (Only played this for a bit but I think this one's also a good one, models also look great)
6. Goodbye Eternity - RNGeusEX, PAID w/ free demo (great artstyle, good storyline, some commenters in the game's itch page provide other players with tips and guides regarding some of the gameplay)
Others:
1. Zombie's Retreat - Siren, Part 1 PAID Part 2 Free (RPG maker game, survival type, both are set in the same universe, other games by the dev are also great)
2. Daily Lives of My Countryside - Milda Sento, FREE (Harvest Moon meets Summertime Saga, RPG Maker, built-in game guide and cheats, artstyle and animations are great)
3. Con-Quest - Cuddle Pit Games, FREE (Pokemon-like battle system, basically cosplayers in a stadium who got cursed by some kind of spell so expect to see familiar faces, the story's not that deep but I was there to fap)
4. Wasteland Lewdness - IcyViridian, FREE (Text-based adventure game, has multiple paths and story routes to follow right from the get-go, dev updates regularly every month or so)
Here you go, fam. Not sure what's your preferred cup of tea so I just put a little bit of everything.
Most of these aren't exactly hidden, but they're also mostly not on Itch, so maybe they'll count?
Summertime Saga - Hand-drawn sandbox. Decent story, fun characters, appealing art style. They had to do a full rebuild like Ripples did, and there's...debate as to if the rebuild will ever be finished, but what's there is still a full story and bigger than many other games out there.
Being a Dik - 3D visual novel like Ripples, with short moments of exploration. Emphasis on writing and humor. Probably the #1 AVN of the last few years, it just tells a really good story. The characters have depth and their own voices - I don't mean voice acting, but if you just saw a quote, you'd know exactly who said it. Nine (long) chapters are out, with another likely coming in September. It will engage most of your emotions. Highly recommended.
Artemis - A newer entry. Extremely polished, with great music, models, and environments. Same style of AVN as BaD, but with a twenty-minutes-into-the-future science fiction storyline, which might appeal to you more. Slick writing. The characters aren't as well realized as BaD, but it's early yet.
I'd also second the rec of Once in a Lifetime.