So recently, I started working on a visual novel that is the first entry of a series of games I want to make. But I'm struggling to stay motivated on it because of my fear that it's not good enough...

I tend to make my games for fun and to entertain others, but I'm pretty overly critical about the things I make. I don't think it's necessary a bad thing as it just helps me improve and make the best version of my game but rn I'm getting way too caught up with the idea that everyone might hate it or that what I'm doing is all for nothing

I'm really passionate about this game series and have been planning it for about a year so I don't want it to throw itself into that one pit from Inside Out where everything gets forgotten. RIP Bing Bing 😭

So my main question is how do you reassure yourself that your game has value and how do you avoid getting caught up and obsessively worry about the amount of views, downloads or comments you get for them

I've found that it's helpful to find an active community who can cheer you on and offer support. I'd recommend seeking out maybe a Discord server for visual novel devs 

This might sound mean but, why not play a bunch of crap VNs? In fact, not even crap ones, as such, but just any from the newest section of itchio. 

If you can say 'my game's going to be way better than 90% of these' then that should help with confidence. And if you can't, think about why, and what you can do to fix this. For motivation, you should consider that these games have been released and yours won't actually be better until it's also finished and public.

Don't sweat about perfection. No dev ever reaches this bar because it doesn't exist. If you just ensure you make a game that satisfies you then other people are guaranteed to enjoy it too. The absolute worst case scenario is a couple of play it, don't like it much and then you move on to your next game with lessons learned.

how do you reassure yourself that your game has value

Play your own game and judge the value yourself. If you think it has value, then it has value.

how do you avoid getting caught up and obsessively worry about the amount of views, downloads or comments you get for them

Don't worry too much then.

I've got a similar problem. see, I have this very important VN that I plan to release in November, but I'm not sure it will catch on as much as I want it to...

So my main question is how do you reassure yourself that your game has value and how do you avoid getting caught up and obsessively worry about the amount of views, downloads or comments you get for them

Stuff we write sounds always better in our own head. Because we already know all the  intentions and meanings. This goes so far, that most people are unable to detect their own tpyos.

So basically ... you can't. Not by yourself. Find people that are not fans of yours (like your mum), but still like the general genre you are aiming for and let them proofread.

As for the exposure, even if your stuff is good, unless it is exceptional good and has gone viral on its own, you still need some form of marketing. I often see good stuff and wonder, why is there not a single comment or rating on this. An announcement post on itch is not enough marketing. You get maybe 50 page views  for those. And I bet not all those page views will visit the game page.

There are currently 22000+ visual novesl on itch. When I go to top rated, it is only 10k. I am not entirely sure what that means, but I think that means that the algorithm says, that over half of those 22k vn are basically unrated. Wich begs the question, if those 12k vn have no value. Or just did not manage to profilerate out of the plethora of other vn trying to do the same.

If you had fun making it, it has value. But to be hones, just like many people like to proverbially sing under the shower, that does not mean that their singing is worth hearing. That being said, story telling and game making are skills. If you are at if for some time, you should have some kind of idea about your level of skill. But as also said, even if you are good, you are not the only one that is good. And itch is self publishing. In the olden days being published was the hurdle to take to know your stuff is "worth it".

there is nothing to fear - you can take it for granted that it will be never good enough for some - no matter what you do 😔
e.g. I thought it would be impressive to make a game that runs 60fps on nearly all machines - even low spec ones.. but turns out the standard is now 240fps for PC players
(and some already have 320hz monitors)
you are not alone worrying about this of course: this fear seem to be the very fuel to the race to the bottom in the industry today - where you just cannot have bad graphics in a game and now games take 5+ years to develop etc. but I digress

in the end every game has a value and even if you make a bad or boring one it will be the favorite of at least one person - but how to get noticed and make  many people want to play your game? 🤔 - I'll get back to you if I get any insight on the matter 👍

I usually look at games that are even worse than mine.

You can go to youtube and search for "qzeq" or "digital homicide".

I think about my ideas and games CONSTANTLY, and also have a circle of people that I tell about them, so I know they have to be at least kind of alright.

Every-time I think something is "not good enough" I try and remember that it's okay for it not to be perfect. It will never be perfect that's an uncontrollable part of life and creating. The goal is to improve/learn new skills and make something from my heart. It's okay if it flops, it's okay to keep reworking it and adding new versions. The most important part is to keep making the effort and doing something. (I lose focus and struggle most with this aspect) 

I feel like our entire school lives and growing up we had to aim for "As" or a certain level of perfection or correctness. That was so damaging to me!I am trying to reprogram myself not to think in this way because I think it's extremely harmful to be so focused on result and forgetting that the process of creating and learning on the way is equally important.

Some people in this thread suggested looking at terrible unskilled people making games to make you feel better- while I can't disagree with that advice I suggest rather than looking down on them to make yourself feel more important (this isn't a healthy mindset, you will think the opposite when you see someone better!) I think you look up to them. Look at them making one heck of an effort. How can I power through it and be like that? Is what I think.

I think being self critical is super powerful if you can use it to boost yourself not tear yourself down. Sounds like you are good at finding  areas you need to improve!!! That's an awesome talent, use it!!!! BUT you need to separate critique of your work, from critique to yourself. Think strategically and objectively. I go to art school and I see others struggle all the time with this. They identify and are emotionally attached to their work and get upset when it comes to comments or critique. My poor art teachers walk on eggshells and I have to tell them upfront I welcome all comments and thoughts towards my work and wont take it personally haha. I try to feel the same towards my own thoughts and comments positive or negative. I would say most creators struggle or are struggling with this too! All your feelings are very normal and I have them too.