This game is like the primary reason I wanted to have 18+ game recs, so listen up, this one's important.
Imagine the world of a fantasy RPG, where death is painful, but merely returns you to where you last rested.
Now imagine being in this world as a hypermasochist with no self-esteem. About the actions you might take, how they might hurt and warp you.
Love and Dehumanization is a linear visual novel about such a girl in such a world, turning herself into a monster so she may no longer burden those around her with her self-destructive tendencies.
I'll be honest, this story is not easy to get through. It contains visceral descriptions of horrifying violence, written by a highly masochistic author. I certainly do not have the same list of kinks and fetishes the author does.
However.
This is a game about understanding. It is about seeing something you don't get, and making the effort to empathize, even if it seems gross or perverse or scary. I don't think the game would be nearly as powerful without that gap in initial understanding.
And it is a powerful experience. I think it's worth it for just about anyone to read through, provided you can handle the content. Of which, the game kindly provides both vague and detailed content warnings as options at the beginning of every chapter.
It's a bit self indulgent at times (nearly every violent scene is depicted sexually in some way), but I think in a way that's important to the themes of understanding.
Seeing this story through to the end is well worth the pain.
P.S. I think the first chapter is the hardest to get through. I had to take a break after it, but then managed to do the rest of the story in one sitting. Stick through it if you can.