Grab a handful of your top recommendations and turn them into a half-assed flowchart. Use any criteria you want.
Here's mine for 1-cour shows:
(A) Should combat be a major element?
"Yes" -> (B)
"No" -> (C)
(B) Should there be loads of combat scenes in relation to everything else?
"Yes" -> (D)
"No" -> Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet OR Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta (The Pilot's Love Song)
(D) What tone should the combat have?
"Lighthearted" -> Girls und Panzer OR Concrete Revolutio
"Gritty" -> Sidonia no Kishi (Knights of Sidonia)
(C) Should it be "artsy"?
"Yes" -> (F)
"No" -> (G)
(F) Should it be surreal?
"Yes" -> Paranoia Agent OR Serial Experiments Lain
"No. Keep it down to earth." -> (H)
(H) What tone should it have?
"Angsty" -> Aku no Hana (Flowers of Evil)
"Uplifting" -> Ping Pong: The Animation
"Introspective" -> The Tatami Galaxy
(G) Should the setting be exotic or familiar?
"Exotic" -> (I)
"Familiar" -> (J)
(I) Should the mood be upbeat or subdued?
"Upbeat" -> (K)
"Subdued" -> (L)
(K) How exotic should the setting be?
"Relatable" -> Rolling Girls
"Weird" -> Humanity Has Declined
"Wut" -> Kyousougiga
(L) How exotic should the setting be?
"Relatable" -> Haibane Renmei
"Weird" -> Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family) OR Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi (The Sunday Without God)
(J) Should it be about cute girls?
"M is for moe!" -> (M)
"No" -> (N)
(M) Should it be sunshine and rainbows most of the time?
"Yes" -> (O)
"No" -> (P)
(O) Comedy level?
"Tries to make jokes" -> Henneko: Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat
"Stays cute" -> Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky) OR Hanayamata
(P) Should there be some action or combat?
"Yes" -> Puella Magi Madoka Magica
"No" -> Hibike! Euphonium
(N) Should there be some action or combat?
"Yes" -> Angel Beats!
"No" -> Sakamichi no Apollon (Kids on the Slope)