IllI'll post this to help anyone who like myself Cantwho can't get their hands on the visual novel. LikeAs said above previously Itsin another answers, it's best to start with fate stayFate/stay night. The new version that comes out is based on the unlimited blade worksUnlimited Blade Works route of the visual novel. As such, I recommend this viewing order.
FATE STAY NIGHT 2006Fate/stay night (2006)
FATE ZEROFate/Zero
FATE STAY NIGHT UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS 2014Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (2014)
FATE STAY NIGHT HEAVENS FEELFate/stay night: Heaven's Feel
This viewing order avoids spoilers ruining the series and lets you see each route to completion before moving onto the next route. Fate Zero Fate/Zero and Fate Stay Night 2006/stay night (2006) have saberSaber as the female lead and thus the most connected.
I would also just like to mention that WHILE THEwhile the 2006 ANIMATION seems to draw to be regarded negativelyanime receives negative critiques regarding its animation, when I watched it I enjoyedenjoyed it. Anyway, I have definitely seen worse anime. Although I am under no illusion yhatthat it is better thenthan the visual novel. The, the source material is usually better than anime adaptations.
Anyway I just thought Ito post this since the original question was to exclude the visual novels.