I’m not sure if this is controversial or not - but I (mostly) don’t like games that are primarily set underground.
There are a few exceptions to this, Dungeon Keeper and The Binding of Isaac spring to mind, but mostly I find it actively discouraging. Perhaps it’s a desire to explore under the sky, perhaps it’s that it feels claustrophobic, or perhaps it’s the gloom.
I don’t have a problem with the dark or claustrophobia in the real world, so it’s not that. Anything that involves dungeon crawling immediately puts me off. I don’t want to go down into the dark! I want to be outside!
I wasn’t a fan of the Metro series until Exodus, I bounced off Recettear as soon as the dungeon element was introduced. Anything that wants me to spend an extended period underground with monsters is just a massive turn-off for me. Sewer levels and the like also have this, to a lesser extent.
Anyone else have this specific dislike?
I hear that. Playing games set in snowy areas make me feel cold, so I grab myself an extra blanket and turn on the fireplace for those levels/areas. If your brain is reading underground=confined then it’s not something a blanket or sweater helps. Even if you don’t feel trapped perse it makes sense that you crave open areas. I’m curious whether games that are set in huge dungeons like Hollow Knight, or some of the Skyrim dungeons, trigger the same emotions.