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?

  • Soapbox1858@lemm.ee
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    6 days ago

    I could never get into 3D “dungeon crawler” games that entirely take place in dungeons. I like open worlds where I can discover dungeons and caves to explore.

    I think It’s the maze like endless aspect of dungeon crawlers that I dislike. I need breaks to see the virtual sky.

  • Zahille7@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Then you may not like Abiotic Factor, even though it’s very large.

    It’s like a mix of Half-Kife and SCP, but it’s a survival crafting game that takes place in a huge secret underground research facility. The story is it’s under attack and you need to escape the containment breach.

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    7 days ago

    I remember being outdoors feeling like a relief in the original Half-Life.

    In Far Cry, I definitely preferred being outside. Same with Metro.

    I think in most FPS games I’ve played, the player doesn’t have the developer ambush them with stuff outside. Maybe that’s a factor.

  • weker01@sh.itjust.works
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    7 days ago

    I blame my ancestors who were mainly miners but I am actually quite comfy underground. Be it in games like Minecraft or real life.

    I dream of being able to sleep deep underground in a mine. Warm and completely dark. So dark that you cannot see your hands in front of your eyes. Water dripping in the background. That is my mental safe space tbh.

  • mindbleach@sh.itjust.works
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    7 days ago

    The human brain is weird about claustrophobia. I coerced a 3D engine out of an 8-bit machine, and it literally did not support ceilings… but I still felt constantly cramped because the HUD was at the top. Scrolling it to the bottom was instantly better.

  • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
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    7 days ago

    Games are so real it triggers my agrophobia. Eleden ring in particular. Doing the parkour is scary as heck for me. I can barely stand it.