Why don't we see as many gritty and atmospheric games with darker themes anymore?

Dark, Story-Driven Narrative
1

I’ve been gaming for quite a while now and I can’t help but notice something. It feels like modern games have moved away from the darker, grittier atmospheres that older titles used to have. Maybe I’m just being nostalgic but hear me out.

Back in the day we had games like the original Diablo, Gothic series, and Legacy of Kain that had this really dark fantasy vibe. Even action games like BloodRayne had that gothic rusty atmosphere. Compare that to today’s sleek and polished titles and there’s a clear difference in tone.

Even established franchises seem to have shifted. Look at Dragon Age for example. Origins had this dark fantasy feel but by the time we got to newer entries the tone became much more heroic and bright. Same thing happened with Devil May Cry - the first game had that horror-influenced dark comic atmosphere but newer ones went for stylish flashy combat instead.

Dark Souls is probably the main exception that proves the rule. It carries that gritty dark fantasy torch really well. But aside from that most games with darker themes seem to be indie titles now. Games like Darkest Dungeon do cosmic horror with great art style and humor. There are some upcoming indie projects that look promising too.

I’m not trying to bash modern fantasy games but it seems like the industry has moved toward safer more sanitized content. Maybe it’s about age ratings or broader appeal but I miss that campy dark humor and grittier world building that made older RPGs feel more alive and unpredictable.

Am I just being nostalgic or have you noticed this shift too? Were older games actually darker and more willing to explore edgier themes or am I remembering things wrong?

2

I get where you’re coming from. Games like the original Witcher and Bloodlines really nailed that dark atmosphere. Nowadays it feels like the big studios are just following trends instead of taking risks.

3

It’s mostly about budget - games cost so much now that studios need mass appeal to break even. The good news? Smaller teams are nailing the dark atmosphere stuff. SOMA and Bloodborne prove you don’t need massive marketing budgets to create that oppressive feeling.

4

The Witcher 3 had some pretty dark moments but yeah, most stuff now feels too clean and safe

5

Metro nails that grimy post-apocalyptic vibe. Most big budget games are way too polished now - nothing like old school Silent Hill.

6

Bloodborne nailed that dark atmosphere, but we’ve been waiting a long time for something like it again.

7

You’re not imagining it. It’s all about money. Back when Gothic and Legacy of Kain came out, studios could afford to be weird and niche. Now games need to sell millions just to break even, so we get sanitized fantasy that won’t offend anyone. The crazy part? Those dark atmospheric games are still talked about today while most AAA games get forgotten in a year.