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I think most devs are getting stuck at that, though. It’s fine to take inspiration from older games, but you need some kind of evolution beyond old design.

*Kicks my current projects under the bed* Nuh uh!

The rough-vs-polished split feels real, but I think the stronger differentiator is authored constraints: a simple visual can still feel unmistakably human when the mechanics and pacing take a clear stance. Polish earns attention; a specific idea earns memory.

Soulslike Metroidvania with Roguelike mechanics /jk

Yeah, and what's interesting to me is how almost every game is either a very literal retro throwback, or it uses realistic modern lighting and effects. Very few games that just straight up look weird and not realistic, with no retro association. They exist, for sure, but there aren't a ton.

Do you think intentional inconsistency becomes part of the design language, rather than something creators try to eliminate?

We're well past the point where UE5 visuals and generic high fidelity assets commonly signify "Steam slop," and I do think that trend will continue. It will be important for games to look like they're made by a person, and not by a combination of marketplace assets, UE5 templates, and gen AI