I felt this in Avowed big time. It felt like the characters in that game had the bare minimum going on to keep me kind of engaged, and not much else. I think it was a bit better in OW2, but yeah, a little lacking all around.

I mostly came away feeling the same. I liked them enough, but yeah, it all felt very B+ to me, which is how I've come away feeling about nearly every Obsidian game I've played.

consider this: I am simply terrible all the time

Undusted: Letters from the Past - Another game that tickled my brain chemistry, but it just never hit that next level for me narratively. The game does have a story and characters, but it almost feels like it's really *trying* to be a sad story only because it's an indie game law or something.

The Outer Worlds 2 - Has the same skeleton as Avowed, but is a bit more RPG-y. Its combat also feels worse than Avowed, so it feels like they can combine to make the perfect B+ RPG. The game is mostly fine, but it was extremely buggy in my playthrough, and that soured me on it.

Ninja Gaiden 4 - This one was also REALLY close to my top 6. Unlike NG2B, I actually liked the characters in this one, except for Yakumo. That guy is a huge geek. The combat and movement both feel tighter, but the environments still never make the most of the cool ass gameplay it has. Story is eh.

Date Everything! - I haven't finished this yet, but it's a really fun game to wind down with. I don't really care for visual novels, but I liked the premise of this one, and it's fun to go around your house to see what you can talk to. It's always good when you can hook up with your space heater.

Elden Ring Nightreign - Honestly, I was really close to putting this game in the worst of the year for a while. It clicked a little bit more as I kept forcing myself to play it, but it doesn't get near the point of being a recommended game. I do appreciate them using the assets to try something new.

Doom: The Dark Ages - It's better than Eternal, but we gotta stop trying to make the exposition-heavy story a thing. It just doesn't work, and Doom 2016 did it best by being thinner in the dialogue. But the shield works very well in combat, and the lack of verticiallity that plagued Eternal is nice.

South of Midnight - REALLY close to making it to my top 6 this year. Excellent visual and audio design, very well-realized, and is actually about something. Its gameplay just ticking the boxes really holds it back, but I don't have many complaints. If it were a weaker year, it would have been top 6.

Spilled! - A very short, snacky game about cleaning water that tickles my brain chemistry just right. Maybe not the most substance in the world, but it's exactly what it needs to be. It's just fun to clean stuff up in video games.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black - The story and characters are pretty woeful. Its gameplay is fun, but it all does feel a little juvenile with all the blood spurting and boobies bouncing. Areas are completely disconnected from each other. Still, gameplay is fun, and it's just difficult enough to not get dull.

Avowed - Pretty decent. Very pretty and visually interesting. The characters did juuuuust enough to keep me from falling asleep. I liked the overall premise. A little thin on the RPG elements, but the actual gameplay was basically Skyrim, but playable. Made me interested in Pillars of Eternity.

The other games that I've played but either haven't finished or didn't feel strong enough about:

Bleach Rebirth of Souls - Surprisingly kind of fun? The combat worked well, and the attacks were cool. The story was okay, considering they were cramming an entire anime into a video game.

South of Midnight was a lot of fun. I think it had the best music/gameplay integration out of any non-rhythm game in a loooooong time.