Almost none of the profit made off AAA games goes to the people actually creating the game. They don’t get a bonus if the new Madden makes $10 mil more than the old one. You’re tossing hundreds at the CEOs and saying it’s worth it if the devs get a few pennies.
Many of them probably aren’t even at the same studio anymore by the time you’re buying the game.
I’ve been watching a few streamers play this game, and the pixel art animations are honestly amazing. Every time a new cut scene is triggered it’s just delightful to watch.
Have you heard of Hardspace: Shipbreaker? If anything it’s the opposite of a crafting-building game, it’s a disassembly game! It’s set in space and has a nice plot about corporate greed. And you have to manage your oxygen in space, so arguably it’s like diving, haha.
Another game I liked that’s made by a small studio is Carrion. You play as a The Thing-esque monster that has to kill, grow, and solve different puzzles to escape the lab it was created in. Very gory but fun.