All lists like this are incredibly subjective and by definition about engagement. I wouldn’t call it bait, but it was definitely created for engagement. That is not necessarily a bad thing since it can generate some fun discussions.
I’m not AI and I really dislike Factorio. I would say it is a bit of a niche game, but Rimworld also seems niche. Probably just not to anyone at PC Gamer’s taste.
The Overwatch 2 update was pretty widely hated, so that might be clouding things. I supposed they did put Destiny 2 on there though. It is for sure weird to not see FFVII or an Arkham game. Or hell, Dishonored.
Not everyone can sit down and read for very long, some people want something to listen to while they do other things, some people learn better in audio format, and some people just like watching videos. It’s fine if it is not your jam, but that is no reason to denigrate someone choosing to watch a video instead of reading an article.
And the cool cutscenes are skippable even on your first time encountering the boss (great for multiple play throughs). The one run back I can remember being annoying is Rennala.
it’s no different than buying something made (in whole or part) in China giving tax money to the CCP to further Uighur genocide in Xinjiang
The difference for me is that while I do try to avoid those things, it is not possible a lot of times. I can avoid buying a game 100% of the time. They are essentially a luxury item.