Space Opera/ Sci-Fi
Another setting that is beyond saturation point across all media, the conventional sci fi setting, as popularized by works of literature like Asimov’s Foundation, and classic movies and TV shows like Star Wars and Star Trek, is very, very, VERY overused in videogames too. Mass Effect, Halo and Gears of War make liberal use of genre conventions like a galaxy straddling society, planetary federations, planets with just one culture and language across their entire landmasses, faster than light travel, alien threats and attacks, and more. Considering that there are so many more sci fi settings that can be explored- such as the ones popularized by HG Wells, for example- it’s puzzling as to just why we’re stuck with the same mould every single time. Mind you, it’s not necessarily a bad thing- sometimes, a developer makes use of this setting in an incredibly different way, so that while you may have the same elements, the end result, the story, the plot, the setting, FEELS entirely different, such as what Nintendo managed with the Metroid series.
