I had a moment to think about why I like certain games, and I have figured out some criteria for myself,
- Vibrant colours
- Simple/Cartoon-ish looks
- Mid/High level of complexity in mechanics
That's why my current favourite game is Splatoon 3, followed by Minecraft, and the list consists mostly of Nintendo games.
What's your criteria?
I feel the same towards the pixel-art games, but I understand that they are one of the easiest ways for devs to put their cool ideas into a game very quickly.
I know, that's why I don't begrudge them, but at the same time, I do feel a little weary on the inside when I see another interesting game that's pixel art. xD