Just replaying Metro Exodus and it's just so clear how much of the game's soul is missing compared to previous games because it sought out "broad appeal" and made creative decisions based on that rather than trying to just make a good Metro game.
It begs the question - we've seen so many games sacrificed at the altar of "broad appeal" but has a game ever been made better by stepping out of their niche to try get a better audience?
Shadow Warrior 2013 a decent enough FPS in its own right. They tried a little too hard to make new Wang inoffensive and succeeded, although at the expense of the MC now being boring. The sequel went for broad appeal and turned into a tedious looter shooter. Shadow Warrior 3 is looking like it's trying way too hard to be "wacky", as the marketing types would say. I plan on avoiding that one, although that's not the only reason I won't be giving 3 the time of day.
Which is to say, mass appeal is a cancer in and of itself. Trying to pander to the lowest common denominator makes sense from a money making stand point. Unfortunately it pretty much always winds up with everything being repetitive as hell at best. Just look up any Ubisoft title post Farcry 3.
Honestly I'd make the same argument for Shadow Warrior to 2013, but this is mostly subjective. Guess I'll stay far away from 3.