This coming off the 'type 1 type 2' bs from Oblivion but I've noticed this as I am currently playing both Fallout 4 and Skyrim Aniversary edition on and off.
In Fallout 4 I have a female character, because it doesn't really affect the game, I don't care about the companions beyond perks they give and mostly play it to create the ultimate settlements/skyscraper fortresses.
In Skyrim, no matter what race I pick, Dunmer, Redguard, Breton (though fuck being a High Elf) my character is always male, since I enjoy the story and quests and even the Harthfire marriage and kids aspect of it.
I started applying this to older games with player created characters, was ALWAYS a Male Shep in ME, ALWAYS Male in Fallout NV and 3, was always male in Dragon Age EXCEPT DA inquisition but that also dropped massively in writing quality.
Maybe I'm over thinking it, but I'm wondering if subconsciously this 'type 1/2' bs is also indicating how shit the writing and world building is since as players, the more invested we are in the world, the more we want to create a character like us in the game to play as including gender, just at peak performance lol.
I seem to be in a weird position with this, as I will often give my name to characters whose shoes I love would walk a mile in (Like in SMT or pokemon), but for characters in less glamorous or high-class games, not so much, if ever.
In XCOM or games like that where you're meant to be the commander of the units, I don't do it.
Played Chrono Trigger once, and I noticed that almost every playable character's name can be chosen by the player. Has anyone actually put odd names in there? I certainly didn't.
Also played Baldur's gate 3 once, and made a stock human fighter since I just couldn't decide what I wanted to play. Might have made a Dragon born paladin if I decided to go back and do it again.
Makes me curious what kind of character I will want to make should I buy Pathfinder: The Dragon's Demand.