Why do game journalists hate linear games so much?

It's an opinion. But it's one that ruins everything. I find it wild that there are people out there that hate linear games.

Like who the **** wants to play a game where the player gets exhausted running around doing chores eventually backtracking to the same area they've been before. That's like 80% of open games. I don't see the appeal in backtracking unless A.The locations are exuberant. B. The controls are good. C. It's a puzzle.

What is this madness? I thought the stereotypical gamer just wants to run in a line jump around and kill bad guys? Not every game has to be GTA SA and that's why Jak 2 and 3 are just ok.

Maybe there should be a middle ground like open ended or bottleneck.

Why do gamers hate all games?

Where do you get the impression that game journalists hate linear games?

Over the past few years, open-world games have been popular, go where you want, do what you want (within the limits of what is allowed and available)

But it doesn't mean that linear games are hated. This is a completely different type of game. The same way we can say that most people hate racing games. Because you can only go forward or back, well, you can still turn.

Your point is completely unclear.

That's the first time I'm hearing this.

In 2016 you'd be on the money, namely in these forums the general vibe I would see is "open world makes everything better" which is cringe as ****. We call them Metal Gear Solid 5 defenders..

However in 2025 I feel majority agree this just isn't true at all. Look at many of the most praised games right now: Astro Bot, Baldur's Gate III, D00M Eternal, Resident Evil 4 Remake.. none of these are open world. Then look at Bethesdas Starfield... it's not a terrible game, but feel calling it "mid" is justified. Only people coming to Starfields aid are people who forgot it's no longer 2011.

& even then feel both the media and dumb people online misrepresent what an open world game is fairly often. As they know shit what they're talking about. How many people online I see call Silent Hill 2 Remake an open world blows my mind..

On that note, for the record I'm fairly sick of seeing people call Monster Hunter World and MH Wilds "open world" when they are infact not open world; seamless and open ended are not open world.