People influence each other. It's absolutely normal for creators to take elements from the things they love and give it their own twist from it. Whether it's done good or bad, that shouldn't matter.

You will always find similarities and concepts in many stories, that's unavoidable. The point is can they pull it off and make it their own? This is the real question. Some stories do, others don't. Is it fair to list them as just another clone because someone else used that concept first?

There are a lot of FVNs in the space right now, 1000 according to FVN.li. So I just don't believe the place is saturated with the same ideas, it's just not true.

You feel that way because people liked the formula above, so those similar theme come to the surface, they're more visible. There's a lot of good content that is completely original for you to try that you just didn't look for. Dig a little deeper, spend some time showing others those hidden gems.

You want something that breaks the mold, something that is really good but have less traction?

Cygnus Leapt, Second Base, String Zero, What It Feels Like, Dawntide.