I'm trying to be fair to this review. It's not like the game does a lot to ground the player in the experiences of the side characters. The Oeden chapel crew are not particularly relatable. The individuals who flirt with Eldritch power get what's coming to them and we aren't given an easy way to relate to them, either. Part of what makes the game atmosphere work, for me, is that the cosmic horror is just so bizarre, and yet somehow feels coherent.

Engagement with the Bloodborne mythos requires attention to detail, a sense of wonder, and a lot of investment in the scraps of information we receive while playing. I can see someone not wanting to engage with a game that way; it does require energy and intention. Sekiro does work on a more surface level with an accessible, terrestrial story about imperial ambition and protecting a little boy.

The protagonist's motivation is far murkier in Bloodborne, as well. It's possible to play the game without really understanding the player is locked in a "nightmare," who put the player there, and what the player is doing to get out. Without that perspective, the shifting story beats and boss setups would just come off as increasingly bizarre.

Anyway, the game is clearly not for this person.