I would say that games have never been more expensive.
- We rarely get a full game. Frequently they cutout content to make DLCs, micro-transactions, special editions, pre-order bonus, etc.
- A lot of paid games, also have micro-transactions or loot-boxes, to gate access to content. Forcing the consumer to pay more.
- We no longer own the games we buy, we just lease them. This is especially true with the rise in digital sales.
- At any point companies can take out portions of a game, like the multiplayer, or the soundtrack, or even content in some GaaS.
- Not only we have to pay with money, but we also have to pay we our data. Most companies now have telemetry to mine user data. At best is just how we play the game, at worst it goes into personal detail.
- Every big publisher has a f****** store and launcher. And they all want to start with Windows, and have a helper service or two. And require user data, and online verification every time we launch a game.
- A lot of games just pad out play time with repetitive tasks, that often fell like work.
- With digital, companies no longer have to print covers and manuals. Make the casing for games. Shipp them around the world. They don't have to pay a percentage to the store, to the importer, to the warehouse, etc. They just pay a handful of engineers and some servers.
- Most games are released in an unfinished state. So most of the time we are not even getting a game, we are getting an alpha version, with the vague promise, that one day, maybe, it will be fixed.
Edit, another point added.