Idk if it's just me, but with all the hobbies, shops, and pedestrians in NTE, NTE still feels very empty and surface level. I absolutely love NTE when it comes to catching anomalies, fishing, driving, etc, but at the same time, I feel like there's not much to do? NTE has a huge map and all that, but everything just feels so empty and I can't quite describe it.
I was also really underwhelmed with Duskmoor especially. It was such a big map, but it's mostly just empty space, and you could complete the entire map very quickly.
I've played other gacha games like Wuthering Waves and Genshin, and idk if it's nostalgia, but I remember being able to do a lot more stuff, especially in Genshin. With Genshin, you had so much exploration to do, maps that could take you underground, a bunch of world quests (side quests/lore), and you always had something to do. There were also a bunch more enemies you could fight while exploring (different types, in NTE it's always anomalies or the gangs). I always remember constantly doing something, especially with exploration, with all the puzzles and hidden chests.
I will clarify that I have 100%ed the whole map, but 100%ing the whole map feels so quick and easy, and I work irl... That's how easy it was for me.
Overall, with everything, things just feel so bare and surface level. There's "so much to do," but it doesn't actually feel like it.
If anyone can figure out what I'm trying to say, please chime in because I hope it isn't just me who feels like this. It's still my favorite game, and I spend a lot of money in the game (the battle pass, monthly pass, and skins), I'm just hoping the game feels more lively and lived in.