I've always agreed with OP on this one.
BG3 looks "cartoony" as hell, especially outside with this light and colors... (Visual effects does not help too...so are some mechanics... At least it is coherent)
I really hope for a reshade mod that will make this a bit more realistic.
Diablo 4 looks amazing.
That's a good way of putting it. I wouldn't say they reached nikolodeon levels yet, but I guess it's more of a general trend. You only need to look at the recent WoTC MTG artworks which went from nice oil/water paint artwork to some kind of horrible flat airbrush mass produced blandness. O tempora o more !