3 of those 4 are nominated Best Independent Game. So IDK what you’re talking about, it’s not like they’re not being recognized.

I played Dredge and watched a friend play Dave the Diver, great games but not goty material in my opinion. No idea about the other two

Great games, but none of them are close to the goty games this year.

Ok, some good games. But this contest is based on popularity. Smaller games rarely have a chance because they rarely have the audience.

You forgot Sea of Stars (which bested all your listed games in the Indie category at Golden Joystick).

Dredge was good but not goty in any year. If a small game got goty, I would put Obra Dinn on the list