I really enjoyed Tunic, but I didn't hear about it until recently I saw someone mention it, even though it came out in 2022.
It's heavily zelda-inspired in the overworld and kinds of items you find, but the combat has rolling too, so a little more fluid than older zelda games. The best part though is you start off not knowing basically anything about how to play/what the controls are/what the heck is going on, and as you explore you find scattered pages from the old-school style instruction booklet. As you reassemble it, it reveals tips and things you might have overlooked. It was just a ton of fun exploring and learning and overcoming.
I don't have an aversion to underground games, but I think on some level I don't love games/movies set out in deserts, whether they're sandy or rocky. I think in the back of my mind, I'm thinking "man, that looks uncomfortable and dry. I wouldn't like being there."
I don't avoid things set in deserts, and I'm sure I've seen/played many good things in that setting, so it may not be as strong as your underground thing, but yeah, I think I have something similar.
Okay, that's all, now we can proceed to call me Anakin Skywalker.