Legend of Grimrock 1 was the first grid based dungeon crawler i played. I liked that you were just thrown into the gameplay and do not have to read so much nonsense if you really just want to explore and fight.
Same for Etrian Odyssey and Shin Megami Tensei but i do not own any Nintendo Hardware anymore.

I thought there are tons of games like Legend of Grimrock out there but after searching through some lists, i am wondering what the problem with the genre is.

Nearly every game has mixed reviews because they are unbalanced or have broken mechanics, annoying UIs or are over sexualized. What would you say are the games someone like me should give a try?

A few I found that may be something like I am looking for:
Wizardry Labyrinth of Lost Souls
Bards Tale Trilogy
Dungeon of Dragon Knight


I gave Bards Tale IV a try and boy is this game ugly. What the hell went wrong that the bards look and sound like that? It's horrible to look at it and horrible to control.
I also checked out some japanese releases but i can't stand the walls of texts.

The question is: What is the question?

i am wondering what the problem with the genre is
What would you say are the games someone like me should give a try?*
What the hell went wrong that the bards look and sound like that?

*this one is connected with the words before the question

tbf 2 questions i had were lost in my try to edit the post.
I also wanted to know where to look for games like grim rock 1 - only re-releases of classics or are there new relases worth checking out. I only find games with negative or mixed reviews and want to know which of the relases are worth a try.

Well, if you like classic dungeon crawlers, why don`t you give Bloodwych a chance? It`s here on GOG. I played the Amiga version then and it was great fun. I liked it better than Dungeon Master.

Try Dungeon Master, the original real time Blobber, and if you like it, the sequel Chaos Strikes Back. Both are available as free remakes for Windows, but the Amiga versions are the superior ones for having directional sound.

The "problem" with the genre is that none of the later developers understood what made DM and CSB great (except maybe Grimrock which I haven't played yet).
Real time made sense in DM, due to the nature of the puzzles and the fact that wounds made you move slower. The game was also slow enough that there was never need for frantic clicking. Later games might just as well have been turn based.

DM and CSB also had a more complex physics engine, with spells being more than just a screen effect, and you could throw things through bars, for example.
DM perfected the formula, but later developers were like car designers who saw a flashy car, and tried to build a flashier one without looking at the engine.

I loved the first Lands of Lore, and it's not nostalgia - I only played it for the first time when I bought it here, after playing Grimrock. Very charming, accessible despite its age, long, full of content, plus it has Patrick Stewart as the King! Just be warned, I found it much harder than Grimrock.

Unfortunately the second game in the series I did not like at all, it's not even a grid based crawler any more, but the first game is well worth getting the pack, I think.

https://www.gog.com/en/game/grimoire_heralds_of_the_winged_exemplar

https://www.gog.com/game/legends_of_amberland_the_forgotten_crown

https://www.gog.com/en/game/inferno_beyond_the_7th_circle

https://www.gog.com/en/game/heroes_of_the_monkey_tavern

https://www.gog.com/en/game/stonekeep

https://www.gog.com/game/anvil_of_dawn

https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_quest_islands_of_ice_and_fire

https://www.gog.com/en/game/forgotten_realms_the_archives_collection_one

Some of the better rated ones to check out:
Operencia: The Stolen Sun
StarCrawlers
Vaporum
The Quest

Personally, I loved the simplicity and indie charm of Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown, but whether you'll like it depends on your taste:
https://www.gog.com/en/game/legends_of_amberland_the_forgotten_crown

For oldies, check out Anvil of Dawn and Albion. Albion, is a mix of top-down exploration and blobber dungeon crawling.
https://www.gog.com/en/game/anvil_of_dawn
https://www.gog.com/en/game/albion

And it doesn't get more simple than Heroes of the Monkey Tavern, definitely an acquired taste:
https://www.gog.com/en/game/heroes_of_the_monkey_tavern

Inferno was pretty good. Survival scenario/elements, demonic apocalypse.. Most of what you do is fight. There are some puzzles but they are logical and you find the answer by exploring.

It was pretty tough but a nice experience, about 35 hours for my playthrough.

Legend of Grimrock is a Dungeon Master-like, ie a real-time blobber which is more action-oriented. Dungeon Master is from 1987 which created the genre. Other DM likes available on GOG are:
Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession
Ravenloft: Stone Prophet
Menzobarrenzan
Stonekeep
Dungeon Hack
Ishar 1-3
Might & Magic 6-8
Lands of Lore
Eye of the Beholder 1-3

I'd really like to, but the ugly graphics just turn me off. I think VGA is the minimum I require.

From the left of field, third-person dungeon crawlers instead of first person. I recomend Monsters' Den: Godfall
(https://store.steampowered.com/app/469720/Monsters_Den_Godfall/)

Ugly??? It's nice and crisp, but rather cartoony of course.

The lack of colors, all the walls seem to be one grey texture. Even Wizardry 6 looks much better. Does the Amiga version look better?

Not really. Sound is much better, though.
But lack of colours? What do you expect inside a dungeon? I like the dungeon textures; makes a good background for fireballs and monsters.
BTW, funny you should mentions Wiz 6. That's one game that looks ugly, with those hideous character portraits with everything smeared out. If you can't make it look good, make it simple and cartoony.