Yeah, that's a good perspective and an important confounding factor to be aware of, redonihunter.
It is easy to think that something "isn't working" or is "unpredictable" when in reality the sample size may be too small or too filled with noisy data. Of course, even knowing that is the case and being alert for it, it can still be hard sometimes to not take it to heart to some extent since that is human nature. I have experienced those kinds of feelings myself before, especially given the nature of the modern internet, which all too often feels arbitrary.
I've not posted a project on Itch yet myself (though I plan to soon), but to the original poster I'd say to not put much weight in such experiences when there's not much data, as redonihunter said, but like the other respondents mentioned I would also say that the most likely factor for why there was a large disparity (if I had to guess anyway, without enough data) is because of the artwork of a displayed image being more viscerally interesting.
For example, when I clicked on your (the original poster's) account and checked out your creations I immediately clicked on the snow-themed game because it was the most visually and/or thematically compelling in the thumbnail images. The game is indeed quite simple though, and that makes me wonder if it could be the really quickly produced one (~3 hr) you were talking about. So, that's at least one more data point for you, if that helps.
In any case, I am wishing you all the best in your creative efforts on here and indeed the same to all of us.
Have a good day/night!