For single player fantasy, Outward is my favorite game to get immersed in. It has a bit of a steep learning curve, but the survival mechanics and lack of a leveling system really aid in the feeling that you’re getting better at playing the game as your gear gets better. The combat encourages patience and preparation rather than jumping into the fray and swinging wildly. And the magic system, good lord. There are several vague categories, but the best way to describe it would be ‘ritualistic.’ There are spells with fairly benign effects on their own that, when used in conjunction with other spells or effects, produce deviating or beneficial results. And the NG+ mechanics are fair and balanced while offering a boost to follow-on playthroughs.
The most significant barrier to entry is the learning curve, mostly learning about combat, patience, and the stability system. But it’s my personal favorite.
That fantasy looks like the Western government offering tax cuts and incentives for a private company to set up shop in a rural town, hiring a bunch of employees for as little money as possible, cutting corners in safety and quality to boost their revenue from the investment, and ultimately delivering a shit product by comparison. Then, when the public finds out, the company will “downsize” by laying off most of the employees they hired, stranding those that are laid off in a rural town they can no longer afford to move away from while protecting the company’s profits.
The CEO gets a bonus for record profits, a couple hundred people’s lives are ruined, a small town has to deal with the fallout of high unemployment and the socioeconomic issues that come with that, and the Western government is at a loss of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. Lawmakers get their kickbacks from the company in the form of political donations and lobbying vacation trips.
I’m sorry, my internet friend, but I have little hope for that fantasy without significant change to the system at large.