I found that added systems, like survival stats, to Red Dead 2 distracted from the incredible story. I think I just want a mature, emotionally deep story from Rockstar games. GTA5 got a bit close, but RDR2 proved they’re fully capable of making a masterpiece story.
GTA always been "kind of serious but mostly comedy and sarcasm/parody" and RDR always been "This is deadly serious" so the stories will reflect that. I wouldn't assume GTA will have as serious story as RDR2 had.
I'd play that game too. It'd be dark, controversial, and a political minefield, but I think a story-driven FPS set in a civil warring 2030 America would be awesome. The usual stories in CoD or Battlefield of USA military vs insurgents who are vaguely slavic or vaguely middle eastern have gotten stale for me - I'd love to see what game designers think all-American militia battles in NYC or Miami could feel like.
Again, it'd be super controversial and will probably never get made, but I'd play a game like that.
If you haven’t tried it yet, I think Far Cry 5 fits your desired description somewhat. I only played it for the first time recently despite it coming out several years ago and it was a little “too real” at times.
It has over the top moments (like GTA) but I think the story is compelling and it’s not hard to see the parallels to modern day groups and events.
I haven't really played a Far Cry game since #3 and knew almost nothing about #5. Just did some reading about it and sounds almost exactly like what I was describing up there, hahah. Given I'll be spending at least a few months off work from an injury, playing #5 sounds like the perfect way to spend some winter afternoons. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely give it a shot!
RDR2 didn't have survival stats, you could eat and stuff but it didn't matter and just buffed you.
Personally I'd have preferred it if i I had to eat and had to set up camp for the night. That level of roleplaying really helps the world feel tangible for me.
The food system in Valheim was the best I've ever seen. It isn't really survival, you don't have to eat to stay alive, but it gives you significant enough buffs that it is basically required for anything past the easiest fights. But your character is basically functional without food (you can walk around your base and do stuff; you won't, like, slowly die).
Too many "realistic" food systems feel like a tedious system to be engaged with just to avoid punishment. This somehow feels more like a reward.
