These suggestions rock, I guess my weekend is set!
Skyrim was a lot like a magic trick, amazing and unforgettable the first time but it wears off as you notice the world isn’t as deep as it is wide. After doing the same formula with Fallout 4, and the disastrous launch of 76, even though Starfield is built to create that magic experience again it’s not as effective because we’ve seen it before.
I won’t preorder TES 6 if it ever comes out, but I will be rooting for Bethesda to shake things up, especially after BG3 showed a more complex RPG can still be a bestseller.
Star Wars: Empire at War is a classic with more nontraditional gameplay and light 4x elements (no diplomacy). The modding scene is rich too, with Thrawn’s Revenge for the EU and multiple Clone Wars mods.