Asklemmy

You might want to check out Red Dead Redemption 2 in story mode. The graphics and physics are pretty incredible. It’s a little old now, but I think it still holds up well, especially if you like the “old west cowboy” aesthetic.

Red Dead Redemption 2 will probably hit all the nerves. Open beautiful world that still hasn't been matched by another game.

The Spider-Man games are also great and Spider-Man 2 is just around the corner.

And Path of Exile 2 is currently all the rage even though it's still in early access.

And when you still have time you can play Baldur's Gate 3, first game to win Game of the Year in all contests.

Baldurs Gate 3 seems like a no brainer

Someone else has said Baldurs Gate 3, and I second that. Great game.

Not sure if automation/building is exactly your tastes, but satisfactory is a good one.

None of the one suggested.

https://libregaming.org/play-libre-games/

luanti

0ad

endless sky

mindustry

wesnoth

Outer wilds if you enjoyed subnautica's sense of wonder and exploration. Not replayable but a unique once in a lifetime experience.

Helldivers 2 if you enjoy halo firefight and it's expansive sandbox. Very replayable.

Teardown is very replayable and will run great on your rig.

Curious why you went for 64gb of ram instead of 32, because the extra dosh could have gone to a better gpu. Always use the extra on the gpu or monitor.

Mass Effect legendary edition.

SHEEPY

Factorio

You'd probably enjoy cyberpunk 2077

The new Indiana Jones is great

You've got a nice new pc and if you want to play something like BOTW, you might enjoy Red Dead Redemption 2. BOTW was also my favorite game of all time until i played rdr2. RDR has similiar mechanics to breath of the wild, like hunting, but the whole world is just so lively, immersive, and beautiful. I can't think of a single issue with the game, it's a true 10/10, can't praise it enough.

I also recommend any other rockstar game, specifically gta v and max payne 3, they are both great as well.

If you want an FPS experience, play the original call of duty modern warfare games first, MW2019 next, then black ops 1-3+cold war+6. I wouldn't recommend new mw2 or 3.

I'll also say the Metro games are great, they are like post-apocalyptic COD with a great story and nice gameplay. Super underrated series.

Edit: I have a specific taste for shooter games, so I'd suggest you read other comments if you are into other genres.

Assassin's creed series

Ghost of Tsushima, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk

A few years ago I got into this weird russian game about gravity and detonating sideways nukes above ground.

The storyline is a bit complex, but essentially its about a resource-based society trying to build colorful apartment complexes to house it's population, but the government keeps bombing the developments anytime an even stretch is built.

To get around this, the player has to grab these incomplete apartments as they're dropped by helicopter from the sky and position them into interesting structures that can't legally be called apartments, thus saving them from detonation.

There's a romance angle too, where the apartment bomber convinces the player to build multi-storey apartments at the last minute, thus allowing the govt worker to deploy his vast arsenal at a profit and split the proceeds with the player 50:50.

Its a pretty intense game, and I can still hear the chilling screams of those occupants to the tune of that haunting russian folk song.

I always have to recommend Vampire: The Masquerade, Bloodlines. Cheesy AF game from the early 'aughts, but it holds a special place in my heart and is a fantastic RPG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAIR9faz9pM

My favorite game is Descent, I just wish I had the hardware to play the successor, Overload..

https://youtu.be/jQ5RFBo0L_U

No Man's Sky - One of the most beautiful games out there imo, and has vastly improved since its disasterous launch. Warning this one does require an internet connection (actually for a good reason) but you dont have to interact with anyone, and it's difficult to even encounter another player in the wild outside of the Anomaly hub and campaigns due to its sheer size.

Project Zomboid - Even if you have zero interest in zombie stuff it's still worth a shot. Has a massive detailed world based off Midwestern towns in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. It's still in development so there's some noticeably unfinished aspects, and they've only just begun to add non-zombie NPCs.

Black Messa (fanmade Half-Life remaster) followed by Half-Life 2 (and its episodes), maybe also Half-Life Alyx if you have a VR headset (a cheap Quest 2 should be fine for PCVR)

Honestly psychonauts 1 and 2 are both absolutely amazing, and the art style means that they don't end up looking ancient despite still looking old. The story is also very enjoyable and influential on the level design

I've been getting a lot of play time from Ostranauts.

From the Steam blurb:

Ostranauts is a hardcore noir space-sim. Manage life aboard your ship, and beware the cost of every decision you make. Scavenge and explore the boneyard. Create, build, and customise your ship.

There's kinda of a story, more like things are happening in the world. You're mostly just left to your own devices.

Another game that's taken up a lot of my 2024 was Baldur's Gate 3, pretty sure it doesn't need a short write up though.

I liked spiderman and death stranding is also pretty nice although it's big and kinda slow

Sorry didn't even finish reading yet. You thought nier was repetitive?! Like maybe if you playing through it again to get the other endings but damn that first playthrough is a fresh experience. As you progress it feels like a different genre. Shit was great.

Just Cause 3 is great fun.

I recently picked up Metro Exodus and it's been a great experience.

God of War is OK,looks nice but felt a bit constrained and formulaic.

It would be a massive shame to not throw Fallout: New Vegas a nod.

XCOM 2

Skyrim, Fallout: New Vegas, and Mass Effect Legendary are my favorites that I come back to repeatedly. Of course, they were all probably perfectly playable on your old PC.

Hitman World of Assassination was good and not playable on your old PC. I have not replayed it yet, but it is definitely repayable with the option to approach every level in different ways.

I've gotten bored with the Assassins Creed games, but the newer ones are very pretty and they're open world with lots of story and tons of things to do.

You mentioned Far Cry 3, there's also 4, 5, 6 New Dawn, and Primal. I haven't played 5, 6, or New Dawn, but 4 plays the same as 3 (just a different story) and I actually like Primal quite a bit.

The Just Cause series is really over the top mayhem, but I enjoyed them. Lots of open world destruction for a...just cause (or maybe just because).

The Saints Row games are ridiculous, childish fun. Very similar to GTA, but makes GTA look classy by comparison. I think Saints Row 4 and Gat Out of Hell are the best ones. The first 2 are quite dated at this point. There is a recent remaster of 3, I liked the original, but haven't played the remaster yet. There's a newer one that's just called "Saints Row", I've only played a little of it so far and its pretty bland.

These are some suggestions for those little moments when you want a little break between games 😄

Tiny Glade - little diorama building game. I like playing this one when I don't have enough time for a full mission or quest in whatever game I'm playing, or I'm waiting for my buddies to get online.

Potion Craft: Alchemy Simulator - another cute little game. The NPCs make this one fun. You get visitors from other games coming to your shop to stock up on potions. Devs just did a big 2.0 update, and added more challenges and content. I played on super easy explorer mode and 100%ed the achievements in 52 in game days. I highly recommend this game! Another great one to play during in-between and waiting times, but also very easy to get sucked into 🧪