Dwarf Fortress (2022)

The appeal is seeing a settlement become a history of individual dwarves, accidents and decisions you barely realised mattered. Its simulation can produce stories no writer would sensibly plan. My reservation is the attention needed to understand what caused a crisis and what to change next. The graphical 2022 edition is my suggested starting point, with a tutorial and mouse interface. Those help you begin, while the management of food, work, space and unpredictable inhabitants still asks for time and curiosity.