It’s still the same basic game, but some of the changes make a big difference. Like they added a second layer, and the stacker machine works across both levels with the top item dropping down on top of the other. And the colors are now liquids.
But, as silly as it may sound, the graphics change make a huge difference in game feel. Every tiny thing is animated fully in a way that makes sense and nothing ever disappears into a machine to reappear later. The underground belts are replaced with launcher ramps and catcher ramps, which does the same thing but feels more fun.
The entire background, music and artstyle give it such a beautiful surreal abstract vibe that I can get lost just staring at it and moving the camera around. (Although as a kid I used to hold up and stare at CDs for ages, so your mileage may vary)
store.steampowered.com/app/530320/Wandersong/ is a game that while not super challenging, does storytelling beautifully. Coping with the world ending by looking despair straight in the eye and remaining whimsical. Not because the character is stupid, but because that is his tool of spreading hope.
The judgemental attitude and self victimization detract from your post. You’ll find people to be friendlier and more helpful to you if you manage to tone it differently.
Anyway! It sounds like you want games that prioritize being interesting over being popular? Dwarf Fortress would be my immediate thought.
Terra Invicta may be too high-level for the emotional impact, but it could fit. You are playing on the geopolitical stage, preventing (or steering) an exctinction-level war between humans and aliens. Stage a coup to overthrow a democratically elected government, make it as corrupt as possible to drive it to poverty so that the faction that wants to surrender to the aliens can’t win the space race?
The Last Federation where you play as the last member of an alien race that everyone tried to destroy, and your last act is to prevent them all from killing each other. Maybe you will harass them all to make them ally against you and become friends? Maybe convince 4 of them to gang up on the 5th?