Combat is supposed to be the core gameplay loop. If you feel like that's an unwanted interruption, I think there's a deeper problem where the game has left you feeling like you don't want to play its core loop.
It sounds like you've had bad experiences with games that just didn't make their systems engaging enough to not feel repetitive. That was true of some older titles, but modern turn-based RPGs have learned a lot since then.
Hi. I'm the guy that wants a low-spec model that fits in my pocket. I exist. Just gimme something that can run my favorite 2D indie games and I'm happy.
I bought a Miyoo Mini Plus last year and ended up loving it far more than my Deck, which is actually just gathering dust still. And now I dream of seeing SteamOS in that size.
But nothing you're describing will fit in that kind of form factor. So if you want to enforce minimum specs, you're really telling me I can't have my dream handheld.
I bought a Miyoo Mini Plus last year, just an impulse buy because it was on sale dirt cheap. Ended up liking it so much I wish I'd bought a more expensive model with analog sticks.
Meanwhile, my Deck gathers dust because it's just too bulky too fill the void left behind by the GBC/GBA/DS I grew up on.
First manufacturer to get SteamOS running on a form factor that fits in my pocket gets my entire bank account. Doesn't have to be beefy, just needs to run all my favorite 2D indie games.
I definitely feel like my tastes have narrowed with age. Or maybe it's just that I've found a few games to really really fall in love with, and not much else pulls my attention away from grinding those top favorites.
When I was a kid, I could only get a new game every few months or so, so I kind of had to make the most of each one. Now I've got several hundred games in my Steam library, and more than half of are unplayed, because they don't grab me enough to boot them up over playing another ranked online set of riichi mahjong today.
It really depends on what games you play. Some of my favorite games are so niche that 'matchmaking' simply consists of Discord pings. The upside of that is that you will get a very close-knit community out of it.
Almost everything I play is just 2D indie games, practically any 2D game should run just fine on that.
There are so many great 2D games I could rattle off that I almost don't know where to start. But since you mentioned RPGs, I am legally obligated to shill CrossCode at any opportunity.