Sunless Skies

One thing Sunless Skies understands deeply is that, if your game is story-driven, the greatest reward you can give the player for their efforts is not an item or XP, but rather delicious words. After all, we are here for the story being told; the game mechanics, in the end, are just one tool of many used to tell that story.
I don't want "epic loot" -- no, that disappears forever the moment I put down the game. Show me something I could have never imagined in a million years. Paint me a picture that will live in the recesses of my skull for a lifetime and a half. Knit me a dream out of the threads of fate.
I have a whole folder's worth of nothing but screenshots of text, because Sunless Skies understands this, it understands me. It knows the kind of fare I prefer, and it meticulously feeds me in deliciously sized morsels.

Is this a good game? Absolutely. Good writing, good art direction, good music, good vibes all around. Does this game have problems? Absolutely.
First off, the game is blatantly unfinished. There's a bunch of mechanics (such as soul flaws) and areas (such as Port Avon) that are obviously half-baked and unfinished. You can get the two best weapons in the game in the second region, and the only things you get in Eleutheria or the Blue Kingdom are better locomotives and an engine in the former, and like, one useful armor item in the latter. Getting Wrath of Heaven in Albion murders the game's difficulty, the closest I got to dying after this was just getting jumped by multiple of those crocodile things or spirifers and a logos in the Blue Kingdom.
Additionally, Failbetter can't write an ending to save their lives. A lot of the officer quests just... end rather abruptly, with very little payoff or answering any questions. And the most interesting ambition, The Truth, builds up this grand ending... and then just cuts off in the middle of what seems like a perfectly average fetch quest.
You play this game for the journey, not the destination, and it's excellent in that regard. Just know that performance is kind of meh and you'll hit the power cap pretty fast.

this just in: victorian london once again transported to a slightly more unpleasant place than usual. residents should be aware that time now comes in barrels

The best book I've ever played, and that isn't the sarcastic statement it sounds like. Be warned, though: the trailer shows a lot of ship combat, but the bulk of the game is just reading. If you're only here for the shooty fun times, you'll be bored out of your skull.

A worthy and uplifting successor to Sunless Sea. You embark on a Lovecraftian steampunk locomotive journey across the High Wilderness, which I have recently found out was how they pictured space in the Victorian era.
Once again, the writing is simply fantastic. It is also very convoluted, mysterious, and vague. And of course, prepare for A LOT of reading.

This game's main flaw is that it's very slow at times, and that is probably the main reason this game doesn't have Overwhelmingly positive. The story and world are incredibly good, and I have barely explored half the game on my first full run.
This game is not for everyone, but it sure as hell was for me
Edit: I have started and finished new run since then, adding almost 70 hours to my total. This game had me by the BALLS and would not let go. I HIGHLY recommend doing the Truth ambition, but only after you've done a Fame or Wealth ambition (as it recommends in game). It's worth the extra work and it's honestly a shame only 2% of players finished it.

THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN