Have you looked through PCGamingWiki?
I just checked the compatibility list for PCSX2.
Baldur’s Gate DA1 - https://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-Baldur-s-Gate-Dark-Alliance-SLUS-20035-U--29280?amp%3Baction=lastpost
Baldur’s Gate DA2 - https://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-Baldur-s-Gate-Dark-Alliance-2-SLUS-20675-U?amp%3Baction=lastpost
Both games seem to be fully playable from start to end. DA1 has a fix listed for some of the issues. DA2 has a 4GB patch listed.
You might want to try both of these if you decide to give them another go.
Honestly, I think if a game was good back then, it’s still good now. There’s just a bit of an adjustment period.
You might find this useful. https://vsrecommendedgames.fandom.com/wiki/V/'s_Recommended_Games_Wiki
Are there any types of games you enjoy in particular? Favourite genres and series?
How about Planet Crafter? You crash land on a planet and you have to terraform the planet using the materials you gather.
There’s also Occupy Mars. This is more realistic. It’s just that there’s one aspect of it that I think you might love.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/758690/Occupy_Mars_The_Game/
Using a drill, crane and vehicle to break down boulders for example.
Since I finished Starfield. I’ve had an itch for more space exploration. I decided to get back into Elite Dangerous. I haven’t played it for a good couple years. I bought the latest DLC for it when it was released. I just never got around to playing it. I’m absolutely loving the space legs.
I’ve been going from system to system. Mapping each planet and moon. Landing on those that I can. Exploring for geological features and biology samples. All while marathoning my favourite YouTube channels.
Elite Dangerous - £4.99 £19.99 75% Off https://store.steampowered.com/app/359320/Elite_Dangerous/
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey - £10.49 £29.99 65% Off https://store.steampowered.com/app/1336350/Elite_Dangerous_Odyssey/
I haven’t played the games I’m about to recommend.
Is it Life Simulator type games you’re interested in? Or just specifically those concerning mining, smithing, and forging?
I recall a few games where I’ve had to limit the processor speed.
The weirdest one was an old adventure point and click. It was either “The 11th Hour” or “The 7th Guest”. It had a puzzle where you need to beat the CPU in a board game.
At the time it was released, it was possible. On a modern PC, not so much. The more powerful your processor, the more skilled the CPU was in the board game. Made it impossible.
Are you playing it on disc by any chance? I know that I couldn’t get it working due to “Games for Windows Live”. I had to purchase it a second time on Steam before it worked (since they removed GFWL from the Steam and GOG versions).