Ironically I’m probably not going to choose my favourite games because those are usually just very simple story based games, and can be just as enjoyable to read as a book instead.

The games which instead give the most fun-value and replayability:

1. Balatro (my go-to “I’m bored and don’t know what to do with myself” game.)
2. Stardew Valley. Super good, something is so satisfying in the art, animations and little gameplay loops. I replayed it to death earlier this year and now I’ll try not to think about it again until that time next year.
3. “The Sims Medieval” is one I keep on coming back to, so I’ll definitely add that.
4. Shattered Pixel Dungeon (don’t think this counts as a mod.) Super good replayability, I’ve been playing it intermittently for about 11 years now.
5. Anno 117. Gotta have some strategy games - I’m kind of boring in that I only do anno and not more complicated stuff like city skylines.
6. Fields of Mistria is a new farming sim that I have high hopes for.
7. Pentiment has a lot of replayability despite only being a linear story game.

That gives me enough time to add 8. Minecraft, which I don’t play anymore but it’s a great boredom buster, and 9. Life and Suffering of Sir Brante and 10. Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian - afforementioned visual novel stories which are also fine to enjoy in book form.