Looking for a heavy story game to play

My last two games were Clair Obscur: E33 and Metaphor: Refantazio. I’m open to genre, but I want a game that is heavy on story. Like the gameplay is there to help tell the story and not that the story gives you a sandbox for gameplay. If that makes sense? I’m looking at The Last of Us Pt1 and Nier Automata based on reading a thousand other recommendation posts. They are spendy games though, and I want to get into a game that I can sink into the story of. I tend to like smaller more personal stories than huge high fantasy politics stories, but even those I can get into with great characters. I am most comfortable with turn-based but like others as well. I have played most of the Final Fantasy and Persona games.

I’m struggling to get into something straight out of E33. There’s just nothing like it. I love to sink into a good story and think that’s where I want to go next. Help!

I play on Steam.