Hello Games released No Man's Sky 8 years ago on PlayStation. It is now available on basically every platform. I still play it whenever they release an update. They release massive, worth while changes to the game every year for FREE. NO paid DLC. Their next game uses the same engine but changes many aspects. That game is coming out first for PC this time...
I agree, many AAA games go for splash and show, but don't entirely deliver on story and fun. A game doesn't have to have a great story to be fun, but if it doesn't have at least either fun OR story, then it isn't going to do well.