I love Valheim and I agree with your points. Playing solo only.

Been in The Long Dark at the beginning and recently again after years, and been disappointed by the lack of progress of game mechanics - they focused on Storymode more than the barely logical game design (you can still freeze to death next to a chimney and all sort of things made out of wood and paper posters which you can´t collect i.e. - need paper and wood to make fire)

What I can recommend is Green Hell. While playing it a year ago I had maximum fun like in Valheim right now. It is different because of a story, it has a multiplayer which I didn´t try, and it´s (like all games) best played without having any clue what you´re doing. Don´t spoil yourself - a rush through the game would not be the same thrilling and surprising fun.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/815370/Green_Hell/


Oh yeah...and the well known Subnautica - damn, very nice hell of a solo player game in a nice and tense setting the more you discover the world - the better it gets.

And of course the RPG genre diamond should be mentioned, loved it very much but it´s rather historical and authentic, taking place in a realistic historical setting with no dragons and stuff, no survival craft either, it´s very enjoyable: https://store.steampowered.com/app/379430/Kingdom_Come_Deliverance/