I'm a big No Man's Sky shill, and yeah, the game can be repetitive and shallow, but it can offer some sense of fun casual progression that can last longer if you set big goals (like making tons of money to hunt for the perfect freighter or something).

And it's the beauty of it. It doesn't expect much of you, doesn't want you sink hundreds of hours into a single mechanic or aspect for whatever reason. Instead, you just have a bunch of fun little things to do, some interconnected, but mostly like toys, just some novelties to engage with to whatever degree you're willing to. If you like building and have the patience and the imagination, you're going on a spree or massive project that starts with finding the perfect spot (which is easier said than done because there's plenty to choose from) and likely doesn't end because there's always something else to add or brush up. Same for Corvettes (new starship class, think like Starfield ship building).

And now there's even more stuff to do with space bases, player-ownable space stations, asteroid bases.

I think it's the perfect "play pretend" game where you imagine yourself as someone living out in a world where space travel is trivial and mundane, just a means to an end, and you choose one or multiple ends, like piracy or fighting piracy or mining or bulk trading, etc., going in for as much as you'd like. Again, like playing with toys as a child and imagining things.