1: An open world exploration game that doesn’t have combat … like Breath of the Wild but without all the fighting and with lots of short stories and puzzles.

Basically I want to be able to go wandering off and uncover ancient ruins etc without having to fight for my life.

2: Snowrunner, but with a good narrative story mode and gearboxes that actually work.

There’s so much potential to have engaging stories in that game, which could be tied into improved game structure (namely restricting truck / tire choice to make some tasks challenging in an interesting way).

So, Tux Kart?

Edit: or more old school, Wacky Wheels (I think I still have a copy somewhere)

I don’t think Farm Simulator has any combat

Not OP but, personally not having a modem at that time, I convinced a well-off friend that he should try it. Then I copied his disks.