For all the dwarf fortress fans out there, check out Songs of Syx. It’s still early access, but it captures a lot of the same appeal with a slightly more streamlined interface. All built by one dude as well.
In the end, the city-building aspect quickly became rote for me, I find the direct overhead view disorienting and unnatural, and the game didn't have a lasting hook that pulled me in (opposite of Factorio, which maybe had TOO MUCH of that).