In some ways I can see what you are saying, what you want. I but I also see the other side of it. My son plays game somewhat you are describing, role playing games where there seems to be more action, fighting, winning a town, kingdom, fighting to save a world that is in danger of something. Those games are made by EA, and they are facinating, intense, and the one my son just bought, very imaginative and very complex games.
But, those games don't appeal to me, too intense, too much fighting, I have to look at the keyboard in sims to make sure I have the right key just for pause, page up or down. So multipile keys usage in saving the damsel in distress type thing, although usually in those games it is just as likey the damsel who is leading the rebellion, is not my cup of tea.
The games I like to play, really perfer to play, are also simulation, but I want to play a game that allows me to live the life I would like to have, the nice home with all the high class aspect that I could never afford. Inside pool, huge library, really really nice kitchen, be a writer as I have dreamed of being, spy for the fun of it, go to Egypt, (YES), and such. I like the reality of life, potty training my kids, teaching them to talk, walk, seeing them grow up and helping them to have a life I would like for my kids in real life. In real life I have to do the mundane things of peeing, eating, sleeping, but in the sims game I can earn points to get a steel bladder so my sim doesn't have to pee, a way to lessen the need to shower, eat, sleep.
Fantasy is fine, there are a lot of books I read that would fit that bill, but for me personally, and it is just my personal outlook, I prefer to play games that simulates real life but I can use my imagination to believe it is my family who can afford to go to dinner whenever we want, buy the new clothes I need, not have to worry about a car that is 14 year old, and where I am going to find the money so we can buy the grandkids something for Christmas.
Send your suggestions to EA, I am sure that someone there reads them, to see if anything might be of interest and enough players who would buy that type of game.
But, turn a sim into a real toad, use him or her for bait, sorry, a bit much for me.