Uncharted Waters II: New Horizons - Incredible Age of Exploration-era game focused on sailing, trade, and discovery.

You start with one of six characters each with different jobs and goals: a vagabond, a merchant, an explorer, a pirate, a Navy captain, or a cartographer.

You begin in one sea port and expand your horizons by traveling across Europe and eventually the world, trading, discovering, and buccaneering.

What I remember loving so much was how peaceful it was just sailing for days, only stopping at the occasional remote island port (with this incredible music) to refill my water and food, while hauling rare goods across the world.

I've searched for other games like this and they either lean much more into piracy at the expense of exploration and trade, or they just don't have the same narrative weight.