System Novels where people don't look like they're in a video game?

I hate when authors do this—like, they make a novel with a system, but it’s VEEEEERY mechanical, to the point where it actually feels like a real-life video game.

What I mean is, imagine a character goes through something traumatic, but actually deals with it and is genuinely fine. Then they open the System Window and—OH NO! "Trauma" Debuff! Like, no, bitch, he’s okay, he’s clearly okay, he said he’s okay, so why the hell is there a trauma debuff?? And now, just because the system says so, he has to waste time doing things like meditating or whatever to make the debuff go away—even though he clearly doesn’t need to. He’s just doing it because the system slapped a debuff on him.

Or in another novel, there’s a "Class Change" system where a guy who’s spent his entire life using water magic finally gets a class evolution. But since he doesn’t meet some random requirements, his only choices are a water mage class or a weaker fire class. So yeah, out of nowhere, he loses his attributes or completely changes his element. I know that kinda stuff happens in games, but I don’t want it happening in my novel!! It feels weird and just straight-up ridiculous.

Especially when it comes to stuff like skills that change personality. Like, a total mess of a person suddenly gets the skill "Calm", and now his personality does a full 180°?? Or someone gets "Murder", and now he’s instantly a psychopath?? That kinda thing just kills immersion for me.

I much prefer when the System and the Person reflect each other. Like, doing push-ups gives XP not because "push-ups = XP" but because push-ups would naturally make you stronger anyway. Or skills actually reflect traits you already have—so if you’re naturally calm, you get the skill "Calm" with its effects. If you’re naturally lovable, you get "Lovable" with its effects. And so on.

Same thing with stat points: putting points into intelligence should actually make you smarter, strength should build muscle, speed should improve your reflexes—and just because you get a skill doesn’t mean you magically download a "Basic Guide" into your brain.

And one last, absolutely terrible example I saw recently—skill caps. Like, ok, if it’s a magic system and there’s an actual explanation for why you can’t have too many skills (like "Your body can’t handle that many different manas inside you", or something that makes sense), then fine. But when it’s some dumb situation where, say, a guy who’s been a baker his whole life removes the "Baking" skill and suddenly forgets how to bake?? That’s bullshit. Stuff like that completely ruins a story for me.

In short, I don’t want a novel that treats its characters like bland game NPCs, running on strict game mechanics with no logic. If anything, I actually prefer stories that take place over long periods of time—decades or more—because it makes everything feel more natural.

Am I asking for too much? Am I just being picky? I don’t know, maybe I am, since there are so many novels out there. But if y’all know any that fit what I’m looking for, please help me out.

Edit: Ok, guys, hold on—uh, thank you, everyone, for agreeing with me! I’m really glad to know I’m not crazy, but I was actually just trying to get some recommendations 😅