the whole idea that storyfaggotry is irrelevant is one produced by morons and literal autists.
Film for example, is a visual medium first and foremost. Film can and did work on the basis of interesting images. However, I bet your favorite films all have strong scripts and stories. I bet they also have excellent music. I bet the actors are delivering charismatic performances. There are films that exist purely of gorgeous visual images - and I bet you've never watched them. Neither have I.
And so it is with games too. Yes the gameplay is of primary importance. But a game consisting entirely of mechanics is a dull thing. Storyfaggotry and everything else is what provides inspiration to master the mechanics. The story/world design doesn't need to take front and center, but it does need to give you a reason to keep going.
I don't think anyone would consider Dark Souls a "storyfag" game, but man I bet you were way more invested in finding out about that world than you were in any other DS clone, despite the fact many DS clones have superior way less janky gameplay.
Depends on the definition of story/narrative.
Does it counts theme/lore/background/art style?
To me souls series isn't a narrative focus game, but surely the lore play an important role in the immersion/astrosphere.
However the same could be said about the "lore" in the bike racing game "Ride" series.
I love and know the theme and "lore“ behind those motorcycle their history/manufacture/backstory so I get emotional and immersed into playing it.
The simulation of such physics mechanics that align with what I really felt in RL bike I owned is how a good game "mechanics" made me extremely immerse into the game.
However I don't need a narrative or story in such bike racing game to feel immersed or excited.
To me this sounds like a
"do you like music with pure instrument or song with lyrics"
Question.
There is emotion inside music without lyrics.
And there is also people focus on musicality in instrument only music.
I don't dislike games with strong narrative. I play VNs, JRPGs and some narrative focus CRPGs sometimes.
But games with low narrative/story can still evoke strong emotion just like music without lyrics.
And that gameplay mechanics play a great role of replacing "narrative" that is written by the story writer in many of those low narrative games.
Just like the role musicality plays in instrument only music..