I think Freebird is a pre-Internet meme, like "where's the beef" was. When someone would take song requests, shouting out Freebird was asking for a song known for versions with 20 minute dueling guitar solos. Basically a ridiculous and over the top request.
It is a good song since it's still popular today in a serious sense many times, which is what has kept it still somewhat relevant in pop culture.
Source: am somewhat old.
I think Life is Strange (I've only played the first one) may possibly be of interest. There's no action like GTA or Watchdogs, but it's all about your interactions with the NPCs and the town.
It felt there was blowback at the ending when it came out because people said your choices didn't matter, but I thought the point of the game was to influence you to make thoughtful and impactful decisions, not to influence the NPCs. I really got a lot out of the experience.
There are moments the game won't tell you about like when opening a window or watering a plant will change future events. Whether you find this outcomes significant or not will be related to your enjoyment of the game as whole.