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Actively trying to lobotomize myself so I can play Obra Dinn for the first time again

Tunic mentioned

Outer wilds is soooo good, so thank you for reminding me that tunic exists, I'll get that one now.

Disco Elysium!

This is like the 3rd time I've seen somebody bring up Outer Wilds today, and I still haven't played it. It looks like that might be next on my list.

Noita, but you just suffer along instead of growing

You fool

Tunic was incredible, what they did with the manual was just, great.

noita

I tend to not get into these types of games because the progression is often a time-limited loop, and a lot of the time you have to go to the same place or do the same thing multiple times before you can finish it because those are places or actions that don't persist through a loop.

Similarly, games setup like Mario 64 where every level is intended to be played 5 or 6 times to get all the stars instead of just having it designed in a way that you can get everything in one go if you're good enough.

"The Long Dark". Knowing the maps by heart and being able to navigate by landmarks is key to survival.

I call these puzzle box games because that's what they remind me of and nobody else has a name for them yet. There's one called Void Stranger that nobody ever talks about. Baba Is You is popular but nobody has mentioned it here yet. I think it's sad as hell that people let their dislike of Phil Fish ruin Fez for them. That's a really good game.

I'll mention Fez since I think people forgot about it in the wake of all the Phil Phish drama.

Excellent game that I think fits this bill.

Curiously Deep Rock Galactic is about practical knowhow. At least that differentiates greenbeards from greybeards.

• The oppressor is nearly immune to bullets but melee attacks are super effective
• The Driller will overheat digging about 12 meters (depending on the upgrades used) Digging ten clicks then pausing to cool will prevent overheat
• Cave leeches make a distinct yummy noise before attacking. You can escape by seeking cover again. Cave leech attacks are often facilitated by a distraction such as minerals or glyphid ambushes
• The Scout's grappling hook does not account for safe perch or landing. Scouting to a sheer cliff is a good way to just get hurt. Mind where you're going to land.
• On the other hand minerals embedded in a cliff face often protrude enough to get purchase. This can be facilitated with a flying pickax attack. Practice, practice!
• Likewise, dwarves can scamper up steep slopes like mountain goats with forward movement and spamming jump.
• Then again, gravity is the number one killer of dwarves, seconded by common Glyphid Grunts. Don't underestimate them.
• The Driller's Collette Wave Cooker can defuse unfuzed Exploders when it deals the killing damage (defuse = doesn't explode). The Driller's Cryo Cannon can defuse fuzing Exploders...sometimes.
• Overhanging cliff-sides are the nemesis to the Engineer's platforms. If you dont want to carve out headroom, extend them out a layer or two.
• The Engineer / Scout team (platforms and grappling hooks) can quickly exploit the high-positioned minerals in a cave.
• That said, platforms can make for great bridges. Do so at whimsy for starters and learn where it's useful.
• And yet, the engineer has the most trouble traversing sheer incline, especially in tight quarters. Make sure your Engie can get to the drop-pod safely.
• Speaking of extraction, Simple Mining missions are the most linear and require the most attention regarding preparing traversal back to the droppod. Escort is also linear but naturally comes with a big tunnel which makes it easy (when Dotty doesn't carve a vertical drop). Other missions feature a rounder, unlinear complex and a shorter exfiltration. Sometimes the pod will drop onto a crap place, with the ramp in mid air, or embedded in hard rock.
• Drillers should watch for adjacent chambers to connect by tunnel. Engineers should bridge chasms and seal holes. Engies can also create safe steps to traverse hot slag and slime. Both can level out arenas where fights are expected (say when prepping for a dreadnought or powering up a salvaged drop-pod)
• In escort the Engineer's grenades make short work of rocks and beamers. (The latter needs something that chips into rock, even a scout with a pickaxe power attack). The Gunner's hurricane rocket launcher manages both nicely.
• Dotty, Hack-C, Steeve, lootbugs, Hexawings, Breathers, Cave Vines can all be petted and should be. Bosco can be saluted. Using the laser pointer, other Dwarves can be talked to.

These are all off the top of my head. There are dozens of others one learns on the path to Greybeard enlightenment. Rock and Stone.

For those looking for more. Fez is a delight and a classic in the genre. The very last puzzle is more interesting from a community lore standpoint than actually being a decent puzzle, though. So be kind to yourself on that one.

What's so good a out outer wilds? What's so appealing?

I’m interested in these types of games but fear that as I don’t have a a lot of time to play and don’t have regular times to play, I’d get half way through and just forget what’s going on.

I hear you’re taking reccos. May I suggest The Forgotten City? It’s not quite the same, but has a very similar “learn wtf is happening* as you go” mechanic. Also it’s one of my favorites.

Check out chants of senaar

YYEEAAAAAAHHHH outer wilds!!! FUCK that game just absolutely slaps, top tier experience.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance fits this bill, I think. I haven't played any of the games listed yet, so I can't compare.

Probably not for everyone here but 'I was a Teenage Exocolonist' is one of the best games in that category I ever played. You feel the developer's love in every character and storyline and being able to have so many different outcomes really made it feel special.

Try Deathloop. It's actually a lot of fun once you get into it. Though the game will outright TELL you progression information every so often which can be annoying.

The Forgotten City is good