So games that require thought are more engaging and fun. There is a threshold where it isn’t fun, but that’s different from person to person. Lots of people like the souls games, myself included.
Try asking yourself, what isn’t a grind in my favorite game? Chances are that requires thought.
My all time favorite electronic games are (a) Descent [1995] and (b) Hillsfar [1989]. There is no grinding in those games, at all.
>So games that require thought are more engaging and fun.
It's not thinking, though. That's my whole point. It's memorization at best (souls games), and mindless point a to point b clicking at worst (Robocop Rogue City is the most recent example I can think of here). They're not puzzles, they're not thinking, they're just little achievement drips.
I agree that learning is fun. The Dr. Brain and Gizmos and Gadgets were FANTASTIC back in the day.
I would argue that games today don't really require a lot of learning. They're intentionally made so you feel a sense of accomplishment for just following the series of clicks.
Maybe I'm just old and jaded. Who knows.
Also, somebody needs to remake the Dr. Brain games. I just realized I need that in my life today.