Thank you! Yes it seems like there’s two schools of thought on this. Some people like games with a simple structure and a clear set of rules, and don’t like experimenting, while others love being left in the dark to decipher the systems. I tend to be on the latter side because I’m curious and patient but I have a friend who loses interest at the first sign of challenge.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of over complicated designs, in particular when you’ve built a system for months or even years, and there’s a real risk of alienating the player. Ideally I think the best games are the ones offering a simple, easy to understand premise that stands on its own, but hides an extra layer of sophistication under the hood for the adventurous player. But it’s easier said than done.
