- Hades/Hades 2 ( action & myth ; teaches persistance ): the roguelite that brought me into the genre
- Against the Storm ( strategy & systems ; teaches optimization ): indefinitely replayable city builder
- Brotato ( survival & stats ; teaches adaptability ): chill on the couch with a Steamdeck

- Outer Wilds ( mystery & physics ; teaches curiosity ): exploration-focused masterpiece of game design
- Return of the Obra Dinn ( logic & history ; teaches observation ): unusual style deduction game
- Inscryption ( cards & secrets ; teaches skepticism ): unconventional, genre-defying game