The Message from Deep Space

This game, of all games, does not need a hardcore save system. I've lost almost 10 hours, and replaying isn't even fun because progress is mostly in your understanding of the signals and symbols, and not actually in the entering of the data. I do not understand why a simple save and load which has been around for decades wouldn't have worked, but instead all it takes is one power issue or steam cloud saves problem to ruin everything. This doubly sucks because the game is genuinely fun, but I wouldn't wish the frustration of having that taken all away on anyone

If you want a puzzle game that hits a wide variety of different elements, The Message from Deep Space will keep you entertained for a fantastic amount of time. The Message from Deep Space has a simple premise. A meteor lands on Earth and begins transmitting a signal. You and a team of experts begin decoding the signal. It turns out that it's an alien broadcasting pre-recorded messages to tell you things. However, translating alien to human is impossible without a shared reference point, so the alien begins building up your knowledge of alien words using something you both share: math. You slowly build up a lexicon of words that translates the signals into English. Once you manage to get the basics down, the alien begins expanding on mathematical terms to branch into other topics, until you finally discover what they've been trying to say all along. Despite its very affordable price, I managed to get around 34 hours of play from this title, with 2 hours sank in the free demo that guides you through Act 1. It's an awesome puzzle game with fun challenges, thought-provoking scenarios, and a team of well-written scientists that are a joy to work with. I highly recommend grabbing the demo and playing it through if you're interested; just don't assume the *entire* game is math.

Finally a use for my math degree

This game is oppistie of brain rot. It is brain enrichment, brain empowerment, brain healing. Also the hint system being diegetic, you actually care about the 'teammates' in the game, and they help you when you need it. Not forced upon, but useful when it hits. When you get the word defiened bang on and they hype you up, its nice.

It’s like Arrival (2016) but instead of Amy Adams it’s maths puzzles.

I am amazed how well executed this is. I love that there are settings to choose how many hints from other researchers are given.

Very good puzzle game about learning an alien language

This game has a very specific target audience. But oh boy does it serve that audience well! Are you a Hard Science Fiction nerd? Do you want to go through a (semi) REALISITIC first contact story akin to Project Hail Mary? Do you like math and science (and I mean REALLY like math and science)? No to any of the above? This might not be for you. The gameplay can be described as a series of math and science problems with running commentary from your coworkers, each trying to help in their own disciplines and offer ideas as the the Aliens biology, motives, culture... I love it so far, but know what you're getting into. The computer will NOT hold your hand at first, until Bautista gets it up to speed for ya. Eventually.