I DON’T mean other games that let you build a car from scratch.
I’m looking for other complex open world games that throw you into the deep end without any explanation, and are completely unforgiving when you make mistakes.
Games that even actively hate the player, but give you a deep sense of satisfaction when you finally figure it out.
So no tutorial, no quest markers, no mini-map, no quick-saving, etc.
Bonus points if they also show you a glimpse into a niche culture, like My Summer Car does with rural life in Finland during the 90’s economic depression.
Other examples I can think of are Kingdom Come Deliverance in hardcore mode and Dwarf Fortress. Which ones do you know?
Nethack, a very deep and actively obtous game. If you want to figure it out yourself, its complexity is nearly on a level with dwarf fortress.
Outer Wilds does not fit 100 % your description, as it doesnt hate the player. But it is a game all about exploration and figuring stuff out yourself. And if you do things wrong, you die.
If you don’t do things wrong in Outer Wilds, you also die ;)
Yep. And that is the difference between “not doing wrong” and “doing right”. Because in the latter’s case, you don’t die. Or at least… Its complicated