The best strict but simple definition for a metroidbrainia that I can come up with is, "a game with puzzles hidden in plain sight." Anyone have something better?
I feel like as more people have started using the term, more people have started to use it to describe any puzzley game that's not entirely made of separate levels. I don't want to gatekeep too hard, but would really prefer if the term didn't lose all its meaning to make it easier to find games that emphasize exploration and discovery.
"Puzzles hidden in plain sight," seems to categorize games in the way that I want. I'm aware that there are some controversial games this will exclude from the category. (Obra Dinn sticks out)
There have been and will continue to be many great puzzle games that are not metroidbrainias. I'm not about to start calling Sudoku a mb just because you can solve it in any order if you have all the knowledge upfront.
Thoughts?
Does anyone have examples of games with/without puzzles hidden in plain sight that are/aren't mbs?