Guided Discovery or Just Railroading?

Discussion

I've noticed a trend in recent titles where the learning curve is basically a flat line because the game won't let you make a mistake. We get told this is about accessibility, but there is a gap between making a game playable and making it a checklist. It's like being handed a manual that tells you exactly which screw to turn at every second; you might finish the project, but you didn't actually learn how the machine works. When every mechanic is introduced via a pop-up and every objective is marked with a glowing trail, the actual act of discovery is gone. You stop analyzing the environment and start looking for the next prompt. I'm tired of the theory that players can't handle ambiguity. Some of the best moments in gaming come from that specific frustration of not knowing how to proceed, followed by the click of finally figuring it out.