Spoilers ahead: for the puzzle and the movies/games
This page reveals all categories and answers for this puzzle. It also discusses plot details, story endings, and other spoilers for some of the movies/games shown.
easy
Developed by Valve
Half-Life 2 · Portal · Left 4 Dead · Team Fortress 2
medium
Service-job games driven by conversation
Coffee Talk · Neo Cab · Night Call · VA-11 Hall-A
The work matters here, but it is mostly an excuse to meet people. These games build their rhythm around serving, driving, or tending bar while conversations do the heavy lifting.
hard
Games about documenting the world
Beasts of Maravilla Island · New Pokémon Snap · Pupperazzi · Season: A Letter to the Future
These games make observation the point. Instead of treating notes, photos, recordings, or field research as side content, they turn documentation into the core act of play.
tricky
First released on Game Boy Advance
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror · Mario vs. Donkey Kong · Metroid Fusion · Rhythm Tengoku