Kerbal Space Program is a game that I have enjoyed for a long time, and one that has been widely recognized as the definitive rocket science game, possibly accelerating mankind’s progress in space exploration by some margin due to the sheer number of players ending up in the aerospace industry because of this game.
The game is a rocket building and space exploration simulator. Players build rockets from scratch, control the spacecraft from launch, orbital injections, to landing on a foreign celestial body and returning back to the home planet (Kerbin), with the option of conducting science and running paid missions in the process. The core mechanic of the game is the physics of orbital mechanics, which is why this game is so challenging yet also so fun. Additionally, there are also elements of construction and resource management, but both of them are bounded by physics. For example, not every rocket you build will work, as it must have a certain amount of delta-V to reach a stable orbit or go to the moon, which calls for a minimum amount of fuel you need and careful management if you didn’t carry much in excess.
The core aesthetics of the game would be discovery and challenge. Once you figure out how to plot complex gravity assist sequences with minimal fuel, you will be able to explore planets at the fringes of the solar (Kerbol) system as your heart desires. This process takes a lot of trial and error, but the problem-solving process is exactly what makes this game phenomenal.
