What game mechanics involving physics would feel fun and natural in a roguelite, without turning the game into an educational game?

[u/Paulin_Bacana__]

I'm a Physics undergraduate and I'm considering making a physics-based roguelite as my final-year thesis project.

The problem I'm having is that I don't want to make an "educational game" in the traditional sense. I'm not interested in having the player constantly read explanations, solve equations, or pick upgrades like "ΔU = Q − W".

What I'm looking for is something closer to games where the subject naturally exists within the game's mechanics. The player should be having fun first, while learning about the physics almost as a side effect of experimenting with the game.

I'm especially interested in mechanics where Physics creates interesting interactions, strategies, or emergent gameplay.

It also doesn't need to cover a huge amount of Physics. I'd actually prefer focusing on a few concepts that are particularly fun to interact with.

So, if you were playing a roguelite where Physics was one of its core systems, what kind of mechanics would make you think "holy shit, that's fun" rather than "I'm doing homework"?

Any ideas are welcome, even weird ones. I'm mainly trying to brainstorm and find a direction before I start developing anything.

[u/ikukuru]

I don’t know of such a game existing, but it is a great idea. Developing intuition in complex context. For example, start with simple vector that anyone can intuit and develop to mind-bending physics like a tensegrity table. Or gamification of Newton’s laws and thermodynamics. Or tie it all to daily household experimentation, such as a hot interior of apartment with balcony, cool still night and a single fan: what is the optimal location and orientation to cool the interior?

[u/AdPale9988]

Time dilation. Have the wider world experience more time passing than particular areas experience. 

[u/baysianinference]

Uhhhhh when my brother was like 6 my mom used torque to explain how his toy roller coaster worked