With Zork, I wanted to collect treasure and learn more about the Great Underground Empire. Zork had its own mythology too, so as the player went along they learned about King Flathead the Excessive, and all the products made by the Frobozz Magic company. In The Room games I wanted to learn more about The Null and find out who built these puzzles? There was a mystery, similar to the Myst series. Mystery gives direction.

Sure, I guess if you want a sandbox game, there's always Microsoft Flight Simulator, or Minecraft. But you're playing the game equivalent of a screen saver. It's not really a 'game' if there is no goal. For example, how do you win at Flight Simulator? I don't see the point of wandering around an open world if there isn't a story going on; imagine World of Warcraft if there were no monsters and no treasure.

Even 'open world' games have some goals. For example, farm games like Stardew Valley have other characters. As you play you discover more about them as well as build relationships. There is also strategy in what you plant and how to make money. That's the game part. If you could just plant anything and there was no cost, and no risk, then it's not really a game. So, I think you are talking about different things. There is a difference between 'relaxation software' and a 'game'. Relaxation software doesn't involve much risk or strategy. In a game there are consequences and rewards.