I’m enjoying finding different ways to leave clues for people who play my game… eg: leave a clue on a TV channel on a TV… solve a jigsaw puzzle and read a clue on the puzzle. Any favorite ways you leave clues you’d like to share?
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In my most recent (and only) puzzle game, I had multiple scenes in this kitchen, where you would have waiters walk along and do subtle things that were exactly what you needed to do, but in a way that just looks like atmospheric descriptions. This also being a sequel to the Hitchhiker’s Guide, I also had one major puzzle (and apparently one of the more {preferred/commented on positively} puzzles in the game) that was subtly hinted at by looking up an entry that was very important earlier in the game, so you already had it in your head when you went to do it. This makes it much more satisfying because they think it was a clever move of intuition but it was just lodged in the back of their brain from an earlier puzzle.
My next WIP, so far, has zero clueing. Just pure “get out there and get it done!” In a very confusing scenario. 
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That’s a really good way to do it - hint by demonstration to suggest an action the player might not think about like SAUTE ONIONS.
I seem to remember the Thief in Zork doing this sort of thing, but potentially just for meta-comedic effect. I think there was an atmosphere idle message like “[The Thief] reviews his possessions.” like he was issuing an INVENTORY command. You almost get a sense he’s another player trying to finish the game and griefing you.
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