This is a game called chants of the sennaar and in order to progress in this game you must start to understand the writing system through context and the puzzles presented. I think this works super well and was much easier than I expected.
I love this game and its atmosphere! As you said, it was a lot easier than it seems at first blush, which I also found to be my main gripe with the game. Each language has only 30-50 words in it, and I found myself wishing the later languages had much more to decipher. But maybe that was because I wanted the game to last longer.
I kinda wish games like this were more common for actually learning real languages. Context is the most important thing about language learning and it seems like there are no games where put you in good situations like this for Learning. Like for example, in this game you have to follow someone around 4 times until you find them and they keep repeating the same phrase with some words you know, you can then really easily figure out what the words mean.
I really enjoyed the game! If you want a slightly harder version of language deciphering, try out Heavens Vault. I just finished that one the other day, and it was really rewarding later in the game to look at a series of ideographs and already have a strong idea of what was written, even before options show up. That said, HV is clunky as all hell, in terms of general gameplay.
I think my favorite Chants language was the fourth people, and I’m definitely going to use the weights puzzle in an upcoming D&D puzzle. I wish there were more games in this genre.
I saw some videos of heavens vault but it doesn’t look quite as nice with how much context we’re given in chants of the Sennaar. I’m always happy to have a recommendation though so thank you😁. I’m really early in the game and I’d love to see all the different styles of writing 😁.