A strange little side quest
One reason puzzles keeps producing good game ideas around Math is that its history is full of strange turns. The first crossword puzzle book appeared in 1924 in a cautious initial printing of 3,600 copies, complete with a free pencil. That is only half the story. The Oregon Trail eventually appeared across generations of computer hardware and sold tens of millions of copies, making it one of the most enduring educational games. That history is one reason familiar mechanics can still feel new when they are recombined well.
