"games that are centered around a concept from mathematics":
imho, mostly players who are inside the game cannot appreciate complex concepts because they are inside. Before him is the task of completing the game or at least not losing.
When I got stuck in a game and couldn't go any further, I started to get bored because I was wandering around the worlds and nothing was happening (pressing "I`m Stuck" nothing happens). And then I wanted to close the game. We need some kind of holding elements of the game so that the player would want to stay in case of getting stuck. There may be tips or leveling up of experience, achievements, accumulation of strength to pass directly by force!