Hi Yanna3River, You're right that strong storytelling is important in many types of games, not just puzzle games. Games like The Witness are great examples of story-rich experiences outside of RPGs.
We understand your point about minimalist design. It's not easy to keep a game simple and still give it personality. But some puzzle games, like Journey, Thomas Was Alone and Monument Valley, do this really well.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Your insights are really appreciated.