You might want to look into indie games. They tend to focus on simple controls and interesting, more experimental, mechanics.

If you like puzzles, you might like Patrick's Parabox (sic), Baba is You. If you like strategy games, try Into the Breach. Mini Metro and Mini Motorways give you a hyper-minimalistic take on the city-building genre. All of these are eminently playable in half-hour slices.

If you're willing to have your mind changed about storytelling, try Return of the Obra Dinn or Hades, or maybe Subnautica.