I know games get compared to puzzles often, but Outer Wilds for me was experienced like completing an actual jigsaw puzzle. At first the pieces were a scattered mess on the table. Before I could make any appreciable progress, I had to pause and flip over each piece right side up and take in the whole picture. This is initially when I bounced off it too.
But when I came back with fresh eyes, I picked a corner to focus on and the pieces started to fit together. Once you get some footing, like a real jigsaw, it starts to snowball as the bigger picture takes shape.