Thanks!

They do, as mentioned they give context, but that has to be delivered on by actual interactions. So the appearance of a river facilitates interpretation of the bridge above it. But if neither serve the purpose of hindrance and overcoming, you end up disappointed.

There is another option, that inert scenery serves as a launch pad for you to make up stories about what is happening ("that's the bridge the armies of evil took when"... etc). And that's fair - you make your own game.

My only hesitation about that is the interactive nature of the medium pulls your mind out of that narrative creation mode and puts it into decision mode as soon as you continue playing they game. So your mind is then having two unconnected experiences.