“Gameplay” is really just a clunky mashup of “mechanics” and “game feel” when you think about it. I think separating out the terms it implies is better than thinking up some replacement word.
Or maybe just “play”. As in, “how’s it play” as opposed to “how’s the gameplay”
Sam and Max Hit the Road has some typically bizarre Lucasarts puzzles at times but i don’t remember any of them being egregious, the worst is probably when you have to get Max out of the minigolf course. It has easily some of my favorite writing in a game ever (A HIGH BAR TO CLEAR YOU CAN IMAGINE), it’s hysterical.