Here’s an idea: gameplay sort of like Goblin Cleanup, you have various chores you have to do cleaning and arranging the various levels of the tower at night while the dragon is home, and your work has to pass an inspection. Then during the day you are locked in your room, and have some ability to watch a prospective rescuer attempt the dungeon crawl without your direct input. But you can strategically arrange items, enemy spawns, and Dark Souls style hints to try to tip the scales during the chores phase. So kind of like a tower defense game in reverse where you are trying to lose.
In all seriousness, maybe it could be part stealth game, where she breaks out of her confines and sneaks around the dragon’s lair to do various things, only to make it back in time to avoid being found out.
A bit more whimsical, but maybe she’s a Disney princess, and can communicate with birds and such to relay vague messages to her would-be rescuer. She could use the animals to distract or sabotage the dragon’s minions and make the knight’s journey easier.
She could have magical abilities, which you could then take in all sorts of directions.
Funny enough, I just finished playing through Paper Mario 64, and you’ve basically described Peach’s chapters. She’s able to pass on messages by way of using another character as a messenger.
The way the game is structured is there’s a mini Peach chapter in between each main chapter, but I think it would have been intriguing if you never actually got to see Mario’s side of the story and only heard about his adventures from the guards, diary entries, etc. Cool idea for a puzzle game!
I really like the Style Savvy games on Nintendo. I started late with the one on 3DS but planning to get the Switch one eventually. They’re nice and comfy games and since it sounds like you may already have a Nintendo, could be an option.
Play Myst, that game has so many ways to do this, and no wrong answers.
The idea of her being locked in her passed father’s tower laboratory by the evil step mother who doesn’t know the secrets of the tower, and the player discovers them to help the knight.
My wife is in love with Disney Dreamlight Valley! It’s like animal crossing but with Disney characters and in full 3D. She dresses her character up differently every few weeks. She looked like a reindeer for December/January, and it was so cute! They’re very heavy on the fairy/cozy decor aspect, and while the expansions are paid, they do have free updates every 3-4 months.
She also recommended Calico, which is an indie cat cafe sim at heart, but you also get to dress like a magical girl, design your home, ride around town on animals like giant foxes, dogs, red pandas, more cats, etc. Very cute and relaxing.
On Your Tail is a cute mystery game set in an idyllic Italian seaside town with beautiful storytelling and character development.
She seconds other comments encouraging Haven, pulls the heartstrings and relaxing with minimal combat.
There are also the HerInteractive Nancy Drew games, which are older but fun female-centered mysteries. She recommends Phantom of Venice and Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon.
You could do part puzzle game, part rts. What I mean by rts is that you can give the knight commands but you can’t control him directly. And maybe he doesn’t always do what he’s told, and you have to account for that somehow?
Could make for an interesting roguelike, too, as you try to help this endless stream of knights rescue you.
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