Hah, I had a similar idea a few months back [0]. Of course, being the lazy person that I am, I tweeted about it, wrote about it in my ideas notebook, and never implemented anything.
I recall a database query tutorial on the Apple Mac in the early 90s that took the form of a detective game. With clues, you gradually refined your query. I can't find any references to it now though.
Hah, that's awesome- if anyone knows of it, would love to know the name!
I'm definitely familiar with tutorials for programming languages/tools/environments using the medium itself, as you just described - but have never seen anything in game form. Further examples appreciated!
I'm not sure about on the Mac, but that sounds like the MS Works 1.0 tutorial for the database component. The scenario was for a ski field where there had been a murder, and you had to whittle down the suspects based on the clues found.
It started out like a game. There was a grey background, then footsteps appeared, marching across the screen to gravel-crunch noises. And the queries were for guests in a hotel, IIRC.
I believe the same one was available for DOS, though my memories of the details were vague. It was for either Works or Lotus 1-2-3 and was the culmination of a series of spreadsheet training scenarios.
Checking this out right now!
[0] https://twitter.com/gardaud/status/402608968029057027