Never played the original so I have no comment on that, but I will say that this game is truly such "a densely layered web of profound philosophical insights."

Presented as a first person adventure game where you play as Stanley and walk through his office building trying to find out where everyone else has gone while having your every single choice and move narrated along the way, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is a game that plays you. A mind-bending, self-aware, satirical, meta critique on the game industry, game development and developers, pointless re-releases and sequels which barely add any new content and ungrateful fans as well. This game makes fun of everyone and it does it in the funniest way possible with an incredible narrator that is as charming as they are deadpan and snarky.

It's not a game you're going to replay much once you complete it and get the true ending, but it is certainly a one-of-a-kind, surreally hilarious and simultaneously chilling at times thought-provoking narrative experience that will stick with you long after you finish it.