Move Code Lines
Only partially through the second level but OMFG this “game” is actually incredible and I’m learning so much already I can’t imagine what I’ll learn by playing all the way through. DEFINITELY recommend if you’re interested in programming or learning about programming. The interface is really relaxing, one of the color themes is the old QBASIC editor theme xD and the music is super chill.
– Real player with 15.1 hrs in game
Read More: Best Automation Hacking Games.
Stylishly executed game, with pleasant musical accompaniment. From the main screen greets you with its core mechanic, namely the ability to move the lines of the name of the game.
Programming language is a little bit similar to Python and to C++, but… in reality you do not need to program, just read a code lines and sort it to the right position for solving the puzzle.
At the initial stages, everything looks very simple, the solution of the issues can be found faster than you reading, intuitively bugs hunting. But the further you move through the list of levels, the more difficult it gets.
– Real player with 7.2 hrs in game
The Signal State
Great little Zach-like. If you like this genre of fiddly little programming games, you’ll like this. If you’re not interested in the genre, you won’t.
Pros of this particular game:
+Charming analog aesthetics. The game’s UI feels very “physical” and low-tech in a neat way.
+Minimalist but reasonably interesting story. I’m all about workers seizing the means of production.
+Good soundtrack. Really helps you get into that zen programming mode.
+More accessible than most games in this genre, as difficulty curve is lower. This might be a con for you, if you’re super good at this genre and really want a challenge, but I think difficulty curve is in that sweet spot challenging without feeling like you now have a second job learning an imaginary programming language.
– Real player with 36.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Automation Hacking Games.
This game falls short on so many aspects and makes so many dubious design decisions that makes me wonder whether the devs actually know what they’re doing:
- UI/UX:
The main UI, a physical rack representing modules, is just bad, period. Now before you yell blindly, “but node-based programming is the future!”, please note that the game does not feature node-based programming: actual node-based programming would be like Scratch, LabVIEW or Blender nodes. This game’s UI represents specifically DAW skeuomorphism, notably Propellerhead’s Reason. It is also a design decision from the last century, done by nobody else, and being commonly criticized around all the time. Also, DAWs don’t have a million tiny modules like this game.
– Real player with 20.7 hrs in game
Lowsy
so! this game is one dollar. this is a truly unfair price - i think it could go fine at eight, to be honest. but what exactly is it?
with the grid and tick system and variety of parts, you might initially think it’s a zachlike, but it isn’t quite. there are 13 levels, and they don’t build off of each other or progress smoothly - they showcase entirely different conundrums. I’ve only beaten the easiest few, but i’ve had to carefully map out a maze of hands, do speed changes on two perpendicular lines of eyes to avoid collision, and stall out eyes in a box until the level ends automatically. every level is a completely separate puzzle, and they’re all very fun! it’s like a game made of only special challenge levels
– Real player with 0.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Automation Relaxing Games.
Milling machine 3D
Drill, mill, grind and cut in a lovely, little hut.
For the first time ever, you are able to immerse yourself in a world of milling. You can use a conventional milling machine, from the comfort of your computer.
With a tutorial that will lead you through the first stages of the game, you will acquaint yourself with the controles, so you can prototype your own products or solve challenging tests.
Realistic physics and movement make the grind feel life-like. Customize your workpiece by choosing a material and size. Don’t have enough time to finish it right now? No problem! Just save your work and continue at another time. Don’t know which direction to go with? Duplicate your work and try it out! Mistakes are allowed! Trial and error being great teaching tools.
Block Machine
Block Machine is a difficult yet poorly explained programming puzzle that combines the joy of doing homework for computer science class with the eerie satisfaction of toying around with Redstone in Minecraft.
In Block Machine, you build machines from blocks (who would have guessed!) to solve a variety of programming tasks. Block Machine’s programming model is unique: Blocks are both code and data, and all computation happens in parallel. Von Neumann would have loved this.
15+ Different Block Types to Explore
How many different ways can you find to use the basic arrow blocks? Or maybe you fancy the charged battery blocks? Wrap your head around the different capabilities and use them to build the smallest and fastest Block Machine.
25+ Challenging levels, ranging from HARD to REALLY HARD
Solve difficult programming puzzles in this Turing tarpit. Can you beat the global highscore in any of the three categories?
A Sandbox mode to mess around to your heart’s content
Build that 1000 block machine your dreamt about last night. Or don’t. It’s a sandbox!
DumbBots
Great game. Didn’t let me down.
– Real player with 19.6 hrs in game
If you enjoy logic puzzles you’ll enjoy this. It’s a perfect sandbox to be able to see [on a basic level] what goes into logic of computer-controlled characters in video games. There are simple logic blocks to start with, and advanced ones that can create a very ‘intelligent’ DumbBot.
– Real player with 5.3 hrs in game
Assignment 42
Very delicious robot game where you navigate between rooms and use robots to solve problems. For some reason at level three it didn’t run for me. But as I try to point out in many of my reviews. I has potato.
– Real player with 4.6 hrs in game
Great game controlling your robot. And evacuating hostage.
– Real player with 3.2 hrs in game
Good Company
I see great potential for the game, but as I’m writing the review now I’m only taking those things into consideration that are already in the game.
Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 5/5
Tutorials: 4/5
Difficulty: 5/5
Support: 5/5
Gameplay:
The gameplay loop is simple:
1. build/rearrange production line
2. set up the logistics for that line
3. tweak bits and pieces to make it profitable
4. plan the next production line / change the line output to another product
For me that is exactly what I was looking for. You create something, an issue arises, you fix that issue and that leads to another issue or you’re set and you create the next new thing.
– Real player with 180.1 hrs in game
i loved the concept but the execution is so EXTREAMLY flawed..
market: why is it capped so low in FREEPLAY. ive tried countless times trying to tweak the my out puts. But literally ever single time ive played the supply chains get so damn long that I cannot maintain a profitable business with out producing more then I can sell which ironically makes me go bankrupt
out/in bound shipping: why can we move these? Why is there a limit to how many items I can place in the in/out bound points with out the ability to upgrade them?
– Real player with 154.4 hrs in game
DumbBots: Hello World
A grate game 10/10
– Real player with 3.4 hrs in game
This was pretty easy & fun. (Although I am a professional game developer.) Looking forward to the full DumbBots game!
EDIT: Seriously, why doesn’t this have more positive reviews? :/
– Real player with 0.7 hrs in game
Idle Research
Idle Research is an addictive, resource management, incremental game with both idle and active playstyles.
Research and Craft items (Flasks, Tubes, and Cylinders) to earn as much of the 3 types of Energy as possible!
The game can be played anywhere at anytime, no internet or constant attention is required (though it would speed up progress :D).
Supports different platforms from Mobile and the Web version!
Features
We all love numbers right? How about big ones? That’s what this game is about! It was designed to be a fun and addicting incremental where anyone can enjoy.
Research and unlock up to 27 different and colorful vital items that serve one main purpose: Crafting!
Craft researched items that will make you even more Energy and can be used in different parts of the game!
Use your Energy to speed up progress with the 41 different types of Accelerators!
Earn Fire Items when researching to buy various special upgrades including Automation! You don’t need to manage everything manually 24/7 =D
Master your items to improve their research speeds and gain Mystical items!
Use your Mystical Flasks to buy from a wide selection of upgrades in the Mastery Tree!
There are 3 major prestige layers for each Flasks, Tubes, and Cylinders. Reset some progress, gain Golden items, and come back even faster!
Take your crafted Tubes into battle with 9 different zones each with unlimited zones! Each zone drops different colored skills that will help speed up the game.
Use your unlocked Skills from Adventure and level them up with your Tubes! Unlock up to 90 skills, each important in their own ways!
Use your tubes to brew 14 different types of potions that will improve the game in general and different Adventure stats!
Constant Development
As a sole indie developer, this is my passion and hobby. Making games is the major thing I do almost everyday. I will always seek suggestions, fix bugs, and always add new content that will make the game even better. My goal is to satisfy as many players as possible and to create a fun experience.
Community
One of my major goals is to create a community of players and indie developers that are friendly and helpful towards one another. Want to come along with the crew? Join the discord!
Made with love and passion,
Zach / CryptoGrounds Games LLC