SHENZHEN I/O
10/10
I had a lot of spare time over a 4 day period and 40+ hours of that time went into this game alone, nothing can describe enough how amazing this game is. The core of this game can be summed up with the phrase ‘fun embedded electronics programming’, it’s not overly complicated but will also pose a challenge to those out there who love solving puzzles or optimising code.
The game is simple to start playing, you are placed onto a dashboard with 2 main buttons ‘conceptMAIL’ and ‘Datasheets’. Your first email will ask you to read through the ‘Datasheets’ which is a printable PDF ( you don’t have to print it, but it does make referencing easier ), it’s a fairly short read and is something you can come back to if you’ve any queries or is required for your project. Once you’re finished, you can start your first lot of puzzles, which eases you into the UI and teaches you the basic principles of I/O control.
– Real player with 80.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Logic Indie Games.
You may be wondering why I’m thumbing down a game I’ve spent over 70 hours playing. I did enjoy the game, but I simply cannot recommend it to anyone except the most hardcore fans of Zachtronics' other games. And Shenzhen I/O is the only Zachtronics game which I’ve had no desire to replay.
My biggest complaint is the size of the boards. They are unfairly small.
In Zach’s other games, constantly adding and testing parts is how I would work my way through the logic of the puzzle, step by step. You could make a big messy solution at first, and then worry about optimizing it later. But Shenzhen I/O actively discourages you from playing this way, especially after the first campaign is over. There is simply not enough room on the later boards to reasonably work with.
– Real player with 77.9 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 Logic Indie 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
![the Sequence [2]](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1560450/header.jpg)
the Sequence [2]
While I’m just starting this game, I can with 100% confidence say that it’s worth its price.
The puzzle design is brilliant! All tools are very simple, All puzzles fit in a couple of hex cells AND YET they all have very interesting and unique solutions.
And the game is CHALLENGING! It looks like a simple mobile game, but don’t let it decieve you. The solution to a puzzle is almost always not obvious and often requires you to do things differently then you did before.
This game gives me brain juice :з
– Real player with 14.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Logic Stylized Games.
Good game
I spent a lot of time to play this.
– Real player with 14.0 hrs in game
CHR$(143)
I started writing this review but got distracted and kept playing it.
Its pretty challenging but learning and overcoming a level gives a good level of satisfaction, but do be prepared to end up sitting on a level for an hour or so trying to learn whats going on slowly revealing all the intricate parts especially on the fog of war levels.
If you enjoy logic puzzles and perhaps a lil logic coding CHR143 is more than worth the asking price.
– Real player with 101.4 hrs in game
CHR$(143) is an absolutely mystifying game. Behind its retro drapery in the style of the Amstrad CPC (a computer both slightly before my time and popular on the wrong continent altogether) is a construct that tears apart the modern rubric for successful games.
The result is something that is equally wondrous and maddening. The sense of discovery experienced here is something unlike anything I have experienced since the original Portal. New gameplay elements will be introduced that will come totally out of left field - once you’re out of those tutorial levels, how will they work, how will they behave, especially in a strange and quirky physics implementation? It will be on you to find out - this game demands you to experiment!
– Real player with 50.4 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
SOKOBOT
SOKOBOT is a puzzle game about placing and programming cute little robots. The SOKOBOTS can be given a string of simple commands to move themselves, communicate and manipulate objects. From these simple building blocks much more complex interactions can be made!
Solve, Optimise, Compete!
As an open-ended puzzle game each level has unlimited ways to be solved. Once finished you can choose to iterate your solution for different criteria, such as commands used, and compete on friend leaderboards!
Features
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50+ unique stages: Ranging from simple to taxing
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Open ended puzzles: No preordained solutions
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Branching progression: Stuck? Try another and come back later!
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Friend Leaderboards & Histograms: Compete on SOKOBOTS used, cycles and commands
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GIF Exporter: Share your solutions with others!
Dance of Cubes
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don’t care what humans think is impossible.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Ooh, black and yellow!
Let’s shake it up a little.
Barry! Breakfast is ready!
Coming!
Hang on a second.
Hello?
Barry?
Adam?
Can you believe this is happening?
I can’t.
I’ll pick you up.
Looking sharp.
– Real player with 0.2 hrs in game
Dreamjob: Programmer
Dreamjob: Programmer is a super easy and fun way to get you started with programming. With hundreds of missions, each one carefully adjusted to your level of expertise with coding, you will get into the shoes of a real programmer! Soon you will know how to create and monetize enough assets to buy a home, an exclusive yacht, or even a private island! Each place can be decorated by items you buy in a sim-shop and many of them may be enchanted by your code, making them uniquely interactive. As your programming skills keep getting better, you can change your life - earn more money, perform more difficult tasks, and become a real IT guy!
Making a long story short - if you are looking for a good coding learning game, Dreamjob: Programmer is the perfect match!
Learn programming from zero!
Start your adventure with the simplest approach to programming ever created: Visual Scripting Editor. Place and connect the proper blocks to create programs. The concepts you learn here will help you learn real programming in languages like Python, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, and more! Smooth and fun gameplay in our coding game will make you have a great time while learning.
Gain XP and learn new skills!
Starting with the legendary “Hello world” program, you will solve more and more complex tasks and acquire new skills that will let you understand real programming concepts like:
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Math and logical operations
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Conditional statements
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Loops
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Arrays and dictionaries
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…and many, many more!
Upgrade your hardware
Earn lots of cash by solving more and more prestigious jobs. Upgrade your computer, monitor, mouse, seat, desk, and the whole place you live in! All this to play and learn even more efficiently.
Program anything!
Have a hot coffee every day at 8 AM, program a toaster to give you fresh toasts at 10 AM, and make lights turn red when someone is approaching your home! In Dreamjob: Programmer game you can change the world around you.
Get some actual Python source code working!
Besides solving tasks with the visual editor, you will have the opportunity to try yourself with the actual Python source code. And, by doing so, to launch a rocket to outer space. How cool is that? Our coding learning game has two endpoints - teach you to program and keep you entertained!
Why should you give Dreamjob: Programmer a shot?
In today’s world, the work of a programmer is associated with prestige, performing interesting tasks, and good money. No wonder so many people want to learn to code. After deciding to give it a shot, they often ask themselves - how to start? Buy an expensive course? Enroll in college? Well, there is a much cheaper and easier way. Dreamjob: Programmer will let you understand the world of programming. Thanks to our coding learning game you will understand how it works - starting from simple, basic issues, ending at complex, rewarding tasks.
Dreamjob: Programmer is a programmer’s career sim / code learning game. Inspired by The Sims, Monument Valley, and Minecraft.
Neon Noodles - Cyberpunk Kitchen Automation
So much that I like about this game. I liked the idea of Overcooked, but it was always too frantic for me and in Neon Noodles I like taking time to plan and be an efficient chef. Designing the layout and instructions is intuitive and works well even with a controller. The UI is clean and clearly communicates, while still looking really good. Building something that works first, and then optimizing it based on the 3 categories (roughly space, time, and complexity) adds additional challenges. It makes me want to cook all of these delicious recipes.
– Real player with 13.3 hrs in game
Selecting to play a new game from the main menu screen will take you to the level screen. Choosing to continue a previous game from the main menu will take you to the game level you’re currently on. On the first level Sliced Avocado, you’ll be welcomed to Neon Noodles! From here you’ll continue an existing program and be instructed on what to do. You will also get more information as you progress through the levels.
– Real player with 10.9 hrs in game
Outerverse
Outerverse is an exciting, quest driven, automation adventure game. Build automated farms, machines, and weapons then use them to travel across the universe, beat massive titans, and advance your technology while experiencing cosmic events.
Defeat Massive Titans
Defeat massive titans using the automation systems. One moment you will be launching rockets into a massive golem, the other you will be building automated destruction systems to stop a massive underground plant from spreading!
Build Automated Machines & Farms
Automate unique machines and farms using logic, transportation, and spawning systems inspired by Redstone & Minecraft Automation. Design your own custom machines, or use pre-made schematics for simplicity!
Pursue Engaging Quests
Follow a questline that will fully guide your adventure. Progress to unlock better equipment and new space travel technology. From starting out and learning the basics, to defeating the most massive titans, the questline will guide you through the whole way.
Survive Cosmic Events
During the questline you will explore the beautiful space and experience exciting cosmic events in unforgettable locations.
