Games Like Alan's Automaton Workshop

Learn CPU architecture with puzzles

Why similar: Programming 45.5% ★, Education 17.6%, Logic 11.7%, Automation 10%, Puzzle 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: A deep dive into computer architecture where you build a functioning computer from basic logic gates.

BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.

Why similar: Programming 52.5% ★, Automation 19.6%, Logic 8.2%, Education 7.8%, Puzzle 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A classic Zachtronics game focused on building circuits and writing assembly code to solve complex engineering challenges.

Opus Magnum is the latest open-ended puzzle game from Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem, Infinifactory, and SHENZHEN I/O. Design and build machines that assemble potions, poisons, and more using the alchemical engineer’s most advanced tool: the transmutation engine!

Why similar: Programming 41.6% ★, Automation 23.9%, Puzzle 8.7%, Steampunk 8.2% ★, Logic 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: An open-ended automation puzzle game where you design machines to assemble chemical products.

TIS-100 is an open-ended programming game by Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem and Infinifactory, in which you rewrite corrupted code segments to repair the TIS-100 and unlock its secrets. It’s the assembly language programming game you never asked for!

Why similar: Programming 71.1% ★, Puzzle 6.6%, Logic 6%, Automation 5.8%, Education 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging, minimalist assembly programming game that forces you to optimize code within strict memory constraints.

Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!

Why similar: Programming 52.7% ★, Automation 15.3%, Puzzle 14%, Logic 11.2%, Education 2.9%

Why You'll Like It: The foundational automation puzzle game that requires complex logic and timing to manipulate chemical bonds.

Program little office workers to solve puzzles. Be a good employee! The machines are coming... for your job. From the creators of World of Goo and Little Inferno.

Why similar: Programming 57.8% ★, Education 14.6%, Automation 10.6%, Puzzle 7.3%, Logic 3.8%

Why You'll Like It: A visual programming game that uses office tasks to teach fundamental computer science concepts.

The year is 1997. You used to be a hacker, but now you have the phage. You made a deal: one hack, one dose. There’s nothing left to lose… except your life.

Why similar: Programming 55.9% ★, Automation 20.7%, Logic 8.6%, Puzzle 6.7%, Sandbox 3.6%

Why You'll Like It: A gritty hacking-themed game that tasks you with writing assembly code to control robots and infiltrate systems.

Infinifactory is a sandbox puzzle game by Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem and Infiniminer. Build factories that assemble products for your alien overlords, and try not to die in the process.

Why similar: Programming 36.4% ★, Automation 23.6%, Building 11.3%, Sandbox 9.9%, Puzzle 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A 3D spatial automation puzzle game where you build factories to produce alien products.

Automate swarms of office workers to solve puzzles inside your very own parallel computer made of people. A thrilling followup to the award winning Human Resource Machine. Now with more humans!

Why similar: Programming 61.4% ★, Education 12.1%, Puzzle 7.3%, Automation 7.2%, Logic 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: The sequel to Human Resource Machine, introducing multi-threaded programming and parallel processing puzzles.

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, The Signal State puts your logic skills to the test with complex puzzles inspired by modular synthesizers. Repair machines, rebuild an abandoned farm, and be part of a revolution that will change the fate of agriculture once and for all.

Why similar: Programming 38.2% ★, Automation 24.1%, Logic 13.6%, Sandbox 9.8%, Puzzle 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A modular synthesis-inspired puzzle game that requires complex logic and signal routing to solve.

You’re a machine learning specialist who makes neural networks but your cat seems to be better at it. Now you must solve puzzles to build a cat-to-human translation system (who knows what else this cat is capable of!). Earn a fortune, buy kickass cat outfits, learn how machine learning really works!

Why similar: Programming 52.3% ★, Education 21.6%, Sandbox 6%, Building 6%, Puzzle 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: A lighthearted programming game that introduces machine learning concepts through puzzle-solving.

Manufactoria 2022 is a constructive puzzle game about pushing robots around. (It's okay, they don't complain.) Use simple parts to engineer solutions to open-ended problems, then rebuild 'em better! Take a company from your backyard to the soaring heights of success! How hard could it be?

Why similar: Programming 42.7% ★, Automation 27.5%, Logic 13.5%, Puzzle 7.5%, Simulation 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: A logic-heavy automation game focused on building machines to sort and process robots.

Build hardware. Solve puzzles. From the creator of Manufactoria, a new open-ended puzzle game set in Silicon Valley's first startup.

Why similar: Programming 59.5% ★, Education 18.2%, Simulation 11.1%, Puzzle 8.2%, Indie 2.1%

Why You'll Like It: A hardware design game that challenges you to build computer components while managing costs and efficiency.

Virtual Circuit Board is the sandbox drawing-based logic simulator where you can build, program, decorate, and simulate anything from simple monochrome circuits to complex and colorful computers. Play with digital logic in this sandbox-only experience.

Why similar: Programming 33.5% ★, Education 16.3%, Automation 15.6%, Sandbox 9%, Logic 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox environment for building and testing complex digital logic circuits without constraints.

SOKOBOT is an open-ended puzzle game where you place down cute robots, give them commands, and create infinitely-looping assembly lines that combine shapes together!

Why similar: Programming 38.1% ★, Automation 22%, Logic 10.9%, Building 9.3%, Sandbox 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: An automation puzzle game where you program a robot to move and manipulate objects in a grid-based environment.

Build the most advanced operating system ever created! Can you master the fictional simulation language of this mind-bending machine? Design circuits, automate UBITS (coloured mobile data blocks), and optimize your system. The Admin is always watching, and he’s not what he seems.

Why similar: Programming 34.9% ★, Automation 19.6%, Education 13.4%, Sandbox 7.6%, Building 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: A programming-heavy automation game that emphasizes logic and sequence optimization.

MHRD is a hardware design game, in which you design various hardware circuits in a hardware description language. The hardware circuits you design get more complex as you go until you create a fully functional CPU design.

Why similar: Programming 61.8% ★, Education 20.2%, Simulation 9.3%, Puzzle 6.7%, Indie 1.9%

Why You'll Like It: A hardware design game that focuses on building a CPU from the ground up using logic gates.

You land on a frozen planet in a tiny rocket with a robot inside. Harvest and combine materials to discover new ones. Use visual programming to make the robot do the tiresome work for you. Slowly build a gang of self-sustaining robot workers and watch them terraform the planet.

Why similar: Programming 36.7% ★, Automation 22.3%, Education 20.1%, Sandbox 10.4%, Puzzle 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A survival-automation game that uses visual programming to teach robots how to gather and craft resources.

Retrace the path of the Prime Mover to uncover the story of the Byte of Burden! Prime Mover is an open-ended puzzle game about designing circuit boards.

Why similar: Programming 66.5% ★, Education 13.1%, Puzzle 10.1%, Simulation 8%, Indie 1.7%

Why You'll Like It: A circuit design game where you optimize logic boards to solve increasingly difficult engineering tasks.

Kaizen is an open-ended puzzle automation game from the original Zachtronics team, set in 1980s Japan. Design, build, and optimize production lines to create iconic products, like calculators, camcorders, and arcade machines.

Why similar: Programming 37% ★, Automation 19%, Education 13.9%, Logic 9.6%, Building 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: A factory automation and optimization game that focuses on efficient production lines.

Use the MOLEK-SYNTEZ to create small molecules with various pharmacological effects from the comfort of your small Romanian apartment.

Why similar: Programming 50.6% ★, Automation 24%, Puzzle 10%, Simulation 9.4%, Logic 3.9%

Why You'll Like It: A chemistry-themed programming puzzle game that requires precise assembly code to build molecules.

Robo Instructus is a puzzle game in which players manoeuvre a robot by issuing instructions via a simple programming language. As players progress through the game they unlock new functions to overcome new puzzles, each of which can be solved in multiple ways.

Why similar: Programming 53% ★, Education 18.2%, Logic 14.3%, Puzzle 7.8%, Simulation 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle game where you write code to guide a robot through various spatial challenges.

In Autonauts you must build, create, and automate. Start by establishing a colony, crafting bots and teaching them via Scratch-style programming to build an ever evolving autonomous paradise of agriculture, industry and enlightenment.

Why similar: Programming 49.1% ★, Automation 30.1%, Sandbox 7.3%, Building 6.8%, Simulation 5.6%

Why You'll Like It: A game focused on teaching robots to automate tasks using a visual programming language.

Invent a new computer! Logic World is a first-person sandbox simulation game that's all about digital logic. Play alone or with friends, design unique machines, build up layers of complexity, and experience the joy of circuits!

Why similar: Automation 26.2%, Education 25.5%, Building 13.4%, Sandbox 12.7%, Logic 10.9%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox game that allows for the construction of incredibly complex digital circuits and logic systems.

A sandbox logic puzzle game with a nostalgic temperament. You can experience the endless fun of designing automata here.

Why similar: Programming 46.5% ★, Automation 27.9%, Building 12.3%, Puzzle 7.5%, Simulation 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy automation game that combines programming mechanics with building and simulation.

Design increasingly complex computation units powered by high pressure steam. From switches to steam based computers, all in a world of analogue pressure devices. Use previous designs to solve further challenges, unravel the mystery of the missing steam and discover a new field of science.

Why similar: Programming 34.7% ★, Automation 21.9%, Education 16.1%, Building 9.7%, Sandbox 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: An automation and logic-based building game that challenges you to manage pressure and flow systems.

Program and optimize a drone to automate a farm and watch it do the work for you. Collect resources to unlock better technology and become the most efficient farmer in the world. Improve your problem solving and coding skills.

Why similar: Programming 43.2% ★, Automation 20%, Education 15.6%, Logic 8.6%, Sandbox 5.3%

Retro Gadgets is a sandbox where you build, code, and customize gadgets inspired by old-school electronics.

Why similar: Programming 32% ★, Automation 19.7%, Education 17.2%, Building 8.7%, Sandbox 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox game for building and programming interactive, retro-style hardware gadgets.

Master the most counter-intuitive logic in existence. Created by the researchers who defined Quantum Literacy, explore an open-ended puzzle world where you craft real quantum algorithms, solve 500+ challenges, hack other players asynchronously, and gain insights textbooks can’t provide.

Why similar: Programming 30.8% ★, Automation 17.6%, Education 15.9%, Logic 9.5%, Building 6.9%

OCTOPTICOM is an open-ended puzzle programming game about designing and optimizing optical computing devices. Use lasers, mirrors, filters and other components to read, transform and write sequences of colored squares.

Why similar: Programming 46.8% ★, Education 19.8%, Logic 12.9%, Simulation 8.7%, Puzzle 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: A logic and optimization puzzle game focused on routing and processing data signals.

Build, debug and optimize a computer network in an underground facility.

Why similar: Programming 42.2% ★, Automation 25.1%, Logic 14.4%, Puzzle 6.3%, Sandbox 5.9%

Comet 64 is a programming puzzle game. The year is 1984. All you got is a Comet 64 home computer and the operator's manual it came with.

Why similar: Programming 39.1% ★, Education 14.9%, Automation 13.2%, Building 7.6%, Sandbox 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: A retro-themed programming puzzle game that captures the feel of early computing hardware.

Automate It is a factory-building puzzle game that challenges players to find clever solutions within size, power, and time constraints. Design, build, and share your own puzzles with other players. If you want to build it - choose Automate It.

Why similar: Automation 35%, Sandbox 19%, Building 13.8%, Logic 11.8%, Puzzle 9.3%

Replicube is an open-ended programming puzzle game/toy about writing code to replicate 3D voxel-based objects. Solve puzzles, pursue leaderboard glory, or just make art to share with the in-game community.

Why similar: Programming 66.4% ★, Sandbox 15.5%, Puzzle 10.1%, Simulation 8.1%

Build intricate supply chains to meet your feline customers' needs. Discover underground and air transport layers, a vast research tree, procedural worlds, machine learning, and endless automation in this relaxing, enemyless game.

Why similar: Programming 32.2% ★, Automation 22.3%, Education 20.2%, Building 11.3%, Sandbox 10.3%

Design, build and wire up your own unique robot to complete challenging logic puzzles. LogicBots is a puzzle game where robots are used to complete the various levels.

Why similar: Programming 49.2% ★, Education 12.9%, Sandbox 11.9%, Building 9.4%, Simulation 8.6%

You’re the designer, engineer and architect if you can imagine it you can create it! Construct robots of any shape or size from eight-legged spider bots to eerie UFO contraptions.

Why similar: Programming 34.2% ★, Automation 20.3%, Education 10.5%, Logic 10.3%, Sandbox 10.1%

Dive into SirKwitz: a beginner-friendly edutainment game that makes learning programming easy & fun! Explore 28 puzzles across four topics to master the very core concepts behind programming and develop your problem-solving skills. Ideal for those that think coding & programming are scary words!

Why similar: Programming 37.5% ★, Education 23.7%, Automation 15.7%, Logic 10.9%, Puzzle 6.4%

World of Contraptions is a physics-based building game in which you build the most varied contraptions to solve the most diverse types of puzzles. Win dozens of levels with different types of obstacles. Design the best contraption for each challenge using a giant collection of blocks.

Why similar: Programming 27.6% ★, Automation 17.5%, Education 14.2%, Building 10.6%, Sandbox 10.3%

Hard Chip is a 3D simulation/puzzle game about building processors focusing on realism. Explore the world of semiconductor chip design and delve into the intricacies of CPU logic, floor planning, and propagation delay.

Why similar: Programming 35.2% ★, Automation 17.1%, Education 17%, Logic 11.1%, Building 9.2%

Mechanica is a multiplayer open-world survival game involving building and programming. Create your own bases, defenses, manufacturing systems and more. Explore the map and expand the scope and complexity of your creations.

Why similar: Programming 49.1% ★, Automation 16.5%, Building 13.1%, Logic 10.2%, Sandbox 9.8%

A=B is a programming puzzle game with only one instruction: A=B, which means replacing A with B.

Why similar: Programming 47.1% ★, Education 20.8%, Automation 18.5%, Puzzle 8.3%, Logic 3.4%

Use real Python code to automate machines, robots, drones and more: Program self-driving vehicles; crack passwords; apply machine learning; automate logistics; use image processing to guide missiles. Gain real coding skills and solve exciting bite-sized programming challenges.

Why similar: Programming 40.4% ★, Automation 22.3%, Education 17.7%, Logic 11%, Puzzle 5.3%

Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.

Why similar: Programming 59.5% ★, Automation 23.8%, Education 6.7%, Sandbox 3.7%, Puzzle 2.9%

Word Factori is a word-building game where your only resource is the letter "i". Build a chain of factories to bend, rotate, reflect, and merge "i" into more complex letters. Discover secret letter recipes, unlock hidden word art, and optimize your factory chains for high scores.

Why similar: Programming 36.8% ★, Automation 22.4%, Logic 11.3%, Sandbox 8.9%, Building 8.6%

A rich and challenging physics-based puzzle /logic /construction /programming game! Master ballistics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, chemical and nuclear reactions, use automation bricks, build structures, machines, vehicles, produce power, solve puzzles, pierce the fog and defeat CHR$!

Why similar: Programming 37.6% ★, Automation 30%, Building 12.6%, Logic 9.5%, Puzzle 6.2%

A mind-bending recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Learn to use infinity to your advantage as you explore a deep and elegant system.

Why similar: Logic 54%, Puzzle 34.9%, 2D 5.4%, Singleplayer 3%, Indie 2.7%

A game about building emulators! Implement your own NEEES core in JavaScript, get instant feedback with unit/video tests, build the graphics unit in real time, learn 6502 assembly, debug test ROMs, and have fun with the included homebrew games!

Why similar: Programming 53.1% ★, Education 21.2%, Logic 13.6%, Puzzle 5.9%, Simulation 5.3%

An atmospheric horror, exploration and automation game all set in the dim halls of an apartment building

Why similar: Programming 44.7% ★, Automation 28.1%, Logic 14.1%, Puzzle 6%, Psychological Horror 4.8%

Great Permutator is a puzzle. Hard and tricky. One in which you will have to build a complex system of conveyors and various devices so that the colored boxes can travel across the factory and arrive at right places and in right order. If you are into clever engineering puzzles, this game is for you.

Why similar: Programming 40.3% ★, Automation 25.2%, Building 11.2%, Logic 9.3%, Puzzle 6.9%

In a future where food is the ultimate symbol of status, you are a recipe programming technician for a ruthless aristocracy. Create, test and optimize your culinary machines in this deliciously dark zach-like!

Why similar: Programming 40.6% ★, Automation 27.6%, Logic 11.3%, Sandbox 8.4%, Puzzle 5.6%

Minesweeper, but you only solve each situation once.

Why similar: Automation 29.8%, Programming 24.9% ★, Education 15.7%, Building 9.5%, Puzzle 8.9%

The Steam Engine Simulator shown on AngeTheGreat's YouTube channel.

Why similar: Education 64.3%, Simulation 19.1%, Psychological Horror 9.5%, 2D 4.5%, Singleplayer 2.1%

A sci-fi management game where you build and optimize your computer's system from the ground up. Connect and configure interconnected nodes to efficiently download, process, and upload files. Manage your setup, solve system challenges, and become the ultimate system architect

Why similar: Programming 40.1% ★, Automation 35.8%, Logic 10%, Simulation 7.7%, Sandbox 5.5%

The original physics building game is now on PC! Use minimal tools to build an infinite variety of puzzle-solving machines. Featuring over 70 THOUSAND user-generated levels, and includes the sequel Fantastic Contraption Classic 2!

Why similar: Education 21.8%, Building 19.8%, Automation 14%, Sandbox 12.9%, Puzzle 10.2%

Block shop is an automation puzzle game in which basic blocks are transformed and combined to create increasingly complex blocks.

Why similar: Automation 54.7%, Logic 15.7%, Puzzle 13.5%, Building 12%, Indie 2%

Build, cable, and automate. Assemble racks, servers, and switches, connect enough capacity for each app, earn money from processed data, and unlock gear and bigger customers with XP and reputation. Follow colored data packets as your center comes to life.

Why similar: Automation 32%, Programming 29.5% ★, Logic 15.1%, Simulation 9.4%, Sandbox 9.1%

A surreal building game for VR. Create life-sized contraptions as tall as you can reach, then send them whirling, flinging, and trundling off to solve puzzles on the other side of a floating island. There are no right or wrong solutions, so bring your creativity.

Why similar: Automation 28.4%, Education 21.4%, Building 16.4%, Logic 14.7%, Puzzle 9.4%

Copy Editor is an intricate puzzle game that teaches you Regular Expressions (RegEx), commonly used in computer science and language theory. Build complex rules that process and revise famous texts for your wacky and demanding publisher!

Why similar: Programming 57% ★, Education 24%, Puzzle 10.1%, Simulation 8.1%, Indie 0.6%

Enter the most advanced challenge laboratory of today's games, where electronics and logic merge into challenges that will captivate your mind and awaken the engineer within you!

Why similar: Education 38.6%, Automation 27.8%, Logic 12.7%, Puzzle 11.3%, Simulation 9.4%