Games Like Retro Gadgets

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 18.2% ★, Automation 15%, Education 14.4%, Hacking 11.1% ★, Building 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: It offers the most similar experience to Retro Gadgets by allowing you to build and simulate complex electronic circuits in a sandbox environment.

Learn CPU architecture with puzzles

Why similar: Automation 20.9%, Programming 20.3% ★, Education 12.8%, Building 11.3%, Hacking 11% ★

Why You'll Like It: This game excels at teaching computer architecture by having you build a functional computer from basic logic gates.

BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.

Why similar: Programming 42.1% ★, Automation 23.6%, Education 9.7%, Logic 6.8%, Puzzle 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the retro hardware aesthetic perfectly while challenging you to design circuits and write assembly code for custom gadgets.

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: Programming 21% ★, Automation 16.6%, Education 16.2%, Hacking 12.7% ★, Building 11%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a massive sandbox for building complex digital logic circuits with a focus on real-time simulation.

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 38.1% ★, Automation 20.6%, Hacking 19.8% ★, Puzzle 7.5%, Logic 6%

Why You'll Like It: A quintessential programming puzzle game that features a gritty, retro-hacker aesthetic and deep automation mechanics.

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 55.7% ★, Hacking 11.8% ★, Puzzle 8.5%, Automation 7%, Education 7%

Why You'll Like It: This game is a pure, challenging exercise in assembly programming that feels like working on a broken, vintage computer.

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 22.5% ★, Education 16.9%, Automation 16.5%, Hacking 14.6% ★, Building 11.1%

Why You'll Like It: A dedicated hardware simulation game that focuses on the intricacies of chip design and logic flow.

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 26.9% ★, Automation 25.3%, Hacking 11.2% ★, Logic 9.9%, Sandbox 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: This game combines modular synthesis with logic puzzles, requiring you to patch and program signals to solve complex automation tasks.

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 23.7% ★, Education 14%, Automation 12%, Hacking 10.6% ★, Building 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: It perfectly captures the retro-computing vibe by tasking you with programming a virtual 8-bit machine.

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 24.8% ★, Automation 19.8%, Education 17.2%, Building 14.1%, Sandbox 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a highly flexible sandbox for building custom robots and gadgets using a powerful visual programming interface.

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 41.4% ★, Education 26.3%, Building 8.9%, Puzzle 7.5%, Simulation 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: A charming and educational game that introduces machine learning concepts through visual programming and automation.

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 48.5% ★, Education 18.4%, Automation 12.9%, Puzzle 9.8%, Simulation 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game turns programming into a visual puzzle, focusing on the logic flow and optimization of tasks.

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 37.8% ★, Education 15.3%, Building 13.6%, Sandbox 12.3%, Simulation 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: A robotics-focused simulation that requires you to build and program machines to solve various engineering challenges.

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 49.6% ★, Education 26.3%, Simulation 13.7%, Puzzle 9.3%, Indie 1.1%

Why You'll Like It: A deep dive into hardware design where you build a functional CPU from the ground up using a hardware description language.

Alan's Automaton Workshop is an open-ended programming puzzle game. Start a new business with Alan Turing and his groundbreaking innovation: the Turing Machine. Build unique automatons, and solve all kinds of problems from clients.

Why similar: Programming 24.2% ★, Automation 20.8%, Education 19.7%, Building 9.9%, Sandbox 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on building and programming steampunk-inspired automata to solve intricate logic puzzles.

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 37.6% ★, Automation 35%, Building 10%, Simulation 7.5%, Sandbox 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: It blends colony simulation with visual programming, allowing you to automate an entire world using simple logic scripts.

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 26.9% ★, Automation 24.5%, Education 22.8%, Sandbox 10.3%, Puzzle 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: It teaches programming basics through a visual interface while you automate the survival of robots on a frozen planet.

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 27% ★, Automation 26.5%, Building 15.8%, Puzzle 10.8%, Sandbox 10%

Why You'll Like It: A masterclass in 3D automation puzzles that requires you to build functional assembly lines to produce specific items.

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

Why similar: Programming 40.5% ★, Automation 28.1%, Simulation 13.2%, Puzzle 13.1%, Logic 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: A Zachtronics title that focuses on chemical engineering and programming, requiring precise logic to synthesize molecules.

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 43.5% ★, Puzzle 19%, Automation 18.9%, Logic 9.5%, Education 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: It forces you to think like an engineer, designing complex automated systems to manipulate molecules.

Unleash your brainpower in Linkito and ignite the insurgency! Link, build, solve, defuse, and decode by using your logic. Craft your own challenges in the level editor or tackle community creations.

Why similar: Game Development 28.3% ★, Programming 20.5% ★, Automation 18.4%, Sandbox 8.8%, Logic 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle game centered on logic and wiring, where you must connect various components to solve complex mechanical systems.

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 41.1% ★, Automation 22.8%, Hacking 18.9% ★, Education 6.9%, Simulation 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: A text-based programming game that allows you to automate hacking and system management in a cyberpunk setting.

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

Why similar: Programming 32.2% ★, Automation 28.9%, Building 16%, Puzzle 8.6%, Simulation 6.4%

Why You'll Like It: A cozy automation game that focuses on building small-scale machines to perform repetitive tasks.

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 39.3% ★, Education 18.6%, Hacking 17.9% ★, Simulation 13.1%, Puzzle 9%

Why You'll Like It: A challenging simulation that tasks you with building computer components and managing logic gates to meet specific requirements.

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 24.3% ★, Automation 23.9%, Education 19.5%, Hacking 13.8% ★, Logic 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A simulation that focuses on the software engineering process, allowing you to build and test code in a sandbox environment.

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 25% ★, Automation 19.1%, Education 14.3%, Building 8.2%, 1980s 8.2%

Besiege is a physics building game about constructing medieval machines to annihilate armies, obliterate castles and overcome challenging obstacles. Conquer the campaign or skirmish with friends in Multiplayer!

Why similar: Building 39%, Sandbox 28.8%, Puzzle 16.9%, Simulation 15.2%

Why You'll Like It: While more physics-focused, it offers a deep building sandbox that allows for complex mechanical and logical contraptions.

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 56.8% ★, Sandbox 15.1%, Puzzle 12.3%, Simulation 10.5%, Retro 3.7%

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 40.7% ★, Education 21.6%, Logic 11.3%, Puzzle 9.8%, Simulation 4.8%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle game that uses a simple programming language to control robots through increasingly difficult environments.

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 25.1% ★, Automation 23.6%, Education 18%, Building 13.2%, Sandbox 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes automation and building within a sandbox, focusing on pressure-based logic and mechanical systems.

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 53% ★, Education 15.2%, Puzzle 10%, Automation 8.8%, Logic 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: It expands on visual programming concepts by allowing you to control multiple workers simultaneously to solve logic puzzles.

"Falling sand" style particle sandbox, now with circuits and stickmen!

Why similar: Education 20.3%, Automation 18.8%, Sandbox 12.5%, Building 10.8%, Logic 7.8%

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: Game Development 31.4% ★, Programming 25.1% ★, Education 15.5%, Hacking 9.7% ★, Logic 6.7%

Boot up your Z5 Powerlance and dial into Last Call BBS, the last game from Zachtronics! The Barkeep’s loaded up his retro computer with a full set of puzzle games for you to download and play. No need to worry about copy protection, they’re all fully cracked and ready to enjoy!

Why similar: Automation 29.6%, Building 13.3%, 1990's 11.6%, Sandbox 11%, Logic 9%

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 22.4% ★, Automation 18.9%, Education 13.4%, Hacking 11.7% ★, Building 8.7%

Design, optimize, and reverse-engineer real quantum algorithms in an open-ended Zachlike puzzle game. Solve 500+ optimization challenges, hack player creations, and master quantum logic without coding.

Why similar: Programming 19.9% ★, Automation 17.5%, Education 15.5%, Hacking 13.7% ★, Building 9.8%

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: Automation 29.7%, Programming 24.8% ★, Building 15.6%, 1980s 7.1%, Puzzle 6.8%

Build and grow your very own computer repair enterprise as you learn to diagnose, fix and build PCs. With real-world licensed components and comprehensive hardware and software simulation, you can plan and bring your ultimate PC to life.

Why similar: Education 44.5%, Building 20.3%, Simulation 12.7%, Sandbox 11.4%, Puzzle 6%

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 36% ★, Automation 30.8%, Puzzle 12.2%, Logic 7%, Simulation 5.2%

Learn how to draw pixel art with a video game! Start from zero and develop real art skills in a relaxing way. Complete interactive tutorials, draw pixel art sprites, and play the games you create. Everyone can do this!

Why similar: Game Development 44.2% ★, Education 25.7%, 1980s 10.2%, Old School 7.2%, Relaxing 4.3%

Build PowerPoint factories in Windows 95! Manage space, make increasingly complex slides and worry about Y2K in this challenging factory builder.

Why similar: Automation 22.4%, Simulation 15.1%, Building 13.2%, Sandbox 9.5%, 1990's 9.1%

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 38.7%, Automation 27%, Puzzle 12.1%, Simulation 10.9%, Logic 8.5%

PixPhys is a 2D engineering sandbox with huge technical possibilities and scope for imagination: design equipment from a jet-powered cart to space stations.

Why similar: Automation 27.6%, Programming 27% ★, Building 16.5%, Sandbox 14.4%, Simulation 6.8%

Milling machine simulator will inspire novices and experts alike. Realistic physics and movements allow you to familiarize yourself with the machine in a 3D workshop setting. Enjoy playing around, learning and prototyping in Free milling mode. Or challenge yourself in Career mode.

Why similar: Programming 26.6% ★, Education 21.8%, Automation 20.5%, Building 11.4%, Sandbox 10%

Plasma is a pure engineering sandbox. Use advanced visual programming and robotics tools to create anything you can imagine.

Why similar: Game Development 23.9% ★, Programming 21.7% ★, Automation 18.7%, Building 12%, Sandbox 11.3%

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: Automation 36.1%, Programming 27.2% ★, Hacking 12.4% ★, Simulation 9.1%, Logic 6.5%

Step into the world of IT! Diagnose network issues, manage servers, and repair devices while handling tasks under strict SLAs. Choose your career path, from HelpDesk to IT Project Manager. Develop real IT knowledge and climb the ranks in this realistic IT simulation!

Why similar: Programming 30.2% ★, Education 25.6%, Hacking 15.1% ★, Sandbox 10.6%, Puzzle 6.9%

The Qubit Factory is an open-ended puzzle game incorporating real-life concepts from the cutting-edge field of quantum computing. Design and build logic circuits that manipulate bits and qubits (quantum bits) to solve devious computational challenges!

Why similar: Programming 30.8% ★, Automation 26.3%, Education 16.2%, Puzzle 9.3%, Logic 8.5%

Try yourself as a PC builder and build your dream PC from 200+ real components!Complete different PC building and PC repair orders to upgrade your business: build a PC from zero, install popular OS', upgrade computers, install different programs and games, fix PC parts, and much more.

Why similar: Game Development 27% ★, Programming 24.3% ★, Education 13.9%, Building 9.9%, Sandbox 8.5%

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 20.2% ★, Automation 19.2%, Education 16.1%, Building 14.6%, Sandbox 10.1%

A physics sandbox game for people who like to play with digital toys. Create, control toys and define your goals.

Why similar: Game Development 35.9% ★, Building 21.5%, Sandbox 17.4%, Simulation 9%, Logic 7.3%

Brickadia is a next-generation brick building sandbox that gives you the tools to create and play, your way. Build massive worlds, invent cool contraptions, and play in them however you like - all with your friends!

Why similar: Game Development 37.7% ★, Building 26.9%, Sandbox 21.4%, Logic 12.9%, Singleplayer 1.1%

Design computational circuits which defy restrictions of our universe in this open-ended puzzle. Your completed creations become components to solve future challenges. As you design a circuit and can place your design within it, where there is a smaller you doing the same, and so on to infinity.

Why similar: Programming 30.3% ★, Education 20.3%, Building 12.9%, Sandbox 10.9%, Logic 9.4%

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 37.2% ★, Education 24.3%, Simulation 12.3%, Puzzle 10.8%, Logic 10.6%

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 36.2% ★, Automation 24.1%, Education 18.5%, Logic 6.7%, Sandbox 5.4%

A brick-building puzzle game. Assemble sets of increasing complexity, design your own, share with the community.

Why similar: Building 33%, Sandbox 25.6%, Puzzle 17.8%, 1990's 9.4%, Simulation 7.8%

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 34.1% ★, Automation 32.9%, Logic 11.1%, Puzzle 9.8%, Simulation 5.9%

A terminal-based game for learning and practicing how to program in Python.

Why similar: Programming 51.8% ★, Education 33.1%, Logic 10.6%, 2D 3.1%, Singleplayer 1%

Physics sandbox game that uses a graphics card as a supercomputer. Change the laws of physics, design mechanisms, create A-Life worlds and inhabit them with living beings, experiment with evolution and AI.

Why similar: Education 26.4%, Sandbox 23.1%, Simulation 15.9%, Building 10.7%, 1980s 9.7%