Games Like SHENZHEN I/O

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 77.4% ★, Puzzle 4.5%, Automation 4.1%, Logic 4.1%, Difficult 4%

Why You'll Like It: This is the closest sibling to SHENZHEN we/O, focusing on raw assembly language programming and debugging within a constrained, retro-computing environment.

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 63.5% ★, Automation 15.3%, Logic 6.2%, Puzzle 4.8%, Hacking 2.8% ★

Why You'll Like It: Developed by the same studio, this game captures the same gritty, terminal-based hacking and programming aesthetic while introducing new puzzle mechanics.

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 56.9% ★, Automation 21.3%, Puzzle 7.4%, Logic 6.8%, Simulation 2.6%

Why You'll Like It: Another Zachtronics masterpiece that replaces code with mechanical automation, offering the same deep satisfaction of optimizing complex systems.

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 58.6% ★, Automation 11.1%, Puzzle 9.7%, Difficult 8.3%, Logic 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: This classic puzzle game requires players to design chemical assembly lines, mirroring the logic and spatial constraints found in SHENZHEN we/O.

Learn CPU architecture with puzzles

Why similar: Programming 62.6% ★, Logic 10.1%, Automation 8.9%, Education 6.8%, Puzzle 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game takes you from simple logic gates to building a fully functional computer, providing a perfect progression for fans of hardware architecture.

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 51.7% ★, Automation 21.8%, Puzzle 7.8%, Logic 4.4%, Difficult 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: A 3D automation puzzle game that challenges you to build efficient factories, emphasizing the same engineering mindset required for circuit design.

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 48.5% ★, Automation 15.4%, Logic 9.6%, Education 6.6%, Difficult 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: A deep simulation game focused on logic gates and circuit design that provides a challenging experience for those who enjoy the hardware side of SHENZHEN we/O.

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 69% ★, Simulation 7.1%, Difficult 6.5%, Puzzle 6%, Education 6%

Why You'll Like It: This game tasks you with designing CPU architecture and managing data flow, directly appealing to the low-level programming enthusiast.

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 51.8% ★, Automation 21.3%, Logic 11.6%, Puzzle 6.3%, Simulation 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: Inspired by modular synthesizers, this game uses patch cables and logic modules to solve complex puzzles, echoing the circuit-building nature of the seed game.

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 74.3% ★, Automation 5.7%, Puzzle 5.5%, Logic 5.1%, Education 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses a visual programming language to control a swarm of workers, emphasizing parallel processing and logic 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 75.5% ★, Education 7%, Simulation 6.2%, Puzzle 5.1%, Difficult 4%

Why You'll Like It: A hardware description language simulator that forces you to build a computer from the ground up, perfect for those who love the 'RTFM' aspect of SHENZHEN we/O.

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 71.6% ★, Automation 8.5%, Puzzle 5.6%, Education 5.1%, Logic 3%

Why You'll Like It: A charming yet challenging game that uses assembly-like instructions to solve office-themed logic puzzles.

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

Why similar: Programming 61.9% ★, Automation 19.1%, Puzzle 7.7%, Simulation 6.3%, Logic 3%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist chemical puzzle game from Zachtronics that focuses on logic and molecular assembly within a tight, constrained space.

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 53.3% ★, Automation 16.1%, Logic 8.9%, Education 7.3%, Simulation 3.5%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox simulation that lets you build and test complex electronic circuits without the restrictions of a traditional puzzle game.

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 71.2% ★, Automation 18.5%, Hacking 2.9% ★, Education 2.3%, Puzzle 2.2%

Why You'll Like It: A text-based hacking simulation that requires real JavaScript scripting to automate tasks and progress through the game world.

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 75.7% ★, Puzzle 7.2%, Simulation 5%, Difficult 4.3%, Education 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game involves designing circuit boards to solve logic puzzles, closely mimicking the physical design constraints of SHENZHEN we/O.

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 75.9% ★, Education 8.8%, Puzzle 5.3%, Simulation 3.7%, Logic 2.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game uses visual programming to simulate machine learning, offering a similar puzzle-solving experience centered on data flow and logic.

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 33.6%, Education 14.2%, Logic 13.5%, Difficult 11.5%, Puzzle 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox game that allows for the construction of complex digital circuits, offering a high degree of freedom for logic-based engineering.

Powerful Realtime 3D Electronic Circuit Simulator

Why similar: Programming 67.8% ★, Logic 10.9%, Education 10.2%, Simulation 7.3%, Sandbox 3.4%

Why You'll Like It: A highly realistic electronics simulator that provides a hands-on experience with components and breadboarding for those interested in the hardware side.

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 52.5% ★, Automation 19.6%, Logic 8.2%, Education 7.8%, Puzzle 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: A steampunk-themed programming game that challenges players to build logic-based machines to solve various tasks.

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

Why similar: Programming 51.5% ★, Automation 20.6%, Education 7.8%, Logic 5.6%, Puzzle 5%

Why You'll Like It: A creative simulation where you build and code your own electronic gadgets, perfect for those who enjoy the DIY hardware spirit.

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 52.8% ★, Automation 19%, Logic 9%, Education 6.5%, Puzzle 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: A modern simulation that focuses on the software engineering process, allowing for complex coding tasks in a sandbox environment.

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 51.6% ★, Automation 20.9%, Logic 7.5%, Difficult 6.8%, Puzzle 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A puzzle game focused on automation and logic gates, requiring players to build efficient processing lines for various items.

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 55.6% ★, Automation 12.3%, Education 6%, Logic 5.8%, Difficult 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A retro-styled assembly programming game that captures the feel of early computing and low-level hardware interaction.

Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!

Why similar: Programming 52.5% ★, Puzzle 15.1%, Logic 13.6%, Difficult 13.5%, Indie 2.4%

Why You'll Like It: While not a traditional programming game, it forces you to manipulate the rules of the game world through logic, which appeals to the same problem-solving mindset.

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 54% ★, Automation 23.9%, Logic 9.4%, Puzzle 4.7%, Simulation 3.1%

Why You'll Like It: An automation game where you program robots to cook, requiring careful planning and logic to optimize the kitchen workflow.

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 51.6% ★, Automation 17.2%, Logic 8.4%, Education 5.5%, Difficult 5.4%

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 65.4% ★, Automation 26.1%, Simulation 4.1%, Sandbox 1.5%, Building 1.5%

Why You'll Like It: A game centered on programming autonomous robots to perform tasks, blending automation with a charming aesthetic.

Hacknet is an immersive, terminal-based hacking simulator for PC. Dive down a rabbit hoIe as you follow the instructions of a recently deceased hacker, whose death may not have been the accident the media reports.

Why similar: Programming 49.8% ★, Hacking 22.9% ★, Logic 8%, Education 5.9%, Difficult 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: A terminal-based hacking simulator that provides a sense of immersion into the world of command-line interfaces and system exploitation.

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 74% ★, Simulation 7.1%, Puzzle 6.3%, Education 5.5%, Sandbox 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: A simulation game where you build robots and program their logic to complete various challenges and obstacle courses.

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 47.2% ★, Automation 17.6%, Logic 9.2%, Education 6.9%, Difficult 5.1%

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 60.6% ★, Automation 18.3%, Logic 7.6%, Education 6.2%, Puzzle 3.8%

Assemble your robot squad, construct their AI and send them in the battle arena to see your strategy play out. Iterate, improve and repeat until you outsmart all your opponents and friends online.

Why similar: Programming 73.8% ★, Logic 8.7%, Automation 7.5%, Simulation 3.2%, Education 2.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on AI programming for robot combat, requiring you to design complex logic trees to ensure your team's success.

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

Why similar: Programming 56.2% ★, Automation 21.8%, Logic 12.1%, Puzzle 5.3%, Hacking 2.9% ★

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 53.3% ★, Automation 19.5%, Logic 6.5%, Education 5.8%, Puzzle 4.5%

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 83.4% ★, Puzzle 7.9%, Simulation 5.6%, Sandbox 3.1%

A single bit of computer memory became sentient and decided to escape from digital into the real world. Explore RAM, modify bytes and hack machine code and CPU registers to set it free.

Why similar: Programming 62.1% ★, Logic 9.4%, Simulation 6.2%, Education 5.9%, Difficult 5.2%

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 52.9% ★, Automation 27.5%, Logic 8.5%, Puzzle 5.5%, Building 2.9%

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

Why similar: Programming 63.6% ★, Automation 16.3%, Education 8%, Puzzle 7%, Logic 2.9%

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 52.4% ★, Automation 30.4%, Logic 8.2%, Simulation 5.5%, Hacking 2.1% ★

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 60% ★, Logic 10.4%, Education 7.2%, Difficult 6.8%, Puzzle 6.6%

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 53.9% ★, Automation 21.3%, Logic 10.4%, Puzzle 5.6%, Simulation 3.1%

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: Programming 53.9% ★, Automation 21%, Logic 11.9%, Puzzle 6.1%, Simulation 3.5%

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 67.2% ★, Logic 10.9%, Education 7.6%, Puzzle 4.7%, Simulation 3.6%

[the Sequence] is a logic construction puzzler.Let your mind be your guide: Lay down seven different kinds of modules as your roadblocks to get you (portrayed as a binary data point) to a sweet destination.Apply an out-of-the-box thinking to get you to the next level!

Why similar: Programming 53.4% ★, Automation 23.7%, Logic 10.1%, Difficult 5.9%, Puzzle 5.5%

Move Code Lines is a game where you fix programs and make them print needed output. But the only way you can achieve that is to change the order of lines in those programs, and set custom input.

Why similar: Programming 52.4% ★, Automation 19.1%, Logic 7.1%, Education 6.6%, Difficult 5.5%

Minesweeper, but you only solve each situation once.

Why similar: Programming 40.3% ★, Automation 31.4%, Puzzle 9%, Logic 8.3%, Education 7.2%

Welcome to Automachef, a resource management puzzler where you design kitchens, program machinery and watch your genius come to life! It’s time to engineer tomorrow’s kitchen, today!

Why similar: Programming 43% ★, Automation 33.7%, Simulation 11.2%, Puzzle 8.2%, Indie 3.7%

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 57% ★, Automation 22.5%, Education 8.8%, Puzzle 5.3%, Sandbox 2.6%

CODE OR DIE! Hack enemy systems & survive the security response by engineering lethal bullet-heaven algorithms. Your brain power determines your firepower across 190+ programming nodes. Debug your failures. Optimize your code. Complete the heist. HACK THE PLANET!

Why similar: Programming 72.9% ★, Logic 12.7%, Difficult 9.7%, Hacking 3.3% ★, Indie 0.7%

Explore SOLAS 128, a game of interconnected puzzles where you redirect and reconfigure rhythmic pulses of light to breathe life back into an ancient machine. BAFTA Scotland Game Winner.

Why similar: Programming 65.7% ★, Logic 13.7%, Difficult 8.1%, Puzzle 6.3%, Hacking 2.2% ★

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 54.6% ★, Automation 21.1%, Logic 10.3%, Education 4.8%, Simulation 3.5%

⚡️Fix electronics 📈manage firm 💻challenge the hacker... ServiceIT is a simulation game where you run a full-service IT company to engage in tasks like diagnosing, repairing equipment, network infiltration, programming, server management while an Anonymous hacker keeps sabotaging it all.

Why similar: Programming 71.7% ★, Education 10.9%, Simulation 4.9%, Hacking 4.2% ★, Puzzle 3.8%

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 65.4% ★, Education 10.1%, Difficult 9.5%, Puzzle 5.8%, Simulation 4.4%

A game about friendship, love and technology in a place where bits have replaced atoms.

Why similar: Programming 91.4% ★, Hacking 4.2% ★, Great Soundtrack 2.1%, Indie 1.8%, Singleplayer 0.5%

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 55.6% ★, Automation 25%, Education 9.8%, Simulation 3.5%, Building 3.2%

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 44.7%, Simulation 21.3%, Puzzle 12.5%, Building 9.8%, Sandbox 7.4%

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: Programming 43.8% ★, Automation 31%, Logic 14.2%, Simulation 7.6%, Sandbox 2.1%

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 64.6% ★, Logic 10.9%, Difficult 8.1%, Education 6.3%, Puzzle 6%

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 56.7% ★, Automation 23.3%, Education 7.5%, Puzzle 5.5%, Building 2.6%