TIS-100

Admittedly, this game has a niche audience. But for me, this game fits like a glove. If you like programming (especially assembly), or logic puzzles, this might be the right for you. This game has a very steep learning curve, but boy is it addictive.

The solution is often straightforward. It will be compared to results of other players in terms of code size, speed and resources taken. That comparison is what will drive you mad. You can spend hours trying to optimize your code. If that feeling sounds familiar, if you like to search for optimal solutions, then you will enjoy this game. It is not about coding or assembly language. You won't become a programmer by playing this game. The entire setting can be replaced by something like a marble machine without changing the core rules. If you have read so far, you will probably enjoy this game too.

This game from Zachatronics is the most hardcore by far. Programming using actual code is harder than using blocks in space or robotic arms (waldos) on their paths, and programming in assembler is even more frustrating. I can recommend it if you have some experience with programming and liked it, and want something hardcore. Otherwise, better take SpaceChem or Infinifactory, which are both great. One thing that shocked me when I realised it: the code boxes do not scroll! You can put in one processing unit only as much code as fits in the box. But that's good in a way - splitting work between processing units is what it is all about.

If you don't care for presentation, have a ton of patience, are willing to learn some idea's that are taken out of Real Life and Fantasy; then this game is defiantly up your alley. With that said, this game takes some commitment, the story goes that you have a Uncle who recently died, and are left with some sort of hard/software and left to figure out how to get it to work. What I appreciate the most is that the game know's what it's trying to be and sticks with it, even if it came at the cost of convenience, that being no tutorials in the game, only a PDF manual. It really feels like the successor to Uplink. And what I mean by that is they both show themselves more on the idea of being software instead of puzzle games, they both have a minimalist style, and they both have quirks that makes the way you use them easier that you can figure out by yourself. So yeah, recommended.

This game is one of the best puzzles of its kind, if it even has a kind. There are many challenges, some of which take serious thought to work out. Even after completing sections, I found myself going back to try to improve on my solutions. I haven't completed the whole game yet.