To those familiar with Zachtronics, this is essentially exactly what is expected - another excellently crafted design based puzzle game, prettier and more polished than the last. It's fairly approachable and not hugely difficult to just complete (at least for the sort of people who get familiar with Zachtronics games), while having a lot of depth and difficulty in competitive optimization. I'll admit a glaring soft spot for both alchemy and the entire concept of alchemical engineering, which added to the appeal. There's also the surprise bonus of Sigmar's Garden, the marble solitaire game none of us knew we needed. For those unfamiliar with Zachtronics, the genius here is in the entire concept of the design puzzle game with excellent components. It's pretty in motion, sure, but the core gameplay loop of being given a problem to automate, a set of tools and rules, and complete information on how everything works, then breaking it down and building a solution yourself to fit is what drives the game. This is particularly true when something goes wrong, and you get in a loop of frustration and epiphany as you find and solve your own errors. Beyond that there's also a surprisingly strong narrative side. The key characters are interesting, their interactions fun, their stories interesting. There's a subtle sense of humor about the game, punctuated with occasional wry hilarity. There's a coherent setting humming quietly in the background, and a good one at that.
