Games Like ZACH-LIKE

ZACH-LIKE

ZACH-LIKE is a book of behind-the-scenes design documents from Zachtronics. The digital version of ZACH-LIKE contains the full contents of the book, a bunch of terrible games that Zach made before SpaceChem, and some prototypes and early builds of Zachtronics games, both released and... not.

★ REPLICUBE ★ TIS-100 ★ SPACECHEM ★ A=B ★ THE SIGNAL STATE ★ OPUS MAGNUM ★ WHILE TRUE: LEARN() ★ 7 BILLION HUMANS ★ KAIZEN: A FACTORY STORY ★ MOLEK-SYNTEZ ★ CRAFTOMATION 101: PROGRAMMING & CRAFT ★ INFINIFACTORY ★ WE ♥ IT 
2

TIS-100

97% 👍 OF 4.1K
About This Game

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!

In this game, you can…

  • …print out a real reference manual, then use it to solve the menu that turns out to be the first puzzle.
  • …split one problem across 12 nodes running at once, coordinating them until the outputs line up in the right order.
  • …build your own games inside the machine using a visual console sandbox after you repair enough corrupted segments.
3

SpaceChem

92% 👍 OF 5.1K
About This Game

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!

In this game, you can…

  • …connect multiple reactors so one puzzle becomes an entire production chain with pipes feeding outputs into the next step.
  • …pack a full solution into a tiny reactor by shaving parts, rerouting, and ending on a precise manual switch sequence.
  • …use flip-flops and timing rules to build counters and branching behavior that makes your reactor act like a program.
5

The Signal State

87% 👍 OF 684
About This Game

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.

6

Opus Magnum

97% 👍 OF 7.2K
About This Game

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!

In this game, you can…

  • …place your inputs and outputs anywhere, then build across an effectively unlimited grid with the full toolset from the start.
  • …export your working solution as an animated GIF that loops forever and share the machine in motion.
  • …turn raw materials into stranger products by bonding, unbonding, and transforming them in long repeating chains of steps.
7

while True: learn()

91% 👍 OF 8.2K
About This Game

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!

In this game, you can…

  • …build a cat-to-human translation system so you can understand your cat.
  • …build a self-driving car and make your cat the pilot.
  • …launch startups that can make you millions in shares or wipe you out with bankruptcy and a full restart.
9

Kaizen: A Factory Story

92% 👍 OF 715
About This Game

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.

In this game, you can…

  • …pause, rewind, and jump into the middle of a run to change your factory while watching the timeline update instantly.
  • …stay on a single step, move an arm, and see the future path change as if you edited time.
  • …watch parts get carved, glued, welded, riveted, drilled, and assembled into recognizable 1980s products like calculators and camcorders.
11

Craftomation 101: Programming & Craft

85% 👍 OF 637
About This Game

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.