The Best Programming Games

Update, 29 March 2023: Plasma added at rank #24.

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Autonauts (2019)

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PC Windows Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch

Autonauts is a charming simulation game that allows you to colonize uninhabited planets and build a civilization of robots to do your bidding. With a fun and unique automation programming system, colorful graphics, and no required programming knowledge, you can explore, gather resources, and create an animal husbandry world. The game offers limitless opportunities for automation and colonization, making it an experience you won't want to miss!

Buy Buy Buy Buy

Pros:

Fun and challenging gameplay for management sim lovers
Unique automation programming system
Colorful and cute graphics
No required programming knowledge
Large world to explore and customize.

Cons:

Steep learning curve
Limited inventory space

programming
simulation
automation
visual
farming
agriculture
crafting
colony
attractive
resource-management
sandbox
base-building
robots
art

Human Resource Machine (2015)

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PC Windows Linux Android Nintendo Switch wii u IOS iPhone Mac OS

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.

Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy

programming
puzzle

Game Builder Garage (2021)

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Nintendo Switch

Learn the basics of visual game programming with Nintendo's Game Builder Garage. Nodon, colorful creatures with distinct personalities, keep kids engaged through lessons with tips and motivating messages.

Buy

programming
platform
visual

EXAPUNKS (2018)

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Linux Mac OS PC Windows

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.

Buy Buy Buy

programming
hacking
automation
cyberpunk
logic
in-world
puzzle

TIS-100 (2015)

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100

Review score

IOS iPhone Linux Mac OS PC Windows

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!

Buy Buy Buy

programming
puzzle

while True: learn (2019)

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Linux Android IOS iPhone Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS

Improvements of performance and stability.

Buy Buy Buy Buy Buy

programming
self-driving
visual
puzzle

7 Billion Humans (2018)

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Linux Mac OS PC Windows Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone wii u ogg mp3 Android

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!

Buy Buy Buy Buy

programming
touch-friendly
puzzle

Opus Magnum (2017)

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100

Review score

PC Windows Mac OS Linux

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!

Buy Buy Buy

programming
puzzle
automation

SOLAS 128 (2021)

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Nintendo Switch PC Windows

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

Buy Buy Buy

soundtrack
logic
puzzle
programming
psychological
hacking
stage
retro
grid
2d
multi-room
mirror
horizontal
puzzley
controller-support

Main Assembly (2020)

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PC Windows

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.

Buy Buy