Manufactoria 2022

Manufactoria 2022 is a remarkably intelligent puzzle game that transforms concepts from computer science and automation into an engaging and accessible experience. Developed and published by PleasingFungus Games, it serves as both a spiritual successor and modernization of the original Manufactoria, expanding the formula with improved presentation, deeper challenges, and a more welcoming learning curve. While its foundation is built upon logic, programming principles, and system design, the game succeeds because it presents these complex ideas in a way that feels playful, rewarding, and surprisingly approachable. At its heart, Manufactoria 2022 is about designing automated systems capable of processing robotic workers according to specific rules. Each puzzle presents a unique problem and provides players with a set of tools that can redirect, modify, sort, and manipulate robots as they travel through a factory network. The objective may sound straightforward, but the solutions often require careful planning and a solid understanding of how different components interact. Rather than relying on quick reactions or memorization, the game challenges players to think analytically and co…

My brain hurts. 10/10

Refreshing take on zach like genre

A minimalist "programming" Zachlike that's easy to play but contains lots of depth. The story is also charming, striking a perfect balance between being relatable and being absurd.

In this game you move robots around the grid with conveyor belts. Each robot has a tape, contains a queue of stamp symbols, where the stamp at the front of the queue can be popped off and branched off to different paths with a scanner. The goal is to make an assembly line to send the robot either to the accepted chute or the incinerator, based on the task given in each level. I played the original flash game, which was already a masterpiece of a puzzle game in its own right. This one has much better graphics and a few new interesting mechanics. Each level now has 3 medals, obtained by getting a certain runtime, rectangular area, and number of scanners and stampers of the assembly line. Sometimes full medal completion requires you to make separate solutions that that optimize one attribute over the others. The game has a cozy vibe, but don't let that fool you. Some of these levels are quite challenging, but solving them is what makes this fun. If you like logical problem solving and programming, this game is the game for you.

The original flash game was one of THE games of my childhood, I played it back in high school, and it's one of the reasons I became a computer engineer - I put it on the same level as Zachtronics games. I'm happy to say that this game is basically the same, just bigger with better graphics and a few tweaked mechanics! The closest thing to criticism I have is that I miss the slightly darker (but still satirical) vibe of the original, but that might be nostalgia speaking. (Definitely a matter of taste, regardless!)