JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator

JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator

Prof. Scherer · January 18, 2025 · Automation, Logic, Education, Programming, Puzzle

Buy JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator from Steam at $17.99 — the cheapest of 1 store we compare.

PC
Mostly Positive77% · 3948playing now
Best price
$17.99
lowest tracked $7.19
Steam Buy at Steam

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Where to buy JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator — official stores

Steam
Steam
Standard Edition · Steam
$17.99
Buy

JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator price by region

JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator costs £14.99 in the United Kingdom, €17.49 in Europe (EUR), $17.99 in the United States, $17.99 in Georgia (USD), CA$23.49 in Canada, NZ$26.29 in New Zealand, A$26.50 in Australia, R$54.99 in Brazil and zł82.99 in Poland right now.

Cheapest JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator offer in each region, in local currency
RegionBest priceOfficial storeKey shopStores
United Kingdom £14.99 £14.99 — 1
Europe (EUR) €17.49 €17.49 — 1
United Statesyour region $17.99 $17.99 — 1
Georgia (USD) $17.99 $17.99 — 1
Canada CA$23.49 CA$23.49 — 1
New Zealand NZ$26.29 NZ$26.29 — 1
Australia A$26.50 A$26.50 — 1
Brazil R$54.99 R$54.99 — 1
Poland zł82.99 zł82.99 — 1

Each row is a real price from that region's own stores, not a currency conversion, so the figures are not directly comparable. Switch regions in the header to shop the one you buy in.

Screenshots

About JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator

JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator is an immersive 3D programming puzzle game about automating and controlling realistic machines, robots, drones and more using real Python code. Build actual coding skills while playing, solve exciting bite-sized programming challenges and progress to unlock new programming features and improved machinery. Prior programming knowledge recommended. Automate logistics to quickly transport items    Stabilize robots with control feedback (PIDs)
 Write navigation code for cars           Crack passwords with brute-force
 Solve classical algorithms and data-structures  Accurately control sniper rifles
 Use image processing to count coins              Apply computer vision to guide missiles
 Get it now and dive into your programming adventure!

A Fair Warning

JOY OF PROGRAMMING is not a casual game. In fact, it is one of the most difficult games on Steam. It offers the real programming experience: Lots of thinking, hard work, gathering information, debugging and some frustrations. But you will also learn new skills, become a better developer, and most of all enjoy that sweet sensation of finally cracking a hard problem.

Features

  • Tutorial levels to get you started with the programming concepts in JOY OF PROGRAMMING
  • Create your own puzzles with the included level-editor
  • Find collectible factsheets with interesting computer-science tidbits
  • Earn stars by completing levels and use them to unlock new programming features
  • Work towards achieving many different certificates for completing all levels in one category
  • Real programming: No pseudo code, no imaginary language. Instead, fully functional python code with your favourite packages like numpy, pandas, scipy, pillow, sklearn and more. Some basic prior programming knowledge (in Python or otherwise) and a strong interested in programming is recommended.
  • In-game IDE: A codemirror based in-game Python IDE offers syntax highlighting, auto-completion, docstring tooltips, debugging, auto-indentation, code-folding, copy/paste and undo/redo. Advanced users can also opt to use external IDEs like VSCode or PyCharm instead.
  • Realistic challenges: From robotics to abstract algorithms and creative coding - the full breadth and depth of computer-science awaits.
  • Open puzzle design: Each level has many different valid solutions.
  • Clear goals: Each level has one mandatory goal and up to three optional goals.
  • Immediate feedback: Never wonder whether your code is working. Get immediate, incremental feedback on each good (or bad) step towards a working solution.
  • Performance metrics: Compare your best solution anonymously with others with respect to speed, memory usage and code length.
  • No hard locks: Never get stuck on a single level, there are always several open challenges available.
  • Optionally submit your solution and your code to the leaderboards and share it with the world.

Designed By A Computer Science Professor

The game is developed primarily by a single developer, who also happens to be a computer science professor. An accompanying Youtube series by the developer provides example solutions for several of the levels and walks through them step-by-step.

Level Editor

An innovative Python based level editor allows creating and scripting entirely new levels with exciting new challenges. Optionally, these new levels can also be shared with the community via the game's Workshop.Happy Coding and get JOY OF PROGRAMMING now!

JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator — game info

Platforms
Windows
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Player modes
Single-player
PC Game Pass
Not included

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

Not recommended Aug 17, 2026
I want to like this game but it is buggy as hell. Command count bug that was known back in 2024 still exists in 2026. Finding the exact float value that won't make the physics object fly off the screen when you touch it takes longer that figuring out the proper code to finish the level.
23 found this helpful
Not recommended Jul 17, 2026
The game got stuck and even after various walkthroughs and LLM chats I still wasn't able to progress outside of the built in functions, which is a shame because I really wanted to play this game, not interact with a coding lecture. I'm literally a software engineer, so I think it's the fault of this game unfortunately. It needs better documentation.
3 found this helpful
Not recommended Sep 15, 2026
Controls are janky AF, UnPlayable
Recommended Sep 12, 2026
Very Joyous. Starts a bit too complicated right after the tutorial for newbie programmers. But for people with some amateur to intermediate programming skill, it is a very fun game.
Recommended Sep 12, 2026
One of the deserving game for me. I was crazy to learn automation programming, but I was unable to find any interest where to begin, this game is fun to start with and a lots of learning ahead! Looking forward to it!
Recommended Jul 26, 2026
It's stimulating just solving logic mind problems without pressure (or just the level you want). Good to keep yourself training and not lose your think level. Juegazo.

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