Single-player games like Sam & MaRU
Below are 9 single-player Steam games similar to Sam & MaRU, ranked by player overlap. Every pick carries Steam's Single-player category, so multiplayer-only titles or always-online games don't sneak in. imho.run pulls the category data from Steam directly — Single-player here matches what the store labels.
Want the full alternatives list (paid + free + Steam Deck + cheaper picks)? See the parent games like Sam & MaRU page.
Ranked picks
- 1
Database Detective: Minor Crimes Division
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
Solve criminal cases through the power of SQL queries! Help out the city of Los Zorangeles by becoming a Database Detective in this new (unpaid) work from home opportunity.
- 2
Conge's Crunch Time
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
'Conge's Crunch Time' is a puzzle game where you solve factory tasks through intuitive drag-and-drop programming. Write code for your robot to clear each level, delve deeper into the factory, encounter new puzzle concepts and data-structure creatures, and uncover the truth.
- 3
Crispy Circuits
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
Discover the world of electronics by fixing your hamster’s RC plane. Build real circuits, solve increasingly challenging engineering puzzles, and learn how electronic devices actually work. This wholesome circuitry sim lets you electrocute your hamster without authorities getting involved.
- 4
Mystery Boxes
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
Mystery Boxes is a codebreaking puzzle game. Send 4-digit signals to a mysterious artifact, which will respond with another sequence. Look for patterns in the responses to identify the rules, then use this information to produce the target response.
- 5
ChipWits
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
Program a robot to solve logic puzzles in ChipWits, an open-ended programming game for beginners and experts alike! Inspired by the 1980s original, ChipWits combines the best of puzzle games, automation, and programming to introduce a new generation of players to a classic gaming experience.
- 6
HelloWorldFactory
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
A quick programming language quiz is now available! Just read the code and choose a compiler that can output "Hello World"! A simple game you can play in your free time!
- 7
Manufactoria 2022
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required.
Manufactoria 2022 is a constructive puzzle game about pushing robots around. (It's okay, they don't complain.) Use simple parts to engineer solutions to open-ended problems, then rebuild 'em better! Take a company from your backyard to the soaring heights of success! How hard could it be?
- 8
Robospital
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
Become a doctor in Robospital and fix robots. Learn Python programming, write code, and test your code!
- 9
Bake Until Done
Single-player alternative to Sam & MaRU — playable solo, no multiplayer required. Shares Indie with Sam & MaRU.
Bake Until Done is a baking-themed, turn-based roguelite. Take control of a muffin as you battle devious desserts to break the spell of a magical bakery that is endangering your town. Fight back with your muffin’s morsels, but be careful not to lose too much…