Games like EXAPUNKS
If EXAPUNKS is your kind of game, the closest matches are SHENZHEN I/O, Opus Magnum and TIS-100 — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its creative solutions for optimization, retro futuristic aesthetic and atmospheric. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →EXAPUNKS is a challenging programming puzzle game developed by Zachtronics, released in 2018. Set in a retro-futuristic world, players take on the role of a hacker solving interconnected story-driven puzzles by writing and optimizing assembly-language code. The game features multi-threading mechanics, procedural generation, and analog elements, rewarding efficient and creative solutions through leaderboards that track code optimization. Reviewers highlight that the coding puzzles are challenging and rewarding, and that the retro-futuristic aesthetic adds to the immersive atmosphere. Players can approach puzzles at their own pace in medium-length sessions, and the game runs well on Steam Deck. Priced at $19.99, it holds a strong 96% positive rating from over 1,100 Steam reviews.
About EXAPUNKS: 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.
Players who liked EXAPUNKS also play
Steam players who put hours into EXAPUNKS also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
SHENZHEN I/O
WHY THIS
Shares code optimization and an immersive mood with EXAPUNKS.
Top pick for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.
Opus Magnum
WHY THIS
Second-strongest match for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
TIS-100
WHY THIS
Third-strongest match for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
Comet 64
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with EXAPUNKS.
Ranked #4 for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Comet 64 is a programming puzzle game. The year is 1984. All you got is a Comet 64 home computer and the operator's manual it came with.
ABI-DOS
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with EXAPUNKS.
Ranked #5 for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Build the most advanced operating system ever created! Can you master the fictional simulation language of this mind-bending machine? Design circuits, automate UBITS (coloured mobile data blocks), and optimize your system. The Admin is always watching, and he’s not what he seems.
Monster Logic
WHY THIS
Ranked #6 for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Enter the world of "Monster Logic", the monstrous programming game! In this hand-drawn puzzle game, you'll have to use each monster's unique ability to progress through the 40+ levels and the multiple biomes!
Infinifactory
WHY THIS
Shares an immersive mood with EXAPUNKS.
Ranked #7 for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Infinifactory is a sandbox puzzle game by Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem and Infiniminer. Build factories that assemble products for your alien overlords, and try not to die in the process.
SpaceChem
WHY THIS
Ranked #8 for EXAPUNKS fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
Reviewers mention these as similar to EXAPUNKS
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
TIS-100
WHY THIS
Reviewers of EXAPUNKS cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
SHENZHEN I/O
WHY THIS
Shares code optimization and an immersive mood with EXAPUNKS.
Reviewers of EXAPUNKS cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.
Opus Magnum
WHY THIS
Reviewers of EXAPUNKS cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below EXAPUNKS at current Steam store prices.
Garry's Mod
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under EXAPUNKS on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Garry's Mod is a physics sandbox. There aren't any predefined aims or goals. We give you the tools and leave you to play.
Lethal Company
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under EXAPUNKS on Steam right now. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.
People Playground
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under EXAPUNKS on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.
Vampire Survivors
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under EXAPUNKS on Steam right now. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you. Be the bullet hell!
PEAK
WHY THIS
Priced ~60% under EXAPUNKS on Steam right now. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
PEAK is a co-op climbing game where the slightest mistake can spell your doom. Either solo or as a group of lost nature scouts, your only hope of rescue from a mysterious island is to scale the mountain at its center. Do you have what it takes to reach the PEAK?
Kerbal Space Program
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under EXAPUNKS on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics.
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
Ultimate Custom Night
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Sonic the Hedgehog...was murdered!? Get to the bottom of the mystery in this brand-new adventure!
Indigo Park: Chapter 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.
missed messages.
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
‘goth gf’s iPhone’ airdrops you - accept or decline? A love/horror story about life, death, & memes.
Steam Engine Simulator
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
The Steam Engine Simulator shown on AngeTheGreat's YouTube channel.
Star Fetchers
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
The introduction to a wild ride with gangsters and deep state conspiracy theories
Coloring Pixels
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
A relaxing coloring by numbers game. Enjoy completing a variety of images with differing themes, complexity, and sizes.
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
More from Zachtronics
Other recommendable Steam games by Zachtronics, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.
Opus Magnum
WHY THIS
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
SHENZHEN I/O
WHY THIS
Shares code optimization and an immersive mood with EXAPUNKS.
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.
TIS-100
WHY THIS
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
SpaceChem
WHY THIS
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
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!
Infinifactory
WHY THIS
Shares an immersive mood with EXAPUNKS.
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Infinifactory is a sandbox puzzle game by Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem and Infiniminer. Build factories that assemble products for your alien overlords, and try not to die in the process.
Last Call BBS
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with EXAPUNKS.
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie and Simulation with EXAPUNKS.
Boot up your Z5 Powerlance and dial into Last Call BBS, the last game from Zachtronics! The Barkeep’s loaded up his retro computer with a full set of puzzle games for you to download and play. No need to worry about copy protection, they’re all fully cracked and ready to enjoy!
Eliza
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with EXAPUNKS.
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
Eliza is a visual novel about an AI counseling program, the people who develop it, and the people who use it. Follow Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey as she reconnects with people from her past, gets to know the people of Seattle who use Eliza for counseling, and decides the course of her future.
The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection
WHY THIS
Another title from Zachtronics, the studio behind EXAPUNKS. Shares Indie with EXAPUNKS.
The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection is here! Inside you will find all seven Zachtronics solitaire games, updated with new 4K graphics, plus one brand new Tarot-themed solitaire variant only available here.
Frequently asked about EXAPUNKS
- Does EXAPUNKS run on Steam Deck?
- EXAPUNKS is rated Playable on Steam Deck — it runs, but expect some manual adjustments (control remapping, text size, or graphics settings) for the best experience.
- How much does EXAPUNKS cost?
- EXAPUNKS is listed on Steam at 19.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
- What games are most similar to EXAPUNKS?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside EXAPUNKS are SHENZHEN I/O, Opus Magnum, TIS-100.
- Who developed EXAPUNKS?
- EXAPUNKS was developed by Zachtronics.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on EXAPUNKS.
For library-aware picks tuned to your specific taste, sign in with Steam on the home page.