Silicon Zeroes similar games & best alternatives

Silicon Zeroes

Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2017

Should you play it?

Build hardware. Solve puzzles. From the creator of Manufactoria, a new open-ended puzzle game set in Silicon Valley's first startup.

What works
  • Challenging and educational puzzles
  • Well-designed learning curve
  • Intuitive and polished ui
  • Engaging cpu architecture concepts
  • Supportive developer and community
Things to keep in mind
  • Some puzzles restrict component usage arbitrarily
  • Story and characters are weak or polarizing
  • Lack of sandbox or modding features
  • Wire management can become cluttered
  • Short main story length

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • TIS-100

  • MOLEK-SYNTEZ

  • Freeways

  • Kaizen: A Factory Story

  • Human Resource Machine

  • JOY OF PROGRAMMING - Software Engineering Simulator

  • Infinifactory

  • MHRD

  • Poly Bridge

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • MHRD

  • Quell

  • Hardware Engineers

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Logiart Grimoire

  • Growth

    Toki Tori

  • Strategy

    SHENZHEN I/O

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Silicon Zeroes: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Story, Fantasy, Exploration, Intimacy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival, Fantasy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have control over puzzle size, settings, and can create custom puzzles, showing high personal freedom."

    Capsule for Puzzle Together Multiplayer Jigsaw Puzzles Puzzle Together Multiplayer Jigsaw Puzzles

    "Players have freedom to design circuits and choose puzzle order, but some puzzles restrict available components."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "Challenging puzzles requiring advanced logic and skill; difficulty ramps up significantly with large puzzles."

    Capsule for Logiart Grimoire Logiart Grimoire

    "Challenging puzzles requiring skillful logic design and optimization with feedback on performance."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    2

    "Includes leaderboards and multiplayer modes for score competition, though many players focus on solo puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Snood Snood

    "Some leaderboards and optimization targets exist, but focus is mostly on personal puzzle solving."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Many players report addictive, challenging puzzles that encourage repeated attempts and long play sessions."

    Capsule for Sokobond Sokobond

    "Players report addictive puzzle solving with long sessions and returning to puzzles after breaks."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Primarily a single-player puzzle game with limited social interaction; cooperation is minimal."

    Capsule for Pictopix Pictopix

    "Primarily a single-player puzzle game with minimal social or cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with puzzle mechanics and multiple solutions, but within designed puzzle constraints."

    Capsule for Isles of Sea and Sky Isles of Sea and Sky

    "Players create custom circuit designs within puzzle constraints, though some puzzles limit parts."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and respectful tone."

    Capsule for Underhero Underhero

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; cooperative and respectful community."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a relaxing distraction and mental challenge, providing stress relief and flow."

    Capsule for Word Play Word Play

    "Players use the game as a mental challenge and distraction, enjoying flow and learning."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation to solve puzzles."

    Capsule for GRIDROAD GRIDROAD

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and intrinsic motivation to solve puzzles."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying new contraption designs and solutions, with multiple ways to solve puzzles."

    Capsule for Fantastic Contraption Fantastic Contraption

    "Encourages trying different circuit designs and exploring component functions to solve puzzles."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -2

    "Puzzle environments are static and familiar; discovery is limited to puzzle solutions."

    Capsule for Unium Unium

    "Puzzle environments are fixed; exploration is limited to discovering solutions within set puzzles."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -3

    "Limited customization beyond strategic choices; no avatar or cosmetic personalization."

    Capsule for Buggos Buggos

    "Limited customization beyond functional circuit design; no avatar or cosmetic personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -4

    "Focus on realistic programming, math, and shader concepts rather than imaginative fiction or roleplay."

    Capsule for Replicube Replicube

    "Focus on realistic computer architecture concepts rather than imaginative or fictional settings."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily solo puzzle solving."

    Capsule for hocus hocus

    "Minimal social interaction; mostly solitary puzzle solving with some community sharing solutions."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on learning, developing problem-solving skills, and improving through practice."

    Capsule for Toki Tori Toki Tori

    "Strong emphasis on learning computer architecture and improving problem-solving skills."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Source of Madness Source of Madness

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement to solve puzzles."

    Capsule for Antichamber Antichamber

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement to solve puzzles."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; strictly individual gameplay."

    Capsule for Mega Man X Legacy Collection Mega Man X Legacy Collection

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; primarily individual gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; players act independently."

    Capsule for A Dance of Fire and Ice A Dance of Fire and Ice

    "No leadership or group management roles; players work independently."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players progress through increasingly complex puzzles and unlock new components and challenges."

    Capsule for SHENZHEN I/O SHENZHEN I/O

    "Players progress through increasingly complex puzzles and unlock new components."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Some players find satisfying flow in puzzle solving, though frustration and tension occur due to difficulty and navigation."

    Capsule for Lingo Lingo

    "Some players find flow and satisfaction in puzzle solving, though some puzzles cause frustration."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    1

    "Visual and auditory feedback present but not a primary focus; some find graphics lacking or glitchy."

    Capsule for Soccer Manager 2026 Soccer Manager 2026

    "Visual and auditory feedback is present but understated; focus is on cognitive challenge."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Some recognition through leaderboards and achievements, but limited social status focus."

    Capsule for Shovel Knight Dig Shovel Knight Dig

    "Some recognition through leaderboards and solution comparisons, but limited social status focus."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Simple narrative exists but is minimal and mostly serves as light context rather than deep immersion."

    Capsule for Muffin Knight Muffin Knight

    "Simple narrative provides context but is not a major focus or deeply immersive."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "High mental challenge requiring planning, logical reasoning, and optimization of code and circuit layouts."

    Capsule for SHENZHEN I/O SHENZHEN I/O

    "High mental challenge requiring planning, logic, and optimization of circuit designs."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -2

    "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is controlled and predictable."

    Capsule for PC Building Simulator PC Building Simulator

    "Low suspense or risk; gameplay is controlled and predictable."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players find value in educational content and challenging gameplay relative to price."

    Capsule for Fate of the World Fate of the World

    "Players perceive good value in educational content and puzzle challenge relative to price."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -5

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on constructive circuit building."

    Capsule for Turing Complete Turing Complete

    "No combat or destruction; gameplay centers on constructive circuit building."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival or threat avoidance; stable puzzle environment."

    Capsule for KNIGHTS KNIGHTS

    "No survival or threat avoidance; stable puzzle environment."

Last update: 09/07/2026