Human Resource Machine similar games & best alternatives

Human Resource Machine

Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Wii U, Nintendo Switch • 2015

Should you play it?

Program little office workers to solve puzzles. Be a good employee! The machines are coming... for your job. From the creators of World of Goo and Little Inferno.

What works

  • Engaging programming puzzles
  • Gradual difficulty curve
  • Educational value
  • Unique art style and humor
  • Optimization challenges

Things to keep in mind

  • Limited ui and code editing features
  • Steep learning curve for non-programmers
  • Short overall length
  • Lack of social or multiplayer features
  • Minimal narrative depth

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Automachef

  • Silicon Zeroes

  • Tetrobot and Co.

  • Recursed

  • The Ratline

  • OXXO

More exploratory

Games that feels like Human Resource Machine but with more exploration of areas and secrets

  • macdows 95

  • Moncage

  • Logiart Grimoire

  • Juufuutei Raden™'s Guide for Pixel Museum

  • Patrick's Parabox

  • Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game

More fantastical

Games that feels like Human Resource Machine but with more imaginative fiction

  • The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark

  • Ittle Dew

  • The Darkside Detective

  • There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

  • Cleo - a pirate's tale

  • Agent A: A puzzle in disguise

More relaxing

Games that feels like Human Resource Machine but with a more relaxing feel

  • Quell

  • Bento Blocks

  • Fossil Corner

  • Paint it Back

  • Is This Seat Taken?

  • Everyday Genius: SquareLogic

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • 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 to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Human Resource Machine: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Fantasy, Story, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Expression, Exploration.

Last update: 03/08/2026