An Engineer Ranks All The ZACHTRONICS Game

Dosh, a computer engineer, introduces the video's focus on Zachtronics games, founded by Zach Barth in 2000. Initially, the company created small Flash projects, including Infiniminer, which inspired Minecraft. The video will review eight mainline Zachtronics games, known as 'Zach-likes,' starting with Spacechem, a puzzle game that involves chemistry in space. Dosh critiques the outdated Adobe Flash and mentions the challenge of Zachtronics games compared to mainstream titles.

Spacechem is highlighted as a game where players perform chemistry tasks in space, with a minimal story that provides context and motivation. The game involves moving atoms and creating bonds using 'Waldos' to solve puzzles within a confined space. Despite its simple concept, the game's complexity and open-ended solutions make it challenging. Dosh shares his experience with the game, including a level he submitted years ago, and ranks it in the 'A' category for its enduring appeal despite minor quality of life issues.

Infinifactory is presented as a 3D Zachtronics game where players are abducted by aliens and must build factories to survive. The gameplay involves manipulating inputs into finished products using conveyor belts and blocks. As players progress, they unlock more tools, leading to increasingly complex puzzles. The game's difficulty curve is steady, and it's considered more approachable than Spacechem, with a ranking of 'A' and a 'B' for difficulty.

TIS-100 is a game that challenges players to program in assembly language using a fictional processor's ISA. The game opens with a manual and requires players to move and transform data between nodes. Despite its simplicity, TIS-100 is not easy and provides a distilled puzzle experience. Dosh mentions his personal difficulty with the game's visuals due to an eye condition and ranks TIS-100 in the 'B' tier for overall appeal and 'S' tier for difficulty.

Shenzhen I/O is set in a futuristic Shenzhen and revolves around microcontrollers and digital signal processing. The player's character is an engineer who moved to China for work. The game involves designing microcontrollers for various tasks and uses email narratives for storytelling. Shenzhen I/O is more similar to TIS-100 than Spacechem, with a focus on assembly code and limited instruction space. The game is praised for its real-world applications and flexibility but criticized for wire management challenges. It is ranked high in the 'B' tier and 'S' tier for difficulty.

Opus Magnum is a game based on alchemy, where players take on the role of Anataeus Vaya, a top alchemical engineer. The game features a hexagonal grid and tasks players with turning reagents into useful products using a variety of components. It is similar to Spacechem in gameplay but shares a spirit with Infinifactory. Opus Magnum is appreciated for its setting, aesthetic, and well-written story, earning an 'S' tier ranking for overall quality and a 'C' for difficulty.

EXAPUNKS places players in the role of a hacker in an alternate 1997, where a virus called the phage is turning people into computer parts. The game involves programming individual EXAs to infiltrate networks using assembly language. The setting is immersive, with a 90s hacker aesthetic and an engaging story. Despite its complexity, EXAPUNKS is more approachable than other games with manuals and offers a polished and challenging experience. It is ranked in the 'S' tier and given an 'A' rank for difficulty.

Molek-Syntez focuses on organic chemistry and molecule synthesis with a minimalist style similar to TIS-100. The game features a hexagonal grid and a simple premise of creating drugs from precursors using waldos. The story is minimal, told through text blocks after completing levels. Despite its easy gameplay, Molek-Syntez is criticized for lacking depth and challenge compared to other Zachtronics games. It receives a 'C' ranking for overall quality and difficulty.

Last Call BBS is a collection of games wrapped in nostalgia for early computing and BBS culture. The game includes various Zach-like experiences, such as Dungeons and Diagrams, STEED FORCE HOBBY STUDIO, Chipwizard Professional, HACK*MATCH, The Forbidden Path, and 20th Century Food Court. Each game offers a unique challenge, with some lacking tutorials and others offering complex and satisfying gameplay. Last Call BBS is seen as a retrospective on Zachtronics as a developer and is given an 'A' rank, with difficulty varying across its games.

The video concludes with reflections on Zachtronics' legacy and the decision by Zach Barth to end the series. Despite the games feeling similar over time, they remain well-loved for their unique puzzles and challenges. The speaker expresses hope for Zach Barth's future projects and encourages viewers to experience the Zachtronics games for their enduring appeal and the intellectual challenge they offer.