SpaceChem is an engaging puzzle game from Zachtronics Industries, in which we are invited to play as a representative of an interplanetary corporation. The global company focuses on the production of various chemicals, and you will be in charge of managing the processes. The main duty of each player is to set up and program reactors where various chemical processes take place. Each reactor is presented as a game field divided into a certain number of square cells. The left area shows which substances and molecules are available for use, while the right displays the final result. Essentially, this is a true production process in which you must take direct part. You are aided in managing the process by so-called manipulators that the player moves along paths already tread by themselves.
In SpaceChem, you can issue commands through simple and straightforward programming. When a manipulator passes through a specific square, it performs the task that you have assigned. Within the reactor, there are devices where chemical reactions occur – breaking down and creating atoms with molecules. Sometimes organizing the production process is not so easy. If you approach the assigned task carelessly, you may end up with something strange and useless instead of the required substance. In such cases, you must reconfigure the code, find the error, and correct it. SpaceChem cannot be called an easy game; delving into all the gameplay mechanics requires many hours, but it is worth it. You need programming skills, basic knowledge of chemistry, as well as perseverance and a lot of patience.
The unique feature of SpaceChem is that each level can be completed in various ways. The player is not confined to any boundaries and is free to come up with anything to complete the assigned task. You can build a dozen reactors, set up the production process, and issue several hundred different commands, spending days on it all. On the other hand, if you get bored with the monotonous gameplay, SpaceChem has many different tricks with the same manipulators. In any case, you will achieve your goal and receive positive feedback from the higher-ups of the interplanetary corporation.
SpaceChem may scare off players with its apparent complexity, and if after several hours you still don’t understand what to do in this game, look for other projects. SpaceChem possesses a unique gameplay mechanic where strategic thinking is valued more than quick reaction.