Long ago, I passed on this game because I couldn't figure out how to play it. Then, I decided to pick it up one day while being semi-AFK in Spiritfarer...and after the first puzzle, I was hooked.

TIS-100 is basically a game where you type code and solve puzzles, kind of like Human Resource Machine.

The biggest difference though, is that TIS-100 puzzles are naturally multi-threaded, and I guess related to some level of distributed computing. You basically program each CPU with its memory and lines-of-code constraints, and pass data from CPU to CPU until its designated output (given an input into one of the computers, of course).

What I really liked is how the game forces me to break down my algorithm into many small seperate parts because of how much constraints each CPU has. I like how I'm developing my own abstractions within each CPU, where I go "Ok these two CPUs with just do X and Y, and this one CPU will just do Z". It actually felt like the more serious kind of programming, where I'm orchestrating many moving parts such that they work together.

Another thing I really liked is the feeling of discovering emerging algorithms of a new programming language. There are many instances of "Oh what ifs" and "Oh you can do that?!", which reminded me of the time I first learnt C.

I think Human Resource Machine and SpaceChem evoke similar feelings, but not as strongly.

I wonder why?

SpaceChem puzzles felt like I could get by by banging my head against the wall. Human Resource Machine puzzles felt like programming assignments to be completed.

TIS-100 puzzles felt like it activated some very specific parts of my programmer's brain, the parts that gets activated when I'm writing my game engine or something.

I don't know, it's so strange. I need to think about it more...someday.

Fantastic game if you love programming. 10/10!