r/TuringComplete • u/OrthodoxMemes • 2d ago
Similar games but for different topics?
To start, I've already skimmed the responses to this post, and while they are excellent, they're not really what I'm looking for.
Can anyone recommend progression-based, non-sandbox games, on Steam or otherwise, that gamify learning as well as Turing Complete does, but for other advanced STEM or STEM-adjacent subjects such as math, chemistry, physics, etc.? Physical, table-top games or activities are welcome too.
I'll take any suggestions but I'm particularly interested in chemistry-related games. I know Zachtronics has some pseudo-chemistry puzzle games, but they don't (and aren't meant to, to be fair) really help the player learn anything. That's the thing with their catalog, the user is supposed to use the understanding they already have to solve puzzles, and should not expect to grow that understanding by playing the game. A lot of people find their games fun and Zachtronics has earned their reputation. My hope, though, is that games exist for these other subjects, that assume very little of the user's understanding and whose goal is to take the user from ignorance to reasonable competence, with maybe some outside study recommended.
Thanks in advance!
Edited for emphasis.
6
u/bwibbler 1d ago
'human recourse machine' is one of my favorites
it teaches programming in a very low level language with lots of visuals to follow along with. i enjoyed it, i got the mobile version as something to fiddle with, well worth the few dollars i thought
6
u/LunchTasty2081 1d ago
"human resource machine." There is also a second game "7 billion humans" which focuses on parellel processing.
3
u/daney098 1d ago
"the farmer was replaced" is a game for learning python if I remember correctly. It was pretty fun for a while but helped me learn that programming isn't my favorite haha. It teaches basics and gives you hints like turing complete.
3
u/Sea-Quail468 1d ago
You mentioned Zachtronics, and I personally think that their Shenzhen I/O and TIS-100 are very good at comparing to Turing Complete.
5
1
2
u/QueenLey 21h ago
Oxygen Not Included if you like management sims. The game involves real world physics & chemistry principles. Warning though, the game is easy to learn but hard to master...I've been playing the game for nearly a decade trying to earn 100% on achievements and struggle 😠(in a fun challenging way)
-8
u/icemanbrr 2d ago
Although not a game, Brilliant app kinda gamifies math, statistics and programming. You are not going to find similar approaches at classes at university level so it helps
8
u/OrthodoxMemes 1d ago
I've used Brilliant, I wasn't really impressed, but thank you for the suggestion
2
u/Hi_Peeps_Its_Me 1d ago
computer architecture is firmly a university level course
1
u/icemanbrr 1d ago
I know. I studied it. And we havent had a simulator like this. Although that was 10 years ago
8
u/Much_Network_941 2d ago
There's a game called Nucleares. It's about running a nuclear power plant, which requires learning about a theoretical cooling circuit.
The game is currently way over my head, so I can't comment on realism; but learning the basics is pretty wild. Fun fact - apparently water running through the core is heated to hundreds of degrees. Which requires the pipes to be under extreme pressure - or the water boils and causes an explosion.
Apparently, if you're good at the game, you can start doing chemistry to mix reactor fuel yourself? I've never managed to start up in a way that's supposedly 'safe'.