Best Programming Games on Steam
Steam currently has 497 Programming games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Programming game rankings were last updated on 9/30/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free programming games on Steam
- Best programming Steam Deck games
- Best programming Linux games on Steam
- Best programming Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where the rules you have to follow are present as blocks you can interact with. By manipulating them, you can change how the game works, repurpose things you find in the levels and cause surprising interactions!
Baba Is You holds the #1 spot for "best Programming game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 20,846 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 20,386 positive reviews and 460 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 3/13/2019 |
| Developer | Hempuli Oy |
| Publisher | Hempuli Oy |
| Steam App Id | 736260 |
2. Opus Magnum
Opus Magnum is the latest open-ended puzzle game from Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem, Infinifactory, and SHENZHEN I/O. Design and build machines that assemble potions, poisons, and more using the alchemical engineer’s most advanced tool: the transmutation engine!
Opus Magnum has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,772 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,625 positive reviews and 147 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Opus Magnum on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $19.99 |
| Release Date | 12/7/2017 |
| Franchise | Zachtronics |
| Developer | Zachtronics |
| Publisher | Zachtronics |
| Steam App Id | 558990 |
3. TIS-100
TIS-100 is an open-ended programming game by Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem and Infinifactory, in which you rewrite corrupted code segments to repair the TIS-100 and unlock its secrets. It’s the assembly language programming game you never asked for!
TIS-100 has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,802 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,674 positive reviews and 128 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run TIS-100 on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $6.99 |
| Release Date | 7/20/2015 |
| Developer | Zachtronics |
| Publisher | Zachtronics |
| Steam App Id | 370360 |
4. Arctic Eggs
Eggs: perfection in two parts. The simple whites. The sublime yolk. Each the lesser without it’s partner. Chorus and verse. A symphony of flavor. The catchy tune reminding us of warm baths and late night movies. The elevator music to whatever lies beyond.
Arctic Eggs has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,072 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,018 positive reviews and 54 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 5/16/2024 |
| Franchise | CRITICAL REFLEX |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2763670 |
5. Turing Complete
Learn CPU architecture with puzzles
Turing Complete has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,367 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,240 positive reviews and 127 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $19.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Turing Complete on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Bitburner
Bitburner is a programming-based incremental game. Write scripts in JavaScript to automate gameplay, learn skills, play minigames, solve puzzles, and more in this cyberpunk text-based incremental RPG.
Bitburner has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,298 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,993 positive reviews and 305 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Bitburner on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 12/10/2021 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Fulcrum Games |
| Steam App Id | 1812820 |
7. Hacknet
Hacknet is an immersive, terminal-based hacking simulator for PC. Dive down a rabbit hoIe as you follow the instructions of a recently deceased hacker, whose death may not have been the accident the media reports.
Hacknet has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 24,683 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 23,105 positive reviews and 1,578 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $9.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is not possible to play or run Hacknet on the Steam Deck.
| Steam Price | $9.99 |
| Release Date | 8/12/2015 |
| Developer | Team Fractal Alligator |
| Publisher | Fellow Traveller |
| Steam App Id | 365450 |
8. SHENZHEN I/O
BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.
SHENZHEN I/O has achieved a Player Score of 92, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 4,021 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,829 positive reviews and 192 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play SHENZHEN I/O on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 11/17/2016 |
| Developer | Zachtronics |
| Publisher | Zachtronics |
| Steam App Id | 504210 |
9. Software Inc.
Construct and design buildings for optimal working conditions. Hire people to design and release software, so you can defeat the simulated competition and take over their businesses. Manage and educate your employees to make sure they are skilled and satisfied with their job.
Software Inc. has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,938 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 6,543 positive reviews and 395 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $22.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Software Inc. on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $22.99 |
| Release Date | 5/1/2015 |
| Developer | Coredumping |
| Publisher | Coredumping |
| Steam App Id | 362620 |
10. The Farmer Was Replaced
Program and optimize a drone to automate a farm and watch it do the work for you. Collect resources to unlock better technology and become the most efficient farmer in the world. Improve your problem solving and coding skills.
The Farmer Was Replaced has achieved a Player Score of 91, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Programming games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,225 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,184 positive reviews and 41 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $6.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Farmer Was Replaced on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $6.99 |
| Release Date | 2/10/2023 |
| Developer | Timon Herzog |
| Publisher | Timon Herzog |
| Steam App Id | 2060160 |
More Programming Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Programming games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | 3/13/2019 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 29 | 12/7/2017 | 94 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 14 | 7/20/2015 | 93 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 16 | 5/16/2024 | 93 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 87 | 10/2/2021 | 92 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 528 | 12/10/2021 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 37 | 8/12/2015 | 92 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 40 | 11/17/2016 | 92 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 166 | 5/1/2015 | 91 | $22.99 | Steam Charts | |
| 64 | 2/10/2023 | 91 | $6.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 181 | 5/31/2023 | 91 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 150 | 12/10/2012 | 91 | $69.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 6/30/2015 | 91 | $24.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 10 | 10/15/2015 | 90 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 6/10/2022 | 90 | $9.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 10/22/2018 | 90 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 5/7/2020 | 90 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 3/29/2022 | 90 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 2/22/2017 | 90 | $3.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 11/2/2021 | 89 | $4.99 | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, September 30). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, September 30). Baba Is You on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 17). Opus Magnum on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 17). TIS-100 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 19). Arctic Eggs on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 19). Turing Complete on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 21). Bitburner on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 4). Hacknet on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, October 17). SHENZHEN I/O on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 3). Software Inc. on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, November 21). The Farmer Was Replaced on Steam. Steam Store.