A=B

About

A=B is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Artless Games and was released on March 29, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

A=B is a programming puzzle game with only one instruction: A=B, which means replacing A with B.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 324 reviews

story12 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and engaging programming challenge that encourages creative problem-solving with its minimalist esoteric language.
Players appreciate the clever puzzles and the humorous storyline that unfolds as they progress through the game.
The game is highly recommended for fans of programming games, particularly those who enjoy Zachtronics-style experiences.

Many players find the instructions and puzzle descriptions to be poorly worded or unclear, leading to frustration and confusion.
The user interface is criticized for being unpolished, with issues such as disappearing cursors and lack of debugging tools.
The game can present significant difficulty spikes, especially in later chapters, which may deter players without a strong programming background.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The game's story is characterized as silly and minimal, yet it possesses a certain charm and humor that enhances the overall experience. While the narrative framework is simple and at times messy in its execution, it effectively complements the engaging puzzle mechanics and adds an entertaining layer to the gameplay. Players appreciate the gradual revelation of the storyline through puzzle-solving, although some may struggle to fully grasp the plot in later chapters.
- “An extremely fun and engaging puzzle game that slowly introduces mechanics in a fun way with a good comedic story behind the code you are using to solve the puzzles.”
- “Extremely clever programming puzzle with a very funny story.”
- “The backstory adds an interesting twist to the whole progression of puzzles.”
- “My only criticism is that some of the English writing is a bit messy and hard to understand, which is important for this game's subject matter (and also because it's the only way the setting/story is conveyed).”
- “I enjoy programming puzzles and games like Human Resource Machine which actually feel like programming in basic languages have usually entertained me quite well, but this game feels less like a game and more like the actual classwork its story is portrayed as.”
- “Otherwise, I think many players cannot reach the later chapters and feel the whole story.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by light-hearted, clever dialogue and an engaging storyline, often featuring amusing interactions between a professor and a quirky student. While it may appeal primarily to programmers, the blend of educational content and humor creates an enjoyable experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, the witty conversations and clever plot contribute significantly to the game's charm.
- “Funny little game that may only be fun to programmers, but for me it was really quite something.”
- “Educational and wrapped in a funny back-and-forth between a professor and one of those annoying students who think outside the box.”
- “Extremely clever programming puzzle with a very funny story.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The gameplay is described as extremely fun and engaging, with a comedic story that enhances the puzzle-solving experience. While the game effectively introduces mechanics gradually, some users find the core gameplay mechanic unenjoyable, and there are occasional editor bugs that can disrupt the experience, though they are rare and do not significantly impact overall gameplay. The game maintains its spirit despite not strictly adhering to a single instruction format.
- “An extremely fun and engaging puzzle game that slowly introduces mechanics in a fun way with a good comedic story behind the code you are using to solve the puzzles.”
- “The fiction built around the gameplay is entertaining.”
- “The only problem I had was editor bugs: sometimes characters are inserted not at cursor position, undo can delete the whole page of code and redo won't bring it back; but that's pretty rare and doesn't affect the gameplay.”
- “However, you should be aware that the game doesn't strictly stick to having a=b be the only instruction - but so far the extra mechanics seem scaled back enough that it's still true to the spirit of the idea.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The graphics of the game are described as having a stripped-down aesthetic, prioritizing gameplay over visual appeal. Users express a preference for functional design elements, such as a monospace font for code clarity, rather than elaborate graphics or sound. Overall, the visuals are minimalistic, reminiscent of retro styles, which some players appreciate in the context of puzzle-solving.
- “My favorite coding/automation game is TIS-100, with the reduced instruction set, nice retro visuals, clever solutions.”
- “I may not need fancy graphics, but at least use a monospace font for the code so I can differentiate between capital 'O' and digit '0'.”
- “Gameplay over graphics (none).”
- “[*] any sound or artwork.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has been criticized for being slow and unoptimized, particularly in later levels where even optimal code execution takes excessive time. Users also noted issues with low-quality presentation, unclear instructions, and interface bugs, contributing to a frustrating experience overall. Despite some players achieving optimization milestones quickly, the general consensus highlights significant shortcomings in the game's optimization.
- “Even though I figured out the solutions to every level independently, I still have no idea how some people managed to accomplish all optimization achievements in 3.9 hours; that is incredibly fast!”
- “It's everything I hate about experimental games: low quality in presentation and interface; intentionally obtuse; slow and unoptimized (even running optimal code takes way too long in later levels); it even has a few extra problems, like bad English, bad writing, interface bugs (when using keyboard keys like home and end), and unclear instructions.”
- “[*] multiple optimization metrics.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features no music or sound, contributing to a minimalistic 1980s aesthetic that may not appeal to all players. While some may find enjoyment in solving programming puzzles, the lack of audio elements detracts from the overall experience for others.
- “Game has no music, and it's not fun to me personally.”
- “It's definitely a niche experience that isn't going to appeal to everyone - it has a very basic 1980s minimalistic computer programming presentation to it with no sound or music - but if the idea of solving programming puzzles with simple computer code sounds like fun, then this is the game for you.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a subtle blend of mystery and self-awareness, with the plot hinting at deeper themes while maintaining a playful tone. Despite its minimalistic approach, it effectively engages players with its unique charm.
- “The plot even manages to carry a bit of atmosphere and mystery, as minimal as it is; a=b is mostly winking at the camera and saying 'ain't I a stinker for building a game like this?'”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players highlight that the inclusion of numerous fan-made challenges available on the workshop significantly enhances the game's replayability, offering fresh experiences and extended gameplay beyond the main content.
- “There's also quite a lot of additional fan-made challenges on the workshop, which definitely adds a lot of replay value to the game.”