Human Resource Machine

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,294 reviews
  • story
  • optimization
  • graphics
Human Resource Machine Game Cover
The Tomorrow Corporation's oddest creation may have found new life.
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Human Resource Machine is a puzzle-based programming game. Players program robots to solve tasks in a corporate office setting. As the game progresses, players must use increasing complexity in their programming skills to complete levels and advance. The game teaches basic coding concepts in a fun and engaging way.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Epic Games
  • Gog Com
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
  • Wii
  • Wii U
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,294 reviews
story28 positive mentions
grinding28 negative mentions
  • Fun and simple game that teaches the basics of computer programming in an engaging way.
  • Challenging puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, providing a rewarding experience.
  • Charming graphics and humor that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Limited command set can make some tasks feel tedious and frustrating, especially for experienced programmers.
  • The drag-and-drop interface can become cumbersome, making it difficult to manage longer programs.
  • Lack of keyboard input for comments and labels can hinder the coding experience and readability.
  • story131 mentions

    The game's story is often described as minimalistic and lacking depth compared to previous titles from the same developers, such as "Little Inferno" and "World of Goo." While some players appreciate the dark humor and thematic elements woven into the gameplay, many feel that the narrative is sparse and fails to engage meaningfully, serving more as a backdrop to the puzzles rather than a driving force. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with some players expressing disappointment over its inconclusive and underwhelming nature.

    • “An interesting visual programming game with a darkly humorous tone and story.”
    • “Overall the game offers a good story with excellent humor and an interesting challenge - especially if you want to complete all the size and speed challenges.”
    • “The story and environment are very good and surprisingly make you invested in the characters.”
    • “The story is pretty much nonexistent, so if you like plot in your puzzle games, this won't scratch your itch.”
    • “The game strives toward a mood and message, but the few intermission movies string along a few lines of dialogue from each level, blending them into a story of shallow futility in the end.”
    • “The only real complaint I have about this game is that the setting and story are really threadbare when compared to the other games by these developers.”
  • optimization130 mentions

    The game's optimization aspect is both a highlight and a challenge, offering players a range of puzzles that require not only solving but also refining their solutions for efficiency in terms of code length and execution speed. While many find the initial puzzles accessible, the optional optimization challenges can become quite difficult, demanding a deeper understanding of programming concepts and techniques. Overall, players appreciate the satisfaction of achieving optimized solutions, though some express frustration with the game's constraints and the complexity of certain optimization goals.

    • “I love games built around programming, automation, and optimization, so I loved this game.”
    • “Nice puzzles to solve: the real challenge is to get the code optimized!”
    • “The optimization goals can actually be challenging, and you can always raise your personal bar if it's too easy.”
    • “However, there are some puzzles that are not only hard to grasp algorithms, but also have some really high size/performance requirements.”
    • “The optimization challenge on level 2 is bad.”
    • “And there are some nuances to the way the game calculates the number of actions your program requires that can lead to unintuitive changes required to hit the optimization goals - not to mention that neither of the optimization goals are actually realistic methods of optimization.”
  • graphics103 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and whimsical art style, which complements the gameplay and enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the smooth animations and engaging visuals, noting that they contribute to a fun and immersive atmosphere. While some find the aesthetic unique and appealing, others mention that it may not resonate with everyone, but overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game.

    • “The graphics and sound are ok with their own charm.”
    • “The game's visuals and audio create an awesome and very immersive environment, music is great for problem solving and fits the mood, sprite animations are very smooth and polished as well.”
    • “The graphics are charming, and some of the jokes are laugh-out-loud funny.”
    • “The game has a weird, ugly post-modern art style with bug-eyed characters.”
    • “There are no volume sliders, no resolution/graphics settings, no way to adjust the audio levels or mute the menu music whatsoever.”
    • “But having just spent a minute or so looking at the menu screen, my favourite thing now is the horrifying way it manages to create an aesthetic which is simultaneously 'cute' and 'corporate dystopia'.”
  • music88 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its catchy and immersive nature. However, a common complaint is the lack of sound settings, as players can only toggle the music on or off without the option to adjust volume levels or disable sound effects. Despite this limitation, the soundtrack is often described as fantastic and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The music is surprisingly good.”
    • “The art and music complement the general atmosphere really well.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, as expected from Tomorrow Corporation.”
    • “My only real complaint is that I wish you could disable all sound (you can get rid of the music, but some sounds always seem to play).”
    • “One huge complaint: absolutely no options besides mute/unmute music; that's right, not a slider, and not even mute/unmute sound effects, just music.”
    • “There are no volume sliders, no resolution/graphics settings, no way to adjust the audio levels or mute the menu music whatsoever.”
  • gameplay74 mentions

    The gameplay is centered around programming puzzles that teach coding concepts, primarily using assembly language, which some players found engaging and educational, while others felt it lacked depth and complexity compared to similar titles. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to introduce programming mechanics in a fun and accessible way, though some players noted frustrations with difficulty spikes and limited gameplay variety. Overall, it offers a unique blend of challenge and learning, appealing to both novice and experienced programmers, but may leave some wanting more in terms of content and narrative integration.

    • “The game mechanics help you to understand programming logic before getting into a specific language.”
    • “Human Resource Machine is a fantastic little game where the primary gameplay loop is coding.”
    • “The gameplay revolves around programming a very simple computer - it gets some inputs, your program runs, and it emits some outputs.”
    • “The gameplay is basically solving puzzles with assembly language.”
    • “The game is cute except in the harder levels where dealing with complex assembly instructions is 90% of the gameplay.”
    • “Human Resource Machine does not live up to their legacy - it has significantly less depth of story and gameplay.”
  • humor57 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, dark, and sardonic tones, blending cute graphics with clever commentary on programming and office culture. Players appreciate the game's ability to make programming concepts accessible and entertaining, often highlighting its engaging cutscenes and amusing puzzles. Overall, the humor is described as both funny and thought-provoking, appealing to a broad audience, including those new to programming.

    • “An interesting visual programming game with a darkly humorous tone and story.”
    • “This game is adorable, quirky, hilarious, cynical, ingenious, and deceptively simple.”
    • “The graphics are charming, and some of the jokes are laugh-out-loud funny.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially as they progress to higher levels where challenges become more frustrating than enjoyable. While the initial stages are fun and engaging, many reviewers note that the drag-and-drop interface and limited toolset lead to repetitive and laborious tasks, detracting from the overall experience. Despite some appreciation for the challenge, the lack of efficient input methods and the cumbersome nature of certain mechanics contribute to a sense of grind that overshadows the fun elements of programming.

    • “Fun in the beginning, but gets a little tedious in the end.”
    • “At first, I was able to shift expectation gears and enjoy the challenge of optimizing my code, but in the last few levels, I found the levels to be tedious.”
    • “But as you progress to higher levels, the flaws in the game start to overshadow the fun part of the game and a fun programming puzzle game turns into a frustrating and tedious chore.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its authenticity, engaging art, and complementary music, creating a unique blend of cheerful bleakness and a creepy-fun vibe. Many reviewers note its minimalist yet captivating design, reminiscent of other titles from the same studio, which enhances the overall experience despite some criticism of gameplay difficulty. Overall, the atmospheric elements are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to player enjoyment and immersion.

    • “The art and music complement the general atmosphere really well.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is fantastic and keeps you engaged.”
    • “One additional note: the music in this game is beautiful, atmospheric and perfect.”
    • “Maybe the story is weaker than most Tomorrow Corporation games - while there is the sense of the same sort of atmosphere as in the previous games, it doesn't really come through strongly.”
    • “The game atmosphere is very similar to other games from the same studio (World of Goo, Little Inferno) and by that I mean that the story is very minimalistic and mysterious, and the humor is very cynical (you're basically working within the game).”
    • “It helps the game's overall atmosphere, sure, but I'd much prefer just being able to type in the boxes instead of having to scribble.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find enjoyment in optimizing solutions and tackling additional challenges, others feel that once the main objectives are completed, the replay value diminishes significantly. Many appreciate the multiple solutions available for each level, which can encourage experimentation, but the overall consensus suggests that replayability may be limited for those who prefer a more straightforward experience.

    • “I love the simplicity of the experience matched with the tough challenges and replayability.”
    • “There are multiple solutions to each level, and finding any of them will allow you to continue to the next, but the game challenges you to find the most efficient solution for added replay value.”
    • “Just bought this game and ran through about a dozen and a half levels, but I am already addicted and know this game has infinite replay value.”
    • “To put a bow on my list of issues, the replayability factor is non-existent.”
    • “Not terribly much replayability once you have optimized your solutions, but worth the money all the same.”
    • “The game lacks replayability, but I've had a good 3 days of fun with it and although I've never programmed before, I felt like I have achieved something by beating almost every level.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find joy and a sense of achievement in overcoming challenges, others note a lack of deep emotional engagement compared to previous titles by the same developers. The game presents a dystopian setting that feels both heartwarming and enjoyable, despite its rational gameplay mechanics. Overall, it evokes a range of feelings from fun and self-affirmation to nostalgia for more emotionally resonant experiences.

    • “A dystopian future with little regard for individual worker bees, but still weirdly heartfelt and enjoyable.”
    • “The devs that did this also did [i]World of Goo[/i] and [i]Little Inferno[/i], which were [i]incredibly[/i] endearing games with storylines that emotionally moved me.”
    • “It's been a long time since I played a game that made me feel challenged without that requiring me to kill stuff.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on older hardware, specifically an Ubuntu Linux 19.10 system, while occupying a modest 120 MB of disk space.

    • “The game takes up 120 MB of disk space, and it runs great on an old computer running Ubuntu Linux 19.10.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy Human Resource Machine

Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
4hMain story
10hCompletionist
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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