Human Resource Machine

About

"Human Resource Machine" is a puzzle game where you program little office workers to complete tasks and solve puzzles to advance in a vast office building. It's a fun and approachable way to learn programming, even if you're a beginner, and offers extra challenges for experts. The game was chosen as a best of 2016 and a worldwide editors’ choice in the App Store.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,246 reviews

story56 positive mentions

grinding65 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging puzzles that effectively teach basic programming concepts.
Charming art style and humorous narrative that adds personality to the gameplay.
Great for both beginners and experienced programmers, with optional optimization challenges for added depth.

Cumbersome interface that can become tedious, especially with longer programs and the need to draw comments with a mouse.
Limited instruction set that may frustrate experienced programmers and lead to convoluted solutions.
Lack of in-game hints or guidance can make it difficult for new players to progress through more complex levels.

story
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The story in the game is generally perceived as minimalistic and lacking depth compared to previous titles from the same developers, such as "Little Inferno." While some players appreciate the dark humor and whimsical elements woven into the narrative, many express disappointment over its inconclusive and sparse nature, feeling it serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus. Overall, the storyline is seen as charming yet underdeveloped, with hints of intriguing themes that ultimately do not reach a satisfying conclusion.
- “One of the best programming games in my opinion, it has it all: a fun & witty underlying story, a cool interface and a nice design, interesting puzzles with increasing difficulty, and a super nice achievement system that will entice you to optimize your solution.”
- “The story and environment are very good and surprisingly make you invested in the characters.”
- “Mix a fun little apocalypse story with an amazing way to introduce algorithms and programming.”
- “The story is pretty much nonexistent, so if you like plot in your puzzle games this won't scratch your itch.”
- “The plot gestures at themes of corporate dehumanization and willful ignorance of catastrophe that go mostly undeveloped, and the programming puzzles feel very much like it would be possible to graduate on to some higher level of abstraction that never appears.”
- “The storyline teased at building up to something but - and this is not a spoiler - it ultimately fizzled into irrelevance.”
optimization
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
86%
2%
The game's optimization challenges are a mixed bag, offering enjoyable yet often difficult tasks that test players' programming skills, particularly in terms of code size and execution speed. While many players find the initial puzzles straightforward, the optimization goals can become frustratingly complex, requiring creative solutions and deep understanding of programming concepts. However, some users report performance issues that hinder gameplay, making certain levels unplayable and detracting from the overall experience.
- “I love games built around programming, automation, and optimization, so I loved this game.”
- “The optimization goals can actually be challenging, and you can always raise your personal bar if it's too easy.”
- “It's really rewarding to complete a puzzle for the first time and get both optimization goals.”
- “Due to the stuttering and horridly twitchy performance, the game is now unplayable for me to finish out the achievements, because it triggers my migraine.”
- “The tasks are rather straightforward, and the optimization challenges don't work well - the toolset is insufficient to do creative size optimizations, and speed optimizations too often turn into exploding loops to save on the jump instruction.”
- “The optimization challenge on level 2 is bad.”
graphics
211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
53%
1%
The graphics of "Human Resource Machine" are characterized by a charming and whimsical art style that aligns with the developer's signature aesthetic, reminiscent of previous titles like "World of Goo" and "Little Inferno." Players appreciate the cute visuals and smooth animations, which enhance the overall experience, although some note that the graphics can be simplistic and repetitive. Overall, the game's graphics effectively support its engaging gameplay and quirky narrative, creating an enjoyable atmosphere for puzzle-solving.
- “The graphics 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 art style is whimsical, but a good fit in the developer's overall style, and the theme.”
- “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.”
- “Commands take only a little part of the screen, most being taken by ultimately useless graphics, leaving you with a small window for at most 15 lines of code; when later challenges require up to twenty-five, requiring you to scroll and making arrow following so much more aggravating…”
- “There are no volume sliders, no resolution/graphics settings, no way to adjust the audio levels or mute the menu music whatsoever.”
gameplay
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The gameplay of "Human Resource Machine" is centered around programming puzzles that gradually increase in complexity, making it an engaging experience for both novices and seasoned coders. While the mechanics are well-explained and intuitive, some players find the difficulty curve steep and the lack of a cohesive story disappointing. Overall, the game is praised for its unique approach to teaching programming concepts through fun and challenging gameplay, though opinions vary on its depth and replayability.
- “The mechanics are simple, but the puzzles get increasingly complex, making you think hard.”
- “The gameplay is rather intuitive and the game is good at guiding the player into figuring out how to proceed as it slowly ramps up the difficulty.”
- “Human Resource Machine is a fantastic little game where the primary gameplay loop is coding.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's otherwise extremely poor, since it has barely any music or sounds or story to accompany the puzzles themselves.”
- “I would have preferred to take the mechanic learned from one of the levels and been posed with a more challenging problem using that learned mechanic, rather than always having to try and learn a new mechanic and having that be the challenge of every level.”
- “The gameplay revolves around programming a very simple computer - it gets some inputs, your program runs, and it emits some outputs.”
music
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
43%
5%
The music in the game has received high praise for its catchy and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the artistic style and setting. However, many users expressed frustration over the lack of sound options, such as a volume slider, which limits control over the audio experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, its repetitiveness and the inability to fully mute all sounds detract from the experience for some players.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, as expected from Tomorrow Corporation.”
- “The art and music complement the general atmosphere really well.”
- “The music is beautiful as well.”
- “There is no way to switch music off completely or to switch sound off at all in-game.”
- “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.”
- “The setting is also very appropriate, but the music is a bit repetitive and loud (there are no settings, so you can't turn it off easily and have to keep switching your volume down when you play this game).”
humor
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky, dark, and satirical tone, often reflecting a unique blend of office-related absurdity and clever writing. Players appreciate the funny dialogues, amusing cutscenes, and the game's ability to make programming concepts entertaining, making it both a humorous and educational experience. Overall, the game's charming graphics and lighthearted approach to challenging puzzles contribute to its reputation as a fun and engaging title.
- “With its innovative approach to teaching programming logic and a delightful sense of humor, Human Resource Machine not only entertains but also educates, making it a standout title for those seeking a unique and intellectually stimulating gaming experience.”
- “The game uses a cute drawing style and puts humorous interludes in between, kind of giving the frustrating puzzles a more relaxing sense.”
- “It's funny, moving, adorable, and a worthy companion and successor to Little Inferno.”
grinding
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious, particularly in the later levels where the challenges become repetitive and the limited interface hampers efficiency. While some players initially enjoy the puzzles, many find that the drag-and-drop programming mechanics lead to frustration and a lack of engagement as they progress. Overall, the experience can feel more like a chore than a fun challenge, especially for those with prior programming experience.
- “Having nice common routines allows you to focus on problem-solving rather than the tedious work.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The early puzzles are kinda fun, but some of the later ones are too tedious to be fun.”
- “However, I got 15 levels in and realized that UI-based programming would become a tedious mess in a hurry.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its quirky, engaging, and often unsettling qualities, reminiscent of Tomorrow Corporation's previous titles. Players appreciate the combination of unique art styles, atmospheric music, and a blend of humor and cynicism that enhances the overall experience. While some find the gameplay simple, the intriguing and minimalistic storytelling, along with the immersive ambiance, keeps players captivated and eager to progress.
- “The art and music complement the general atmosphere really well.”
- “The bleak corporate atmosphere and satirical animations are a perfect fit for the gameplay mechanic, offering a few chuckles and a relaxing ambience, both welcome when thinking through the interesting and puzzling requests that you are given.”
- “The game's atmosphere is fantastic and keeps you engaged.”
- “Innocent front with a really unsettling atmosphere the further you get, and this delivers there.”
- “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).”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it limited after optimizing solutions, others appreciate the optional challenges and efficiency tasks that enhance replay value. Many users highlight that the ability to explore multiple solutions and strive for speed or command optimizations adds depth, making it worthwhile for those seeking additional challenges. Overall, the experience can vary significantly based on individual play styles and goals.
- “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.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotions while engaging with the game, feeling both challenged and accomplished, particularly when overcoming difficult levels. The game's dystopian setting evokes a sense of heart despite its rational gameplay, contrasting with the emotional depth found in the developers' previous titles. Overall, it elicits feelings of intelligence and self-reflection, even as some players grapple with moments of frustration.
- “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 requiring me to kill stuff.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The monetization model includes microtransactions that are perceived as beneficial, but some players feel that the associated challenges significantly increase the game's difficulty, making it harder to fully engage with the content even after several hours of play.
- “Microtransactions for a good cause!”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without pressuring players.”
- “Microtransactions for a good cause 😈”
- “However, I found doing the challenges really adds a lot of difficulty to the game (and at 7.5 hours, I still haven't completed them all).”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly on an older computer with Ubuntu Linux 19.10 while occupying only 120 MB of disk space. Users report a consistently positive experience across different systems.
- “The game takes up 120 MB of disk space, and it runs great on an old computer running Ubuntu Linux 19.10.”
- “Runs great on Linux.”

72%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

Buy Human Resource Machine

7h Median play time

8h Average play time

4h Main story

10h Completionist

4-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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