Upload Labs

About

Upload Labs is a single player simulation game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by EnigmaDev Studios and was released on October 3, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

In Upload Labs, you must prevent the universe’s heat death by building efficient systems using a node-based interface that controls resource flow and data pipelines. Unlock new technologies through research, hack organizations for crucial intel and resources, and write custom code to optimize and enhance your systems. Strategic planning and creativity drive your mission to save existence.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,858 reviews

gameplay68 positive mentions

grinding53 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that combines visual programming with idle mechanics, making it more interactive than typical idle games.
Satisfying progression system with a variety of resources and upgrades to unlock, keeping players invested.
Free-to-play model with optional microtransactions that do not hinder overall gameplay experience.

Lack of clear tutorials and explanations for mechanics, leading to confusion for new players.
Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious, especially after reaching the endgame.
Technical issues such as bugs and UI problems that can disrupt the gaming experience.

gameplay
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, allowing players to quickly grasp mechanics and engage in experimentation without feeling overwhelmed. While the initial stages may seem confusing, progression becomes clearer and more rewarding as players unlock new systems and nodes, leading to a satisfying gameplay loop that encourages strategic thinking and resource management. However, some players note that the game can become repetitive over time, and certain mechanics lack adequate explanation, which may hinder the overall experience.
- “The core gameplay is easy to pick up, offering a relaxing and satisfying experience as you watch your systems expand and automate.”
- “Great mechanics and there is always something new to unlock before you get bored, so it never feels repetitive!”
- “Absolutely addictive and extremely satisfying gameplay loop that makes it hard to leave alone.”
- “The gameplay loop is very samey; I know it's a free idle game, but I just wish it was a little more flexible with what you could do, rather than punishing you for making a big cool flowchart.”
- “The overall gameplay progression is not like Factorio, but more similar to something like Antimatter Dimensions, where you get new systems and mechanics to make numbers go up faster.”
- “The tutorials are very sparse - when you unlock a new mechanic (such as hacking or coding), you have to figure it out yourself.”
optimization
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The optimization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with players enjoying the complexity and satisfaction of refining their systems, but also expressing frustration over unclear achievement requirements and the grind associated with obtaining optimization points. While many appreciate the game's engaging mechanics and the creativity involved in optimizing setups, some feel that the optimization process can become repetitive and lacks sufficient depth, especially in the late game. Overall, it is seen as a fun, albeit sometimes tedious, experience for fans of optimization and incremental games.
- “Install components, unlock modules, and fine-tune everything to improve performance and resource efficiency.”
- “It’s very factorio-adjacent in spirit: cascading systems, optimization puzzles, and the eternal struggle against bottlenecks.”
- “Very addictive and scratches that 'optimization' itch very well.”
- “The progression in this game is near solid, minus the optimization points being a bit slow compared to everything else.”
- “Honestly, this game leaves a lot of creativity in the beginning, but when moving towards the end, the coding phase just takes too much AFK time to get all optimization and application points.”
- “There are certainly many better optimization games out there, both in terms of complexity and engagement.”
grinding
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
11%
87%
The grinding aspect of Upload Labs is a significant focus in player reviews, with many noting that while the game starts off engaging, it quickly becomes tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid to late game. Players appreciate the option to speed up grinding through donations or microtransactions, but some feel that the grind can feel hollow and overly time-consuming, often requiring a substantial investment of hours to achieve completion. Overall, while the game is enjoyable for fans of idle and incremental genres, the grinding can detract from the experience, leading to a sense of monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You're left grinding endlessly, which feels pretty hollow after the initial sense of progress.”
- “It was fun for the first 100 hours, then it's just AFK and very grindy.”
- “If you count getting all achievements as winning, you're going to be grinding for a very long time and doing a lot of waiting and boring customization.”
monetization
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
71%
22%
The monetization model in the game is generally viewed as fair and non-intrusive, with microtransactions being optional and not necessary for progression. While some players appreciate the lack of ads and the ability to earn premium currency through gameplay, others criticize the design for feeling like a mobile game focused on monetization. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players feeling that the game could benefit from a one-time purchase model instead of ongoing microtransactions.
- “I have a lot of respect for their free-to-play monetization design, where the payments are not directly for consumable currency but for permanent upgrades with ongoing benefits.”
- “The monetization model is very nice as it doesn't get in the way, I can see myself buying one of the options sometime soon.”
- “Microtransactions are purely optional, but support the developers.”
- “Pretty fun, the microtransactions ruin it for me though.”
- “The in-game purchases are a bit much.”
- “This is basically a good automation game but got taken over by disguised monetization.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their clean and simple aesthetic, effectively representing complex systems in a visually appealing way. Many users appreciate the flowchart style and minimalistic design, which enhances gameplay clarity and enjoyment, although some suggest that additional aesthetic options could improve variety. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's addictive nature and user experience.
- “What starts off as a simple idler, using really nice clean graphics to represent computer systems (think Uplink brought up to date) branches out endlessly to take in ever more complexity and system designs.”
- “The clean, animated flowchart style is pleasing to watch and it's a great timekiller.”
- “Beautiful graphics, satisfying sounds, great feeling of progression.”
- “Why does a simple number-go-up game about connecting nodes overheat my laptop worse than Warframe on full graphics settings?”
- “Some more minor aesthetic options/upgrades would be nice; I played for a bit and it was all the same monotone cyber look.”
- “The graphics are as simple as can be, but the core gameplay is really solid.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as a standout feature that enhances the experience, while others find it repetitive and lacking variety. Many appreciate the relaxing and enjoyable nature of the soundtrack, though some note that it can be drowned out by other sounds or become annoying over time. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, there are calls for more diverse tracks and smoother transitions.
- “The music is freaking worth it by itself.”
- “Best game ever, just like Satisfactory but in 2D with a soundtrack that is up in my top 10!!!”
- “This is a nice and relaxing game with good music and a simple, yet fun gameplay.”
- “I rated this not too bad because it's mostly just beeps and boops with some soundtrack, but I didn't even hear music.”
- “The soundtrack features five songs on repeat.”
- “The music is very annoying, but at least you can turn it off.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
73%
17%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that it feels more like a completion checklist than a narrative-driven experience. While some appreciate the simplicity for those who prefer not to engage deeply with a story, others express a desire for more meaningful quests or a cohesive narrative to enhance gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game lacks a compelling story, making it feel more like a sandbox experience.
- “Perfect for if you're too busy to get into massive story-based titles.”
- “Not too fast, not too slow, especially if you try to improve on your factory and do some quests, which is satisfying.”
- “I think what makes other games in this genre with this amount of content more well-beloved is the player story, and there just isn't anything like that here.”
- “The request system is nice, but from how far I've gotten, I realize it's more of a completion checklist rather than a request/random quest system.”
- “I don't know what it's trying to do here, but it should have been a sandbox game with a different plot. The scalability of things is just off when all you need to do is have one branch of a steady flow; the rest is just weird side quests in a way.”
- “Only problem is some of the quests are glitched and can't be unlocked even when you do the task.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits various bugs and glitches, particularly with grouping containers and the interface, which can disrupt gameplay but are generally not game-breaking. While some players experience issues like freezing panels and overtuned achievements, others find the game relatively stable after initial troubleshooting. Despite these concerns, many appreciate the game's performance on lower-end hardware and its overall feature completeness.
- “It's free and runs great on even integrated graphics.”
- “The game seems feature complete as is and in the currently ~20 hours I have amassed, it is also relatively bug-free.”
- “The grouping containers are buggy and don't seem to always select every component in the group container; not a huge issue, but very annoying when it happens.”
- “Such a cool concept, but in reality, it's really buggy. The logic makes no sense and it just doesn't work as intended.”
- “Incredibly janky interface; drawing lines is buggy, and since it's a primary mechanic, it's a really bad look.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as both amusing and absurd, with players enjoying its comedic elements, such as the juxtaposition of virtual success and real-life reactions. Many find the game's quirky scenarios and meta jokes, like the heat death of the universe, to be highlights that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the humor contributes to a lighthearted and entertaining gameplay atmosphere.
- “Funny and relaxing marketing game”
- “Was a very funny adventure, just a few hours to do and then you let it run to gather all resources you need.”
- “Also, the heat death of the universe being August 12th, 2036 is peak humor.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as low to mediocre, with some players completing it quickly and feeling little incentive to return. While a few users appreciate the hidden depth and content that could enhance replay value, many find it lacks the engaging elements necessary for repeated playthroughs.
- “ Infinitely replayable (or almost)”
- “Interesting management sim with many hours of potential and replayability.”
- “There's a ton of content and replay value hidden behind the seemingly simplistic nature of the game.”
- “I 100% this game in 16 hours; it was a fun game while it lasted, but the replayability is a bit mediocre.”
- “I wish this game was more replayable. This game is more for a chill experience while you are doing something else, and it takes up very little CPU and GPU (the most I've had from it was 5% of my CPU and 10% of my GPU). I do wish this game wasn't a simulator/wait-around type of game; those games aren't as fun for me, but I did enjoy this game.”
- “Replay value is zero.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its minimalist sci-fi aesthetic and engaging hacker vibe, contributing to an enjoyable experience. However, some users noted that abrupt noises can disrupt the ambiance, suggesting a need for smoother sound transitions. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the gameplay, making it a compelling choice for players.
- “Really great UI and a fun idler with an amazing atmosphere.”
- “Minimalist sci-fi atmosphere ”
- “It has an addictive hacker atmosphere and well-thought-out gameplay.”
- “There are some noises here and there that are abrupt and do minimally ruin the atmosphere of the game if you were to leave it running in the background. However, it would be a great idea to hear said sounds fade in and out, instead of hearing tones similar to the sound of Discord's ping notification. Overall, the game is worth it and not too difficult to get around, but from what I've seen in the current leaks of v2.0, it's going to get more complicated.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, feeling both humbled and intrigued by its complexity. The experience evokes a sense of perplexity that drives them to continue engaging with the game, highlighting its ability to inspire curiosity and reflection.
- “I opened VS Code, stared at it, and remembered that I don’t know how to code. I felt emotionally humbled and went right back to playing it.”
- “It's been a while since a game made me feel perplexed, but still eager to dive in.”