VGSources / Games / Zachtronics
puzzle video game
Shenzhen I/O
By Zachtronics, released 1 Jan 2016
- Linux
- Microsoft Windows
- macOS
- programming game
What it is
Shenzhen I/O is a Zachtronics puzzle and programming game about designing electronic devices. You build circuits from components such as microcontrollers, memory, logic gates and LCD screens, then write programs in a compact assembly language whose instructions can run conditionally. An included manual offers more than 30 pages of datasheets, reference material and technical diagrams, making the game’s electronics and coding central to play. The setting places you at Shenzhen Longteng Electronics, where you meet a cast of coworkers. Outside the main circuit-building challenges, a sandbox lets you create and test your own games and devices, and a solitaire variant offers a change of pace. It is a single-player game for Windows, macOS and Linux, with Steam achievements, Workshop, Cloud and Leaderboards, plus a level editor and Family Sharing.
What players like, and what they don't
- Circuit building uses varied electronic components
- Conditional instructions in compact assembly language
- Includes more than 30 pages of technical material
- Sandbox supports custom games and devices
- Level editor and Steam Workshop support
- Single-player only
- No platform listed beyond desktop systems
Who it suits
It suits players who enjoy programming puzzles, circuit design and experimenting with their own devices. The manual and sandbox are useful draws for players who want reference material and room to make things.
Shenzhen I/O combines circuit construction with assembly-language programming, then adds a sandbox for player-made devices and games. It is aimed at players interested in technical puzzle solving rather than a multiplayer experience.
