SpaceChem on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information

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Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!

SpaceChem is a puzzle, difficult and programming game developed and published by Zachtronics.
Released on March 02nd 2011 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux in 8 languages: English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese - Brazil and Spanish - Latin America.

It has received 4,992 reviews of which 4,605 were positive and 387 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. 😎

The game is currently priced at 9.75€ on Steam, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.

The Steam community has classified SpaceChem into these genres:

Puzzle Difficult Programming Indie Logic Singleplayer Automation Sci-fi Great Soundtrack Science 2D Space Simulation Illuminati Casual Addictive Education Strategy Touch-Friendly Building

Media & Screenshots

Get an in-depth look at SpaceChem through various videos and screenshots.

System requirements

These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.

Windows

OS *: Windows XP SP3 / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
Processor: 2.0 GHz Processor
Memory: 1GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 300MB
Graphics: frame buffer support recommended

MacOS

OS: macOS 10.9 Mavericks or later
Processor: 2.0 GHz Processor
Memory: 1GB RAM
Hard Drive: 300MB
Graphics: frame buffer support recommended

Linux

OS: glibc 2.17+, 64-bit only
Processor: 2.0 GHz Processor
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 300 MB
Graphics: frame buffer support recommended

User reviews & Ratings

Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.

July 2025

One of the best puzzle / automation / programming-like games I've ever played. A slowly, but very noticeably progressing complexity with new instructions to use and molecules to create. But the beauty is, even the simplistic starting set of instructions can be used in wildly different designs, with very creative optimizations for cycles (AKA performance), or symbol count (AKA program size), with respective leaderboards. Realizing many of these makes you feel like a genius - very rewarding, like puzzles should be. A true classic from Zachtronics.

June 2025

This is an irreplaceable entry from Zachtronics, and a viciously challenging and engrossing puzzle game for technical, optimisation-minded players who enjoy the likes of Satisfactory, Factorio, etc. It's a classic, and has the exact right kind of hook where the fundamentals are easy but the way they interact in a full puzzle can be very complex. The soundtrack and (light but engaging) storyline are perfect for a puzzler like this.

April 2025

I bought this game in 2011 to craft the TF2 cosmetic. It kicked my azz. In 2025 I spent 3 weeks getting my azz kicked again (even when cheating with YouTube hints). This IS the hardest puzzle game EVER! I hated it and I LOVED it! After nearly 15 years, I'm done with it!

April 2025

SpaceChem isn’t a game; it’s a Turing-complete torture device. Players construct chemical synthesis factories using a visual programming language. It’s assembly language for molecules, demanding optimization down to the clock cycle. The core mechanic—manipulating atoms with robotic arms—is a brutal metaphor for industrial alienation. The “puzzle” isn’t solving chemistry; it’s maximizing efficiency within a pre-defined, exploitative system. The game’s inherent complexity encourages obsessive optimization, mirroring the relentless drive for productivity in late-stage capitalism. It’s a beautifully rendered, meticulously crafted Skinner box.

April 2025

mainly got this game for the tf2 achievement items, but the game isn't bad

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Frequently Asked Questions

SpaceChem is currently priced at 9.75€ on Steam.

SpaceChem is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.75€ on Steam.

SpaceChem received 4,605 positive votes out of a total of 4,992 achieving a rating of 8.90.

😎

SpaceChem was developed and published by Zachtronics.

SpaceChem is playable and fully supported on Windows.

SpaceChem is playable and fully supported on MacOS.

SpaceChem is playable and fully supported on Linux.

SpaceChem is a single-player game.

There is a DLC available for SpaceChem. Explore additional content available for SpaceChem on Steam.

SpaceChem does not support mods via Steam Workshop.

SpaceChem does not support Steam Remote Play.

SpaceChem is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.

You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for SpaceChem.

Data sources

The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.

Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.

Last Updates

Steam data	24 October 2025 09:17
SteamSpy data	20 October 2025 07:27
Steam price	28 October 2025 20:46
Steam reviews	27 October 2025 18:02

If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about SpaceChem, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.