Crazy Machines 3 similar games & best alternatives

Crazy Machines 3

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2016

Should you play it?

Crazy Machines 3 is the latest, greatest, most amazing and craziest part of the series and fascinates once more with physic-based puzzles. Build your own crazy machines and share your awesomeness across the world thanks to the Steam® Workshop.

What works
  • Robust and creative level editor
  • Challenging and varied puzzles
  • Nostalgic appeal and engaging physics
  • Extensive community workshop content
  • Relaxing music and atmosphere
Things to keep in mind
  • Some puzzles require precise placement causing frustration
  • Limited narrative and social interaction
  • Occasional physics quirks and bugs
  • Repetitive mechanics in some levels
  • No multiplayer or cooperative gameplay

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Cloud Gardens

  • Poly Bridge

  • Voxelgram

  • Factory Town

  • BalanCity

  • Modulus: Factory Automation

  • Terra Nil

  • Dorfromantik

  • ISLANDERS
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Voxelgram

  • Fossil Corner

  • STATIONflow
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Creativity

    I Wanna Maker
  • Experimenting

    Brickadia
  • Autonomy

    Portal 2

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Crazy Machines 3: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Fantasy, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Creativity. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to solve puzzles in multiple ways and create custom levels, showing high player control and decision-making."

    Capsule for Portal 2 Portal 2

    "Players have freedom to build and experiment with machines, create custom levels and parts, and solve puzzles in multiple ways."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Puzzles range from easy to challenging, providing a satisfying sense of skill and problem solving."

    Capsule for XING: The Land Beyond XING: The Land Beyond

    "Puzzles range from easy to very challenging, requiring skillful problem solving and precise placement of parts."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal and community puzzle solving rather than direct competition or ranked modes."

    Capsule for The Black Watchmen The Black Watchmen

    "Focus is on individual puzzle solving and creativity; limited competitive elements mainly through community challenges."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many players report long play sessions and habitual engagement with levels and workshop content."

    Capsule for Poly Bridge 2 Poly Bridge 2

    "Many players report long sessions, extended engagement via workshop content and level editor."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay is primarily single-player puzzle solving with minimal social or cooperative elements."

    Capsule for YEAH! YOU WANT "THOSE GAMES," RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM! YEAH! YOU WANT "THOSE GAMES," RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM!

    "Gameplay is primarily single-player puzzle solving with minimal direct cooperation."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    5

    "Robust level editor with scripting enables extensive creative expression and custom content creation."

    Capsule for I Wanna Maker I Wanna Maker

    "Robust level editor and custom part creation encourage extensive creative experimentation."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of dominance or power over others; interactions are respectful and collaborative."

    Capsule for X-Plane 12 X-Plane 12

    "No evidence of dominance or power over others; interactions are equal and collaborative."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, stress-relieving activity to escape daily life."

    Capsule for Pixel Puzzles Traditional Jigsaw Puzzles Pixel Puzzles Traditional Jigsaw Puzzles

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, stress-relieving mental exercise and nostalgic escape."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Engagement driven by personal desire, nostalgia, and intrinsic interest rather than obligation."

    Capsule for Pajama Sam 2: Thunder And Lightning Aren't So Frightening Pajama Sam 2: Thunder And Lightning Aren't So Frightening

    "Engagement driven by intrinsic interest, nostalgia, and personal enjoyment rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on trying new builds, wiring contraptions, and exploring game mechanics and physics."

    Capsule for Brickadia Brickadia

    "Strong emphasis on trying new contraption designs, tinkering with physics, and exploring mechanics."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Exploration of new puzzle environments and hidden collectibles, though within confined spaces."

    Capsule for I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar

    "Some exploration of new puzzle solutions and user-created content, but mostly within known environments."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Customization of cars and garages allows personal expression through paint, parts, and modifications."

    Capsule for My Garage My Garage

    "Customization of machines, parts, and levels allows for personal expression and creativity."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -2

    "Grounded in realistic physics and plausible spaceflight rather than fantasy."

    Capsule for Kerbal Space Program Kerbal Space Program

    "Grounded in realistic physics and plausible mechanisms rather than imaginative fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -3

    "Community sharing exists but social interaction is limited; gameplay is mostly individual."

    Capsule for SimplePlanes SimplePlanes

    "Community sharing exists but gameplay is mostly solitary with limited social interaction."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop problem-solving skills, spatial reasoning, and mastery of physics mechanics."

    Capsule for World of Goo World of Goo

    "Players develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and understanding of physics concepts."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for World of Tanks Blitz World of Tanks Blitz

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and active engagement rather than casual or background play."

    Capsule for Primal Planet Primal Planet

    "Requires focused attention and thoughtful engagement rather than casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social or emotional relationships formed through gameplay."

    Capsule for GORN GORN

    "No evidence of close social or emotional relationships formed through gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or authoritative roles; players act independently or collaboratively without hierarchy."

    Capsule for I'm on Observation Duty I'm on Observation Duty

    "No leadership or authoritative roles; players act independently or collaboratively without hierarchy."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Progression through unlocking and solving puzzles, gaining new parts and community content."

    Capsule for Contraption Maker Contraption Maker

    "Progression through levels and unlocking new puzzles, plus creation and sharing of content."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoy the soothing music and visuals despite its challenges."

    Capsule for Cliff Empire Cliff Empire

    "Many players find the game relaxing with soothing music and satisfying puzzle solving."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visual and auditory feedback is enjoyable but not highly intense; moderate sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Star Valor Star Valor

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory feedback but not highly intense sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Little focus on social recognition or status; achievements are personal."

    Capsule for The Apogee Throwback Pack The Apogee Throwback Pack

    "Little focus on social recognition or status; achievements are personal and community is casual."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -3

    "Minimal narrative focus; gameplay centers on mechanics and strategy rather than story."

    Capsule for There Are No Orcs There Are No Orcs

    "Minimal narrative focus; gameplay centers on puzzles and mechanics rather than story."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires logical thinking, planning, and problem solving to optimize systems and progress efficiently."

    Capsule for Upload Labs Upload Labs

    "Requires logical thinking, planning, and problem solving to design effective machines."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    -2

    "Low risk and suspense; gameplay is calm and methodical rather than thrilling."

    Capsule for Space Simulation Toolkit Space Simulation Toolkit

    "Low risk and suspense; gameplay is calm and methodical rather than thrilling."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report high value for price with extensive content and replayability."

    Capsule for Death Howl Death Howl

    "Players report high value for price, especially with workshop content and replayability."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -4

    "No emphasis on combat or destruction; focus on constructive puzzle solving."

    Capsule for The Spiral Scouts The Spiral Scouts

    "Focus on constructive building and puzzle solving rather than combat or destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -5

    "No survival or threat avoidance elements; stable puzzle environment."

    Capsule for Zup! 2 Zup! 2

    "No survival or threat avoidance elements; stable puzzle environments."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026