# Videogames for Rationalists

Following is a list of games that, if you are reading this, you might enjoy. They're the hits, the ones that people repeatedly bring up and discuss, but no one seems to have troubled to write down. I'm sure these are all well known, but you could be in the [lucky ten thousand](https://xkcd.com/1053/).

[Factorio](https://factorio.com/)
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![https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/427520/capsule_616x353.jpg?t=1763986204](https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/427520/capsule_616x353.jpg?t=1763986204)

A massive logistical sandbox. Scratches the same itch as coding, but with supplies and engineering instead of code.

[Universal Paperclips](https://www.decisionproblem.com/paperclips/)
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![undefined](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/db/Universal_Paperclips_Title_Screen.png)

A 6-9 hour free clicker game. At last, you can play as the paperclip maximizer from Bostrom's classic thought experiment [Don't Create the Paperclip Maximizer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumental_convergence).

[Outer Wilds](https://store.steampowered.com/app/753640/Outer_Wilds/)
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![](https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/753640/header.jpg?t=1729097431)

An exploration and puzzle game. Once you get past the awkward spaceflight controls, the puzzles and storyline of this game work better than I've ever seen done elsewhere. Avoid spoilers or any info at all before playing this one.

[Slay the Spire](https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/)
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![https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/646570/header.jpg?t=1769094928](https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/646570/header.jpg?t=1769094928)

A highly tuned solo card game. The combos and interactions will have you scratching you head, and the random possibilities will keep you coming back for more. Invented the genre of roguelike deckbuilder.

[Kerbal Space Program](https://steamdb.info/app/220200/info/)
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![https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/220200/header.jpg?t=1738037585](https://shared.fastly.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/220200/header.jpg?t=1738037585)

An accurate simulation of a space program and spaceflight, while forgiving enough to make the whole thing fun. You will learn orbital mechanics.

More Games
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I'm getting a bit more subjective here, but there are all worth your consideration. Let's have more in the comments!

[Opus Magnum](https://store.steampowered.com/app/558990/Opus_Magnum/) / [SpaceChem](https://store.steampowered.com/app/92800/SpaceChem/) \- coding oriented puzzle games from Zachtronics

[Return of the Obra Dinn](https://store.steampowered.com/app/653530/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn/) / [The Case of the Golden Idol](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1677770/The_Case_of_the_Golden_Idol/) \- anthologies of whodunnit puzzles with a unique perspective

[Dwarf Fortress](https://store.steampowered.com/app/975370/Dwarf_Fortress/) \- simulation of a colony of fantasy dwarves. Intricate, chaotic, and frequently hilarious

[Baba Is You](https://store.steampowered.com/app/736260/Baba_Is_You/) \- block pushing puzzles where the rules of the puzzle are also blocks to manipulate

[Planescape: Torment](https://store.steampowered.com/app/466300/Planescape_Torment_Enhanced_Edition/) / [Disco Elysium](https://store.steampowered.com/app/632470/Disco_Elysium__The_Final_Cut/) \- RPGs grounded in conversation, not combat

[HyperRogue](https://store.steampowered.com/app/342610/HyperRogue/) / [Patrick's Parabox](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1260520/Patricks_Parabox/) / [Manifold Garden](https://store.steampowered.com/app/473950/Manifold_Garden/) / [Braid](https://store.steampowered.com/app/499180/Braid_Anniversary_Edition/) / [A Slower Speed of Light](https://gamelab.mit.edu/games/a-slower-speed-of-light/) / [5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1349230/5D_Chess_With_Multiverse_Time_Travel/) \- games that play with stranger forms of time and space