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Game
Game2023
Neon Noodles
Developer Vivid Helix
In a future where food is the ultimate symbol of status, you are a recipe programming technician for a ruthless aristocracy. Create, test and optimize your culinary machines in this deliciously dark zach-like! From the Steam store page
85 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Oct 8, 2026 · last updated Oct 9, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
82
LovedLoved
62 positive · 14 negative
95% range 71–89%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 62 | 14 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
63 of 77 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
82% recommend · 62 yes, 14 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 76 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (89 of 111 positive).
Players praise the engaging puzzle gameplay and cyberpunk aesthetic. [1][2][3] Many reviewers note the UI and controls need improvement. [4][5][6] Some players find the difficulty curve uneven and certain levels frustrating. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [17]
Kind of interesting story - but starting players with programming a robot kind of takes all the fun out of automation games where usually - it's about using clever dumbfire atomic actors to create something clever - whereas every single level of this game can be solved by just... programming the instructions linearly to do exactly what the level tells you. However, the game stops you constantly from doing anything …
- [1]
Do you like cooking? Do you like programming? Do you like dystopian futures where you're programming robots to cook food!? Then Neon Noodles is the game for you. It's really quite addictive to figure out a brute force solution for completing recipes and then trying to refine your programs to take as few cycles as possible. I haven't played too many "zach-like" games but for me, this game really sizzles!
- [12]
I give Neon Noodles a strong recommendation. It's a fun 'zach-like' puzzle/programming experience that I've found it more approachable than other mechanically similar games. I love the outrun/cyberpunk aesthetic. Controls take a little getting used to (I used keyboard controls but in fairness the game recommends using a controller). Only a couple hours at this time of review but I'm looking forward to seeing how …
- [7]
This is a well-made puzzle game that will have you thinking hard. I would call it a 'zach-like', to the extent that word means anything. The only reservations I have with this recommendation are that the difficulty curve is a little sporadic (which is honestly a common problem with these games) and that the game needs some more UI polish. Most notably, there is an annoying bug that causes instructions to be inserted …
- [2]
Great game, i liked the futuristic/cyberpunk artstyle a lot, but the thing i liked the most is that it's challenging and forces you to think a lot about every action of every robot/conveyor you place
Summarised from 34 of the 88 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Neon Noodles sits at 82% positive across 76 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
60 of 85 · most liked firstKind of interesting story - but starting players with programming a robot kind of takes all the fun out of automation games where usually - it's about using clever dumbfire atomic actors to create something clever - whereas every single level of this game can be solved by just... programming the instructions linearly to do exactly what the level tells you. However, the game stops you constantly from doing anything clever. Try to use conveyer belts in a just in time way? Nope - counts as using…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Opus Magnum but worse This feels too harsh and mean for this game. It's a cool concept, and I enjoyed my time with it! I want to like it, but it's hard to recommend. The game puts "zach-like" in the description, and that invites comparisons with games like Opus Magnum. Right now, it's even priced the same. But just about everything it does well, Opus Magnum does better, and it's missing some very large quality-of-life features that made the second half of the game tedious in a way most…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am just getting into this. I think it's a great idea, but the pacing, UI, fonts, etc needs some work and more intermediate lessons to stop common player problems and help some optimization. If you've played other games like Opus Magnum, etc then you should be pretty comfortable here. But one big hiccup is guessing how many waits you need for one robot to keep from breaking the loop. I'll suggest yes, maybe wait til it's $10 or they polish things a bit more.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The presentation is nice but the mechanics are pretty lackluster and frustrating. if you're hoping this will fill the hole Zachtronics left in your life, you're going to be heartbroken twice. i stopped playing after being forced to program frustrating bots to do everything, then having those taken away and given and even more frustrating drones that you program to do everything. i doubt it gets better but if it does, it's not worth the slog to get there.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Do you like cooking? Do you like programming? Do you like dystopian futures where you're programming robots to cook food!? Then Neon Noodles is the game for you. It's really quite addictive to figure out a brute force solution for completing recipes and then trying to refine your programs to take as few cycles as possible. I haven't played too many "zach-like" games but for me, this game really sizzles!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Neon Noodles is an Engineering Puzzle Game about Robots making Sushi. The developer describes the game as a "zach-like" and gameplay-wise this description fits very well. It's a (programming) puzzle game with huge solution space. The gameplay is very interesting and fun. The difficulty curve seems to be in a very good shape as well. UX-wise the game is not quite there yet, however. You can only save one solution per level. The controls are confusing. And a few tool-tips would be nice as well.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a tough review for me. I LOVE zach-like games, and this one starts out SO promising! Unfortunately the pacing made me lose interest long before many key mechanics (loops and links) are introduced. This is compounded because the implementation of producers and consumers makes it impossible to automate most processes without having a bot do it. If the game allowed setting the production rate of sources (every x cycles rather than a fixed every 2 cycles), or if conveyor belts, blenders,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It took a bit, but my game Neon Noodles is finally out on all the consoles! neonnoodles.com 🥑🎉
positive · AI labelView post →Neon Noodles - Release Date Announcement Trailer - Cyberpunk Kitchen Automation Game. Releases from Early Access on August 3, 2023 for Windows and Linux. Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/990900/Neon_Noodles__Cyberpunk_Kitchen_Automation/ Inspired by [Zachtronics](https://store.steampowered.com/developer/zachtronics) automation puzzle games such as Opus Magnum and Infinifactory.
neutral · AI labelView post →IM ADDICTED AND CANT STOP General Gameplay This is where the game really shines. Work to program a fleet of robots to create the perfectly optimized cooking assembly line. What really hooks me in is the "histogram" showing how you've faired against other players. It really elevates the game, and makes your decisions more meaningful. Unfortunately, I've found myself spending way too long playing a level for the first time because I'm obsessed with finding an optimal solution. Game balance…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I checked out Neon Noodles from @vividhelix.bsky.social now that it's been released on console. Loved the game! There's something really meditative and fulfilling about this kind of automation game. @eastasiasoft.bsky.social #indiegames #PS5 🎮 Read my review on @thegeeklygrind.bsky.social --
positive · AI labelView post →The way these recipes are put together is ♥♥♥♥♥♥. The early dishes get simplified so far as to be unrecognizable, and the way the UI scales down for the later dishes is equally ♥♥♥♥♥♥ in the other direction. It's also a bit too hand-holding the whole time, as rather than let you ♥♥♥♥ around with your middle products like zach-likes typically let you do, they dictate exactly what each and every step is, and force you merely to execute the rest. This goes on through the whole game. The idea that…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very neon and very noodles, just what I expected.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun enough to play but the UI needs a lot of attention, especially for the programming.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/6142328/]Like this Review? Follow The Cpt Froggy Club Curator Page for plenty more! Selecting to play a new game from the main menu screen will take you to the level screen. Choosing to continue a previous game from the main menu will take you to the game level you’re currently on. On the first level Sliced Avocado, you’ll be welcomed to Neon Noodles! From here you’ll continue an existing program and be instructed on what to do. You will also get…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'll admit it's not something i thought i would like as it's very different from my usual genres, but i tried the demo and i was pleasantly surprised, it's actually very enjoyable. It turns out optimizing making food with robot chefs can make for some fun and rewarding puzzles.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Its not _Bad_ but it didn't learn anything from Opus Magnum when it comes to code manipulation. Everything is pretty clunky. Looks like they sacrificed a lot of usability for it to be controller "friendly" which I suspect it really isn't.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The operation of writing a program is very uncomfortable, please improve it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game, i liked the futuristic/cyberpunk artstyle a lot, but the thing i liked the most is that it's challenging and forces you to think a lot about every action of every robot/conveyor you place
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I give Neon Noodles a strong recommendation. It's a fun 'zach-like' puzzle/programming experience that I've found it more approachable than other mechanically similar games. I love the outrun/cyberpunk aesthetic. Controls take a little getting used to (I used keyboard controls but in fairness the game recommends using a controller). Only a couple hours at this time of review but I'm looking forward to seeing how this continues to develop. Seems like there is plenty of base content already for a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The controls are lacking. Single step from the beginning? Rotate stations using left hand keys or a single mouse click? Clear all instructions? Copy paste stuff?
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a well-made puzzle game that will have you thinking hard. I would call it a 'zach-like', to the extent that word means anything. The only reservations I have with this recommendation are that the difficulty curve is a little sporadic (which is honestly a common problem with these games) and that the game needs some more UI polish. Most notably, there is an annoying bug that causes instructions to be inserted in the wrong place if your programs get excessively long, and opening a menu…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very pleasing brain tickler! Set up a manufacturing line to cook the dystopian cyberfood, with increasing levels of complexity (conveyor belts -> programmable robots -> more). The leaderboards are pretty motivating :) Sometimes the restrictions get a bit frustrating (like a conveyor belt trying to touch something a bot is trying to touch) but i've found it nice and challenging so far. Overall a really smooth game! Doesn't feel buggy at all at the moment, the UI is friendly on keyboard+mouse…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have some gripes with the UI and how unforgiving collisions are, but I'm having a good time regardless. It's easier than Zach games but there's still plenty of room to tweak and optimize.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun automation game with lots of different strategies and ways to optimize the solutions. I will say the difficulty ramp on the Yakitori level is entirely unreasonable though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very cool concept and programming type game. Lots of brain twisters in here, you have to think things through. The early stages are just about teaching you the controls so they are limited, but once you get through them, then all are at your disposal. Later stages introduce more logic,, filters etc. The level get progressively harder, and the ways of solving them are limitless. It does tickle the brain. This is early access and there are some rough edges, and some QOL improvements are…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you like programming and optimizing to chase the leaderboards this'll be your jam. There's an actual story too, that keeps me going.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great and fun game, the sound, the graphics and the game play are all amazing, would definitely recommend if you love puzzle games or even cyberpunk games in general.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I never expected this game to have such good story, i was just expected the plain old lazy story that is in most automation games but wow, this story really compliments the amazing gameplay. Though, my one gripe with it is that moving stations is somewhat annoying. 9.5/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So much that I like about this game. I liked the idea of Overcooked, but it was always too frantic for me and in Neon Noodles I like taking time to plan and be an efficient chef. Designing the layout and instructions is intuitive and works well even with a controller. The UI is clean and clearly communicates, while still looking really good. Building something that works first, and then optimizing it based on the 3 categories (roughly space, time, and complexity) adds additional challenges. It…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Neon Noodles is a "Zach-like", meaning it's a Zachtronics-style automation programming game. This plays like Opus Magnum meets Automachef in a cyberpunk Akihabara district. The game is worth a look. Please follow my curator page, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/6856591-Designer-Plays/]Designer Plays, for a truly massive number of concise and honest reviews from a 25-year veteran Game Designer.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's alright, pretty boring though, it feels like it needs better tutorials and more motivation to optimize
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I could spend a lot of time trying to optimise my programs.. fun game! I'm just getting into the thick of the story and am quite curious what's going to happen. If you're into programming/automation games with dark stories, this is for you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice little zach-like with a fun story. Some things are a little clunky, especially when editing a large amount of code but all in all it was a good time and worth the money. Would recommend to anybody who enjoys this genre of games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I started playing, thinking this would be a fun wee game, now the children aren't fed, the dishes are piling up and there are no clean clothes. That life is the past, I am a bot programmer now, this is my new life.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm only about 30 minutes in - but this is a cute game and worth the investment. And it is a very interesting addition to the automation game genre, worth grabbing. You will want to invest some time into mastering the game mechanics. It gets quite technical later on and challenging. It starts to get a lot more free once you work your way through the tutorial. Probably odd to focus on but my favourite part is the calming music. Calming low-pressure puzzle games can be really helpful if you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After being in Early Access since 2019, Neon Noodles - Cyberpunk Kitchen Automation has now fully released and it looks great. #NeonNoodles https://gamesense.co/game/neon-noodles/news/discuss/automate-a-kitchen-with-programmed-robots-in-neon-noodles-out-now/
neutral · AI labelView post →I only gave this an hour but it's not for me. Definitely has most of the feature's you'd expect though it has a much slower build up with many basic features locked until the second or third chapter, as well as clunkier interactions than other games in this genre. For me this lead to a lot of frustration and fixing up alignment between multiple bots was very tedious, definitely not as polished as some of the other games out there.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is pretty rad. You will get really addicted to optimizing your solutions to try and beat other players on the leaderboards, I know I have. The cyberpunk aesthetic fits really well with the theme of the game. And I the polish is pretty great so far for an EA game. Overall I would recommend picking it up... especially if you love zachtronics games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun take on the "Zack-like" genre of programming/optimization games. Great neon, cyber punk inspired art style. Progression in the game not too challenging but the real fun is trying to optimize your programs as the game shows how your solution stacks up against other players. Excited to watch this one grow!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →@vividhelix.bsky.social Hi, good to see you on BlueSky! I'm just some rando, but I got Neon Noodles last night in the Steam sale, and played it until 5 am this morning. It's really good stuff, looking forward to your next game!
positive · AI labelView post →Programmatic chef work in a post apocalyptic dystopian society? Yes pleas! So much fun... and good luck with "Yakitori and Gyoza" level >_<
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →classic sequential logic game, well presented
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game! Loved how the programs kind of look like music sheets, and the effort put into the environments for each room was amazing!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is fun! I don't usually play puzzle games but I found this one interesting and also educational in a way that it gets you thinking similar to coding. I'm not very good at it but I had fun wracking my brain trying to find solutions after the first few levels
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Controls take a bit of getting used to, but after that, it's so satisfying once you see everything in motion.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well, it's got a ton of minor bugs, but it works. The buttons are visually impossible to distinguish between disabled, enabled, hover, and clicked. The music occasionally just stops in the middle of a track, with a loud click, and then restarts from the beginning of a track. The mouse-based programming of the robots is clunky. I would prefer a menu of instructions I could select from. The leaderboards seem buggy. Apparently someone solved a puzzle with only one instruction. I don't believe…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really enjoying this fun puzzler and has an intriguing story to boot!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The tool set in the game is solvable early; the most efficient solutions use ingredient->conveyor belt->cutting station->bot In the first half of the game they manage to keep that from being dominant by having various restrictions, but they stop and the second half is mostly escalating ingredient amounts with multiple outputs the main thing preventing you from making everything on a nice line.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun but really short for now.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Solid programming automation little game with gradual learning curve and great atmosphere. The kitchen recipes idea is interesting to keep things fresh as the challenges increase. Great way to learn how to program automation and challenge yourself to optimize code. Did a let's play video, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bXQI8ZYp4g
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a pretty good game to get your brain going. Reminds me a lot of Opus Magnum.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun concept, I look forward to seeing how this grows.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love it, I love "zach-like" mostly but yes I love this too!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Perfect coding-puzzle game for my autistic ass.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A colorful, cyberpunky zach-like where you program robots to make food. Only major flaws are that it uses histograms instead of level goals and doesn't have a progress reset. Runs great on Linux.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Neon Noodles is a remarkably creative automation puzzle game that takes the familiar act of cooking and transforms it into a complex exercise in programming, logistics, and efficiency. Developed and published by Vivid Helix, the game places players in a futuristic cyberpunk society where food production has become heavily automated and culinary expertise is intertwined with advanced technology. What initially appears to be a quirky cooking simulator quickly reveals itself as a sophisticated…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →neon noodles neon noodles neon noodles neon noodles neon noodles neon noodles neon noodles i love neon noodles neon noodles
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i have to use my brain to much halp
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun, whimsical, smart
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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