Cosmic Express
Cosmic Express
Game
Game2014
Sokobond
Developer Alan Hazelden, Lee Shang Lun
Sokobond is a puzzle video game created by Alan Hazelden and Harry Lee. Gameplay involves moving atoms around 2D grids to form chemical compounds. The game was released on Linux, OS X, and Windows in August 2013. It was later released for Nintendo Switch in September 2021, and iOS and Android in May 2022. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
217 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Oct 23, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
92
LovedLoved
163 positive · 14 negative
95% range 87–95%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 163 | 14 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 11 | 0 | 25 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 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
392 of 428 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
92% recommend · 163 yes, 14 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 177 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (665 of 715 positive).
Players praise Sokobond as a clever, minimalist puzzle game that combines Sokoban mechanics with chemistry-inspired bonding rules. [1][2][3] Many find the puzzles satisfying and well-designed, though some note the difficulty can be high. [4][5][6] A few reviewers criticize the publisher for a price hike and lack of updates, including a dark mode. [7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [7]
generic sokoban with a stick-elements-together mechanic and some chemistry flavor. plenty of content, has undo but no dark mode and it's all white, all blinding all the time. it's been requested and ignored since release, 10+ years now. what's worse is the publisher claimed a few years ago that the game was too old to get more updates but it obviously wasn't the case when it first came out, so what was their lame …
- [1]
For more puzzle game reviews, news and everything puzzle-related, follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/25928931-Puzzle-Lovers/]Puzzle Lovers and check out our [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/puzzlelovers]Steam group. Sokobond is, overall, an excellent, "minimalist, difficult" puzzle game with a sleek and thoughtful design that complicates the basic Sokoban formula. On each level you have control …
- [3]
This is a really good puzzle game that combines Sokoban mechanics with bonding rules inspired by chemistry! The rules are simple, with a few new mechanics added as you progress. The complexity feels exactly right to me, and very satisfying: You can mostly solve the puzzles with pure logic, combined with a bit of trial and error to get a feeling for the puzzle. Often, puzzles seem relatively simple at first, but …
- [5]
Sokobond is a difficult but fair puzzle game that seems deceptively simple. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a new puzzle game to play that challenges you. While it may contain 144 different puzzles, some of them can be completed in less than 3 minutes, and the rest don't take much longer either once you get the hang of things, which makes my opinion on the $15 price tag kinda iffy. This game does go on …
- [6]
TLDR Elegant and simple, although still pretty challenging, sokoban variant; chemistry knowledge not required. [16/20⭐, 19h🏅, 3/5💡] Context Sokobond is a sokoban-like game where the objects you’re pushing can form bonds between them, which can then be manipulated in different ways as the game progresses (created, broken, rotated). Although simple in concept, levels are ingeniously designed and can get considerably …
Summarised from 34 of the 217 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 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
92% of the 177 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Sokobond. The complaint that keeps coming up: no dark mode, with a bright white screen that some find blinding. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Sokobond received "generally favorable" reviews from professional critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic. Reviewers generally praised its chemistry theming as aiding in grasping the game's abstractions, without requiring the player to understand chemistry. They also praised Sokobond's minimalism, both in terms of visual design and level design. Eurogamer appreciated that the game added difficulty without increasing the number of elements in a level. Killscreen commented that the game managed to reuse its few elements in many intriguing ways. Destructoid found that the simplicity of the art and sound direction elegantly mirrored the simplicity of the gameplay. The game was…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 217 · most liked firstgeneric sokoban with a stick-elements-together mechanic and some chemistry flavor. plenty of content, has undo but no dark mode and it's all white, all blinding all the time. it's been requested and ignored since release, 10+ years now. what's worse is the publisher claimed a few years ago that the game was too old to get more updates but it obviously wasn't the case when it first came out, so what was their lame excuse then? what's even more disgusting is, shortly after this 'clarification'…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sokobond Express is OUT NOW on Android & iOS 🧪✨ We're super excited to bring Jose Hernandez's great game to mobile. Chemical bonds meet puzzling pathfinding, with no chemistry experience needed - now available wherever you go.
neutral · AI labelView post →Announcement time! Sokobond Express, our beautifully minimalist thinky game about chemical bonds and puzzling pathfinding, is coming to Nintendo Switch on April 18! 🧪 We're very excited to be bringing Jose's acclaimed game to a new audience. youtu.be/z4aPFYo7UXI
neutral · AI labelView post →Don't buy anything from this publisher. The price hiked years after release with no updates.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game Announcement 🎉 Sokobond Express, our beautifully minimalist puzzle game about chemical bonds is coming to iOS and Android on Sept 17th! 🧪 We're super excited about bringing this beautifully minimalist puzzle game by Jose Hernandez to mobile devices. youtu.be/b2Yz-TALWbU
neutral · AI labelView post →Sokobond Express, a beautifully minimalist puzzle game of chemical bonds and puzzling pathfinding, is OUT NOW! Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... itch: draknek.itch.io/sokobond-exp... Launch trailer: youtu.be/pQ9NT_dW66M
neutral · AI labelView post →For die-hard puzzle gamers or intense chemistry enthusiasts, maybe, but for me, I'm going to give this a thumbs-down. It is absolutely well designed, attractive, and clever. However, the nature of the puzzle solving, especially as you get further into it, involves almost entirely constructing the entire path to the solution in your head before even beginning, and I found this more tedious and annoying than enjoyable problem-solving.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Stylish puzzle game with innovative mechanics in the Sokoban-like subgenre. It is not as enjoyable as, let's say, A Good Snowman is Hard to Build, but it is just as well designed. Although the game inevitably gets a bit boring due to its own mechanics, it is not repetitive, with every new level presenting new ideas and demanding elegant solutions. Check this one out if you like clever abstract puzzles.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Our Game of the Year 2024 coverage begins with our picks for the best mobile games of the year including @warframe.com, @playbalatro.com, Sokobond Express @draknek.bsky.social, Zenless Zone Zero, ARRANGER, GRID Legends, Total War: EMPIRE, Slice & Dice, and more : www.patreon.com/posts/best-m...
neutral · AI labelView post →Sokobond Express is OUT NOW on Nintendo Switch! 👉 sokobond.express/switch 🧪 We're super excited about bringing this beautifully minimalist puzzle game by Jose Hernandez to a new platform. If you already own any of our other games on Switch, you'll get 15% off. www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4aP...
neutral · AI labelView post →Going to be beating this drum a lot: Sokobond Express is coming out on February 22nd! store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... Please give it a wishlist and share the news. We're still hearing from fans of Sokobond / Cosmic Express who had no idea this game was coming, so every share helps!
neutral · AI labelView post →For more puzzle game reviews, news and everything puzzle-related, follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/25928931-Puzzle-Lovers/]Puzzle Lovers and check out our [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/puzzlelovers]Steam group. Sokobond is, overall, an excellent, "minimalist, difficult" puzzle game with a sleek and thoughtful design that complicates the basic Sokoban formula. On each level you have control over 1 molecule. Anytime 2 molecules touch, they form a bond if they have a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was wondering if I knew of any game developers from Venezuela, and José Hernández, the developer of Sokobond Express, is from Caracas! Itch: josehzz.itch.io Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... Cool interview: thinkygames.com/features/an-...
neutral · AI labelView post →Spooky Express is such an underappreciated game - if you liked Cosmic Express or Sokobond Express, it's like that except even better IMO.
positive · AI labelView post →Difficulty: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ Quality: ★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ I played this after Sokobond Express and Cosmic Express, which made me realize train-based puzzles are my least favorite type of puzzle. I don't hate block-pushing that much, and A Good Snowman did it really well, so I had at least decently high hopes for this. Turns out the bonding mechanic really doesn't add much to the game, it mostly just feels like pure sokoban to me. It also lacks the polish of Sokobond Express.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →7. UFO 50 - not every game is a winner, but every game is interesting and thoughtful 6. Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On - horse-racing solitaire at its all-time best 5. Sokobond Express - the puzzle game so nice I bought it thrice 4. LOK Digital - the mobile release in Jan will be a thing I play forever
positive · AI labelView post →I think this game is hacked. Ever since I installed it on my Mac I keep getting pop-ups that the application wants to "record keystrokes from all applications"
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Day 8: Sokobond by @draknek.bsky.social store.steampowered.com/app/290260/S...
neutral · AI labelView post →[Game Bundle] Draknek & Friends: 12 Years of Great Puzzle Games!. $5: | Game Name | Steam Link | |---|---| | The Electrifying Incident: A Monster Mini-Expedition | https://store.steampowered.com/app/3352300/The_Electrifying_Incident_A_Monster_MiniExpedition | | Sokobond |https://store.steampowered.com/app/290260/Sokobond | | Cosmic Express |https://store.steampowered.com/app/583270/Cosmic_Express | | A Good Snowman is Hard to Build…
neutral · AI labelView post →Amazing little puzzle game. Worked great on my Steam Deck. Highly recommend to puzzle enthusiasts and puzzle dabblers alike. Very easy to get into and enjoy, though I’m not yet sure if the game gets truly hard.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Last chance to get Sokobond Express before the launch discount ends! Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... itch: draknek.itch.io/sokobond-exp... Chemical bonds meet puzzling pathfinding, with no chemistry experience needed!
neutral · AI labelView post →Only two more days to go until Sokobond Express comes out! Wishlist here: store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... You'll love this chemistry pathfinding puzzler, I promise!
neutral · AI labelView post →Less than a week to go until Sokobond Express releases! store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... Don't be a "wow I had no idea this game existed", be a "what a great mashup of two fantastic puzzle games, I'd better wishlist it now and buy it Feb 22nd"
neutral · AI labelView post →One of my students is interested in making a chemistry-themed game so I showed him my favorite one, @draknek.bsky.social's Sokobond.
positive · AI labelView post →This is a really good puzzle game that combines Sokoban mechanics with bonding rules inspired by chemistry! The rules are simple, with a few new mechanics added as you progress. The complexity feels exactly right to me, and very satisfying: You can mostly solve the puzzles with pure logic, combined with a bit of trial and error to get a feeling for the puzzle. Often, puzzles seem relatively simple at first, but require some out-of the-box thinking. In many cases I had analyzed all options…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Interesting puzzle game that also teaches about chemical bonds and compounds, albeit in a somewhat simplified way. Great fun for the price!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →We published Bonfire Peaks by @toboggan.work (which I did a lot of puzzle design for) and the Switch/PS5 ports of Patrick's Parabox by Patrick Traynor, and earlier this year we released Sokobond Express, a mashup sequel of Sokobond + Cosmic Express made by Jose Hernandez. sokobond.express
neutral · AI labelView post →5 hours to go until Sokobond Express hits Steam and itch! store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... With a last-minute update, we are Steam Deck verified :) We've sent a bunch of keys to press/streamers, if you're one of those and haven't heard from us please get in touch!
neutral · AI labelView post →Sokobond Express is coming out 24 HOURS FROM NOW! store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/... Please wishlist and share - I'd love to get to 9000 wishlists before we release and we're so close
neutral · AI labelView post →Really fun puzzle that teaches a tiny bit of basic chemistry.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very pleasant experience! The difficulty of the Sokoban-style puzzles range from the very generous to the rather infuriating, but always feel satisfying to solve. Mechanics are introduced at a pace that might feel slow at first, but I found myself really enjoying each addition to the overall gameplay. There are a few levels that stand out for being overly challenging or incredibly easy compared to those around them, but puzzle difficulty is subjective, & what I might've struggled with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Came from that Eye Sigil ARG, i believe im not the only one. also i like chemistry so peak game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game won’t turn you into Walter White, but man is it cleverly made. I love how it uses the chemical bonds of each element as a game mechanic, the goal is to combine elements into compounds within closed, obstacle grids. New mechanics are added as you progress, such as splitting atoms so you can move, pull, or push elements, using Helium as a mover, and more. You even get little bits of trivia after finishing each level. It’s a great way to relax. I just wish they’d included some actual…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very chill, but I'm too dum
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A game where I can finally play as Helium
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just uploaded the (hopefully) final build of the game before release. Taking the evening off to chill, playing Sokobond Express 😊
positive · AI labelView post →Pretty, lots of different mechanics, runs great on Linux.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sokobond is a difficult but fair puzzle game that seems deceptively simple. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a new puzzle game to play that challenges you. While it may contain 144 different puzzles, some of them can be completed in less than 3 minutes, and the rest don't take much longer either once you get the hang of things, which makes my opinion on the $15 price tag kinda iffy. This game does go on sale however as it's how I got it. The design of the game is minimalist for…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's amazing how you can get puzzles this tight in such small spaces, the puzzles don't look like they should be this hard given how small they are. very satisfying to solve
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sokobond Express is out! A new game by Draknek where you build atoms into molecules. Tricky puzzles, with mechanics based in chemistry/physics. Worth checking out if you (or your students?) like puzzle games. 🥽⚛️🎢 store.steampowered.com/app/1701330/...
positive · AI labelView post →It's time to play Sokobond Express from Jose Hernandez and @draknek.bsky.social! www.youtube.com/watch?v=YieI...
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is a fun short puzzle game that is a nod to basic chemistry. The puzzles were fun and enjoyable, without becoming tedious or frustrating. I recommend this game for those looking for a casual, relaxing puzzle, with fun facts of chemistry to boot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i usually dislike sokoban game. but with science background, some chemistry fun facts between levels, makes this game fun and enjoyable
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No Chemical formulas? I expected to see a chemical formula of the compound I have to create. But instead I just see a set of atoms to work with. What do I do with them? Can I create a random substance? No. The game is not a "open chemical world" The number of compounds I can make is limited by the chemistry laws. The puzzle walls makes creating harder. That means I have to a make a specific substance. What? I know that CHHOO will give me HCOOH. But what do I make using COCHHHHCOHH? It…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Learn what tetraoxygen is, along with many other molecules by solving puzzles of pushing and pulling atoms around awkward rooms. It won't show you the 3D image of the molecule - you'll have to figure that out yourself, but it does give a very nice introduction to a lot of chemistry. Some of the puzzles are brutal. They are so deceptively simple looking, yet seemingly impossible. I'm not good at them, I admit, and there is something enjoyable about watching myself succeed at them in my own…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Draknek supports woke politics
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Intuitive mechanics and amazing thinky puzzle game. Produced by Draknek & Friends, it must be a masterpiece.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a chemist I appprove this game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh my god I just started this game and had to rush to leave a review because the puzzle design is so damn good! It teaches you the basics in the most seamless way without being boring or repetitive. The way it transitions from one puzzle idea to the next is so effortless. Plus the audio and UI are so polished and pleasant. Wow.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cute puzzle game with an elemental twist. The mechanic of making and breaking bonds is certainly fun to play around.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TLDR Elegant and simple, although still pretty challenging, sokoban variant; chemistry knowledge not required. [16/20⭐, 19h🏅, 3/5💡] Context Sokobond is a sokoban-like game where the objects you’re pushing can form bonds between them, which can then be manipulated in different ways as the game progresses (created, broken, rotated). Although simple in concept, levels are ingeniously designed and can get considerably hard especially in the bonus levels. (I always admire those who classify this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Clean Sokoban game, with passable visuals and audio, but the basic chemistry twist and fun-facts give Sokobond its character. The level design is fun and engaging rather than confusing, and the difficulty curve is very well paced. Struggling and finally finding the solution is very rewarding, and I only had to look up some hints for a few of them. That is until the bonus levels which were a bit more difficult, which is fine, and the bonus "facts" were hilarious too!.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →good for when you want to listen to a book in the background.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →By far the easiest way to get an isocyanic acid logo in your Steam library. 10/10 would buy again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →masterpiece puzzle game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →tryin to find more educational games that I can recommend to schools / students - this one's banger
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A good puzzle game based on the rules of chemistry. I learned a lot from the little facts you are "rewarded with" at the resolution of a puzzle. For example, did you know every single atom of helium is bound to float away from our atmosphere into outer space? Thank you, Sokobond. It was enriching.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's fine. Not a fan of the minimalistic presentation but the puzzles themselves were fun, I didn't feel like they were too difficult or repetitive. Wasn't sure why I didn't have all the achievements after beating the game. Turns out there's some ARG stuff that I don't really care about so yeah, you won't be able to "100%" it without using guides, probably.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Satisfying. I have the Chemistry knowledge but not the puzzle skills, so I probably won't get to 100% but I really liked this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SokobondSokobond is a Sokoban puzzle game where you rearrange elements to form molecules, however no chemistry knowledge is required to understand the puzzles, your objectives are made visually simple. GameplayIf you have good knowledge of Sokoban puzzle games this is a solid, and well-themed enjoyable experience and potentially a good challenge because at least to me, someone new to Sokoban, I found a lot of levels very difficult. For the most part the levels are straightforward, you can…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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