SpaceChem
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Chemistry-themed programming puzzle game and Zachtronics' first commercial release.
ZB
Zach Barth
Founder of Zachtronics (SpaceChem, Opus Magnum) and inspiration for Minecraft
Zach Barth at a glance
- Known for
- Zachtronics, SpaceChem and Opus Magnum
- Based in
- United States
- Indie since
- 2011
- Active products
- SpaceChem, Opus Magnum and Exapunks
Facts checked 2026-10-22
About Zach Barth
Zach Barth is an American puzzle-game designer and the founder of Zachtronics, the studio behind engineering and programming puzzle games such as SpaceChem, Infinifactory, TIS-100, Shenzhen I/O, Opus Magnum and Exapunks. He studied computer systems engineering and computer science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Barth started with free browser games on his website. One of them, Infiniminer, inspired Markus Persson to create Minecraft. He founded Zachtronics in 2011 to release SpaceChem, and his games became a cult genre of their own, sometimes called 'Zach-likes'. He briefly worked at Valve on SteamVR in 2015, and Zachtronics was later acquired by Alliance Media Holdings, with Barth keeping creative control.
In 2022, after Last Call BBS, Barth announced that Zachtronics would stop making games so the team could try new things. He and former colleagues formed Coincidence, which released the factory puzzle game Kaizen: A Factory Story in 2025.
Products by Zach Barth
Opus Magnum
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Alchemical machine-building puzzle game.
Exapunks
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Hacking puzzle game set in an alternate 1997.
Last Call BBS
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Collection of puzzle games on a retro PC; Zachtronics' final new game.
Kaizen: A Factory Story
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Factory puzzle game set in 1980s Japan, made by Barth's new studio Coincidence.
Barth's puzzle-game studio, acquired by Alliance Media Holdings.
Timeline
- 2009 — Released Infiniminer, which inspired Minecraft.
- 2011 — Founded Zachtronics and released SpaceChem.
- 2015 — Worked at Valve on SteamVR for about ten months.
- 2022 — Released Last Call BBS and announced the end of Zachtronics.
- 2025 — Released Kaizen: A Factory Story with his new studio Coincidence.
How Zach builds
- Open-ended puzzles with many valid solutions.
- Show players histograms so they can compete with themselves.
- Stop when a format starts to feel stale.
Zach Barth FAQ
Who is Zach Barth?
Zach Barth is an American puzzle-game designer and the founder of Zachtronics, the studio behind engineering and programming puzzle games such as SpaceChem, Infinifactory, TIS-100, Shenzhen I/O, Opus Magnum and Exapunks.
Who made SpaceChem and Opus Magnum?
Both were designed by Zach Barth and released by his studio Zachtronics, in 2011 and 2017 respectively.
Did Zach Barth inspire Minecraft?
Yes. His free game Infiniminer inspired Markus Persson to create Minecraft.
Is Zachtronics closed?
Zachtronics stopped making new games after Last Call BBS in 2022, though a new Opus Magnum DLC was announced in February 2026.
What is Zach Barth doing now?
As of 2026 he makes games at Coincidence, which released Kaizen: A Factory Story in 2025.
Where is Zach Barth based?
Zach Barth is based in United States.
Has Zach Barth sold a company?
Yes. Zachtronics has been acquired; the sale terms aren't public.
How long has Zach Barth been an indie maker?
Zach Barth has been building independently since 2011, about 15 years.
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