Retro Gadgets is a sandbox where you build, code, and customize gadgets inspired by old-school electronics.
Players can design, build, and code their own unique electronic gadgets in this open-ended sandbox. The game provides a wide assortment of components - including buttons, switches, dials, gauges, lights, displays, and circuit boards - that can be freely arranged and combined to create a virtually limitless variety of devices.
At the heart of the experience, players can program the behavior of these gadgets using the Lua scripting language. The in-game coding environment includes features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and documentation to aid the programming process, allowing players to create everything from simple switches and meters to complex video games, music players, and interactive applications.
Reviews highlight the satisfying, iterative nature of the design process. Players can experiment freely, making incremental changes to the physical layout and programming of their gadgets, testing and debugging until they achieve the desired result. The ability to easily store, retrieve, and remix previous creations encourages an exploratory, prototyping-focused approach.
Many reviewers express a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from successfully bringing their gadget designs to life, especially for those with little prior programming experience. The game's approachable Lua coding, combined with the tangible, hands-on nature of assembling the virtual components, provides a rewarding learning experience that sparks creativity and problem-solving.
The game includes a Steam Workshop feature that allows players to share their custom gadgets with the broader community. Reviewers enjoy exploring and learning from the creations of others, as well as the ability to download and tinker with these gadgets themselves, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.