Comparison

Human Resource Machine vs Railbound

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Human Resource Machine

Solve puzzles by programming office workers to automate tasks. Progress through levels by successfully completing jobs and getting promoted. This game makes programming accessible and fun for everyone, even those new to coding.

Highlights
  • Program office workers
  • Solve logic puzzles
  • Automate tasks
  • Progress through levels
  • Learn programming concepts
  • Extra challenges for experts
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Program little office workers to solve puzzles. Be a good employee! The machines are coming... for your job. - Included in the 'App Store Best of 2016'. - A worldwide App Store Editors’ Choice. - Winner of Excellence in Innovation by the International Mobile Gaming Awards. Human Resource Machine is a puzzle game for nerds. In each level, your boss gives you a job. Automate it by programming your little office worker. If you succeed, you'll be promoted up to the next level for another year of work in the vast office building. Congratulations! Don't worry if you've never programmed before - programming is just puzzle solving. If you strip away all the 1's and 0's and scary squiggly brackets, programming is simple, logical, beautiful, and something that anyone can understand and have fun with! Are you already an expert? There will be extra challenges for you. From the creators of World of Goo and Little Inferno. Have fun! Management is watching. REVIEWS: “Amidst the trend of instant gratification that the internet and gaming as a whole has perpetuated, having a game that both excels in its puzzles and also challenges your wider perception of it is commendable, and makes Human Resource Machine exponentially essential.” - Touch Arcade 5/5 “Sometimes a game catches you by surprise. Be it with its ingenuity, its style, or its sense of humor. Other times a game catches you with all three, like Human Resource Machine.” - Gamezebo 9/10 "Human Resource Machine Could Be The App Of The Year” - Mobile n’ Apps

About

Railbound

A cozy puzzle game where you guide two dogs on a global train adventure. Bend and connect railways to help carriages reach the locomotive safely, navigating over 240 unique challenges across diverse landscapes. Enjoy a relaxing experience with charming visuals and a soothing soundtrack.

Highlights
  • Bend and connect railways
  • Over 240 clever puzzles
  • Train-inspired mechanics (tunnels, barriers, switches)
  • Comic-book-inspired visuals
  • Relaxing original soundtrack
  • Pick up cute friends
Features
Read full description

Railbound is a comfy track-bending puzzle game about a pair of dogs on a train journey around the world. Connect and sever railways across different landscapes and help everyone reach their homes. Solve over 240 clever puzzles ranging from gentle slopes to twisted passageways. BEND RAILS TO MAKE THE TRAIN GO ‘CHOO-CHOO' Place, remove and reroute connections so that carriages safely connect to the locomotive. But be careful and don’t make them run into each other! 240+ PUZZLES TO COMPLETE Our main levels will take you through a variety of locations at a relaxed pace. Forks along the road will lead you to spicy brainteasers that’ll please even the most demanding players! TRAIN-INSPIRED MECHANICS Use tunnels to cover vast distances in an instant. Delay trains using well-timed railway barriers. Switch tracks to reroute cars in different directions. Pick up cute friends on the way and encounter even more challenges on your journey! ART AND MUSIC FULL OF WHOLESOME VIBES Across the game’s world enjoy our comic-book-inspired visuals and a relaxing original soundtrack by the team behind Golf Peaks and inbento.

Screenshots

Human Resource Machine4 screens
Railbound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Railbound at every 3 days against Human Resource Machine's every 5 weeks. Railbound also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Human Resource Machine's advantage is ratings volume (416 vs 117) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Human Resource Machine costs $4.99 and Railbound $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Railbound holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 416 and 117 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 80% and 80% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Human Resource Machine ships an update every 5 weeks, Railbound every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Human Resource Machine versus Railbound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHuman Resource MachineRailbound
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating4.5 (416 ratings)4.8 (117 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.1% of reviews — better80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings416 — better117
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#88#77 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size133 MB229 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperExperimental Gameplay GroupAfterburn Lukasz Spierewka

Customer experience

Human Resource Machine

All ratings416 ratings
Positive85.1%
Neutral6.7%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews387 reviews
Positive80.1%
Neutral7.8%
Negative12.1%

Railbound

All ratings117 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral0.9%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral5.9%
Negative14.1%

Bugs and requests

Human Resource Machine

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Level 20 expecting incorrect output
  • Scrolling issues causing commands to move
  • Crashing on iOS 14 update

Requested features

3 requests
  • More levels and challenges
  • Ability to save progress across devices
  • Hints or solution guides for stuck players

Railbound

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Human Resource Machine

No in-app purchases

None

Railbound

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Human Resource Machine free?
Human Resource Machine costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Railbound free?
Railbound costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Human Resource Machine or Railbound?
Railbound is rated higher. Human Resource Machine averages 4.5 out of 5 from 416 ratings, while Railbound averages 4.8 from 117 ratings.
Do Human Resource Machine or Railbound have ads?
Neither Human Resource Machine nor Railbound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Human Resource Machine or Railbound?
Human Resource Machine ships an update every 5 weeks, and Railbound every 3 days. Most recently, Human Resource Machine was updated on September 24, 2026 and Railbound on September 27, 2026.
Which is more popular, Human Resource Machine or Railbound?
Human Resource Machine currently peaks at #88 in the App Store charts, and Railbound at #77. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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