When comparing Contraption Maker vs Shelter, the Slant community recommends Contraption Maker for most people. In the question“What are the best PC games for kids?” Contraption Maker is ranked 30th while Shelter is ranked 38th. The most important reason people chose Contraption Maker is:
Players are able to share their creations as puzzles to everyone else who has this game on Steam, although this can potentially include even sophisticated machines that requires little input, just to see what kinds of amazing things can be created.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Steam Workshop support
Players are able to share their creations as puzzles to everyone else who has this game on Steam, although this can potentially include even sophisticated machines that requires little input, just to see what kinds of amazing things can be created.
Pro 2-player coop
Two players can work together on building a machine at the same time, coming up with all sorts of wacky ideas, or perhaps even getting creative with a "machine vs. machine" type of creation.
Pro Puzzles
There are over 200 puzzles for you to go through and figure out, from simple to complex, and often with one straightforward solution, but several alternate solutions.
Pro Variety of parts
There are over 100 parts to add to your machine, with a wide variety of uses and effects.
Pro No size limit
You can make machines as big as you want, with as many parts as you want. The only bottleneck is how much your own computer can take.
Pro Sense of loss and failure
By tugging at the players heartstrings when a child is lost due to elements in the game, the player ultimately feels a sense of loss and failure.
Pro Interesting use of design to communicate danger
A shadow of a looming bird or the sound and look of rushing water signals looming danger for the mother badger and her young offspring.
Pro Suspenseful
Knowing your children may be taken at any time gives you a sense of danger/suspense not typically found in non-military games.
Pro Absolutely fantastic and original art style
Hands down one of the most original and interesting graphic art styles used in a modern game.
Cons
Con Food is too plentiful
As long as the player takes advantage of every piece of food they run across there will be no feeling of impending urgency to feed the cubs.
Con Short
The full game is only about 90 minutes long.