 The game was initially released for Microsoft Windows at the start of 2011 via Zachtronics ' own website . Though it was initially rejected for sale on the Steam platform , Valve later offered to sell the game after it received high praise from game journalists ; further attention came from the game 's release alongside one of the Humble Indie Bundles . The game has since been ported to other computing platforms and mobile devices . Reviewers found the game 's open @-@ ended problem @-@ solving nature as a highlight of the title . SpaceChem was incorporated into some academic institutions for teaching concepts related to both chemistry and programming . 
