Overview
3 Chicas in Tech is a Metroidvania-inspired puzzle platformer that highlights the contributions of women in STEM, centering on three notable engineers: Ada Lovelace, Katherine Johnson, and Ángela Ruiz Robles. You play as Sophia, an 11-year-old visitor to the Center for Women Engineers, who must explore the facility, solve challenges, and help bring historical inventions to life.
Core gameplay
Players navigate non-linear levels, solve environmental puzzles, and complete platforming sequences to unlock new areas and advance the story. The game blends reflex-based sections with problem-solving, requiring both timing and planning.
- Manage only two inventory items at once, forcing careful choices about which tools to carry.
- Avoid hazards like hazardous terrain and monitoring cameras while unlocking rooms and progressing.
- Gather items and combine them to reconstruct or assist with inventions inspired by real engineers.
Educational aim and narrative
The title weaves biographical snapshots into gameplay, so learning about each engineer happens through interactions, tasks, and context rather than dry exposition. The story encourages curiosity about engineering and portrays diverse role models to inspire younger players, especially girls considering STEM pathways.
Strengths
The game’s design rewards exploration and careful thought. Levels are crafted to challenge both platforming skill and puzzle reasoning, and the historical context gives each objective a meaningful backdrop.
- Inventive level layouts promote exploration and multiple ways to approach problems.
- The mix of platforming and inventory-limited puzzles adds strategic depth to progression.
- The biographical elements provide motivation and real-world inspiration as you advance.
Limitations
While the concept and presentation are strong, several design choices can limit enjoyment for some players, particularly over longer sessions.
- The absence of multiplayer or co-op options prevents shared or cooperative play experiences.
- Certain puzzles rely on repetition or trial-and-error, which can slow progression and feel tedious.
- Inventory restrictions may feel overly tight, making some puzzles seem artificially constrained.
- Customization options for characters are minimal, offering little personalization over time.
Platforms and alternatives
3 Chicas in Tech is distributed as a paid game. If you prefer an open-ended, creative sandbox instead, popular paid alternatives include Minecraft (Java and Bedrock editions), which offer a very different but widely accessible experience.
Final impressions
Overall, 3 Chicas in Tech delivers a thoughtful, exploration-driven puzzle platformer with a clear educational purpose. Its focus on women engineers and its Metroidvania-style structure make it both a learning tool and an engaging game, though some mechanical limitations may frustrate players who prefer more forgiving puzzles or social play options.
Technical
- Mac
- English
- Spanish
- German
- French
- Italian
- Full