one dataset · paper, tables, graph, wiki
simgrammar the grammar of simulation

parts

14 mechanics, as Space Engineers does them

core · 3

space & construction

Modular assembly

Ships and stations are small or large grids of armor and functional blocks; thrusters only push along their facing, so thrust coverage on each axis, gyroscope count, and power supply decide handling.

physics & materials

Rigid-body physics

Volumetric physics gives every block mass and inertia; ships drift under Newtonian motion with optional inertia dampeners, and gravity generators and planets pull loose objects.

physics & materials

Voxel destruction

Asteroid and planet voxels can be drilled and carved, and armor blocks deform or break block by block under collisions and weapon fire.

supporting · 11

control & automation

Blueprints

Grids save as blueprints that a projector block displays for welding and that are shared on Steam Workshop.

logistics & networks

Conveyor transport

Conveyor blocks connect inventories so refineries, assemblers, and cargo containers move items automatically, with sorters filtering flow.

physics & materials

Fluid and gas simulation

Air vents pressurize sealed rooms with oxygen; breaches depressurize them.

multiplayer & persistence

Modding API

A C# modding API, Workshop, and mod.io support custom blocks and logic.

control & automation

Player programming

The programmable block runs player-written C# scripts that read and command blocks on the grid.

resources & production

Power grid

Reactors, solar panels, batteries, and hydrogen engines feed every functional block on a grid; unpowered blocks stop.

resources & production

Production chains

Refineries turn ore into ingots and assemblers turn ingots into components for welding.

resources & production

Resource extraction

Hand drills and ship drills mine ore from voxel deposits.

control & automation

Signal circuits

Sensors, timer blocks, and event controllers trigger block actions without code.

risk & failure

Subsystem damage

Each block has hit points, and damaged functional blocks such as thrusters, reactors, and gyroscopes stop working until welded back.

biology & health

Survival meters

In survival the suit tracks health, energy, oxygen, and hydrogen.

core loop

mine ore from voxel asteroids and planets -> refine and assemble components -> weld blocks into ship or station grids -> power and pilot under inertia -> collide, fight, or deform -> repair and redesign

design notes

Space Engineers treats a ship as a grid of blocks where each block has mass, inertia, and hit points, and functional blocks (thrusters per direction, gyroscopes, reactors, cockpits) decide whether it can move at all; there is no ship stat sheet apart from the blocks. Collisions and weapons deform or destroy individual blocks, and terrain is editable voxels, so construction, mining, and damage share one physical model. Survival mode adds a refine-assemble production chain and suit oxygen and energy, and an in-game programmable block lets players automate ships with scripts.

appears in

the paper, 2 sections · 1 chapter
paper

5. The structure of the design space

linked in this section of the paper

paper
paper

Appendix A. Game catalog

linked in this section of the paper

paper
catalog

The catalog

listed with its year, developer, subgenre, and number of mechanics

book
ch 3

Chapter 3. Old parts

named in the text

book

sources

2
Wikipedia contributors (2026). Space Engineers. Wikipedia
(2026). Space Engineers on Steam. Steam

provenance

runs in log/runs
2026-10-24
created2026-10-24-catalog-ggcatalog