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About The Powder Toy
The Powder Toy is a free particle‑physics sandbox where you can experiment with hundreds of elements, from explosives to electronic components. It simulates air pressure, heat and gravity, letting you build anything from bombs to power plants and custom logic circuits.
The game is open source under GPLv3, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and offers online features such as saving and commenting, with account registration required for certain online features.
01 / THE GUIDE
Elements and Physics Simulation
The sandbox includes a wide variety of elements, including fiery explosives and intricate electronic parts. Each element reacts according to simulated forces like air pressure, heat and gravity, producing realistic outcomes.
You can trigger explosions, observe heat spread, or watch liquids flow, using the built‑in physics to test how different materials interact under these conditions.
- Test heat reactions on a single element before combining multiple types.
- Use gravity to see how liquids navigate custom structures.
02 / THE GUIDE
Designing Machines and Power Plants
Players can construct miniaturized power plants—nuclear, chemical or hydroelectric—using the game’s built‑in reactions. These creations rely on the same element interactions that drive explosions and other effects.
Logic circuits and custom CPUs are also possible, allowing you to push the limits of in‑game computing by arranging electronic elements into functional designs.
- Begin with simple circuits before attempting full CPUs.
- Validate each power‑plant component individually to ensure stability.
04 / THE GUIDE
Custom Elements via Lua API
The Lua API lets you script new elements and integrate them into the sandbox, expanding the range of possible reactions beyond the base set.
User‑created element packs are also downloadable from the Script Server, providing ready‑made additions that can be tested alongside your own scripts.
- Study existing Lua scripts to learn common patterns.
- Isolate new elements in small tests before large builds.
05 / THE GUIDE
Cross‑Platform Availability
The Powder Toy runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is maintained by the community for these desktop operating systems.
Being fully open source under GPLv3, the community maintains and improves the game for all supported platforms.
- Check the repository for OS‑specific build instructions.
- Report any platform‑specific bugs to help the community.
COMMUNITY
Player discussion