Machinarium
Genres: Puzzle, Sci-Fi, Point & Click, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 16-10-2009
Developer: Amanita Design
Our verdict
9/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 5–7 h
Machinarium is Amanita Design's classic hand-drawn point and click adventure. Josef, a small robot, is dumped in a scrapyard and has to sneak back into a rusty steampunk city to rescue his girlfriend and stop a gang of bullies. There is no text: characters talk in animated thought bubbles, and you solve inventory puzzles plus standalone logic games. It suits solo players and families who like charming, wordless adventures.
Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive (about 94% of 5,179). Many reviewers grew up with it and say it still holds up, helped by a recent update with modern resolutions. They praise the art, the soundtrack and the clever puzzles, and the in-game hint book that makes you play a small mini-game before it helps.
Some logic mini-games are a sticking point; one player raged at losing to the five-in-a-row opponent again and again. It runs around five to seven hours. If you have never played it, it remains one of the best entry points into puzzle adventures.
Pros
- Wordless story told through animated thought bubbles
- Rusty steampunk city with hand-drawn art and a great soundtrack
- Mix of inventory puzzles and standalone logic games
Cons
- Some logic mini-games can be frustrating
- Hint system makes you work for each clue
About
Machinarium is the award-winning adventure game from the makers of Phonopolis, CHUCHEL and Samorost.
A little robot named Josef is thrown out into the scrapyard behind the city.
Help him find his way back, deal with the Black Cap Brotherhood and save his girlfriend Berta!
World: The world of Machinarium is populated only by robots of various shapes and functions. One of the most remarkable places is the old, rusty and legendary city of Machinarium, where the game takes place.
Story: Get rid of the wicked robots from the Black Cap Brotherhood and save the mayor and your robot-girl friend.
Puzzles: Solve logic puzzles, adventure quests, brain teasers and mini-games.
Graphics: Hand-drawn 2D backgrounds and characters, with more than an hour of carefully crafted animation.
Music: A beautiful original soundtrack composed and recorded by Tomáš Dvořák aka Floex.
Communication: No lengthy dialogue! Characters talk through comic bubbles with simple animations and symbols.
