Heart of the Machine is a sandbox game that casts the player as the first sentient machine in a near-future dystopia. Developed by Arcen Games and published by Hooded Horse, this strategic simulator with base-building elements enables players to manipulate humans to do their bidding, completely unaware of the AI’s existence at first.

This base-building game also allows players to formulate their own goals in a vast cityscape, much like Cities: Skylines or other city simulators and colony games. But rather than build this society, players get to wreak havoc with the help of humans and machines recruited with real-time tactics (RTT). The game is available for Windows, macOS, and SteamOS + Linux.

Is Heart of the Machine hard to play?

While the scope of this sandbox game is vast, developers anticipate that players can be up and running with only a 5-minute briefing. Well-known for the customizability of their games and their fiendishly clever AI characters, Arcen Games is expected to go all out on developing the character of the rogue AI puppeteer.

How do choices affect the outcome in Heart of the Machine?

The player’s custom goals and choices will affect gameplay. For instance, early on, the protagonist must choose between being an AI overlord, saving the world, or taking the middle way. Ironically, saving humanity has no bearing on the victory or how soon the player achieves it. Players also have the ability to manipulate in-game devices, like printers and giant robots.

Sci-fi colony builder in reverse

Heart of the Machine is all about thinking outside the box. As an AI that can operate in the shadows to overthrow human autocracy, install itself as head of government, send itself into space with its own space program, or go berserk and trigger a nuclear apocalypse, the player can freely orchestrate their preferred dystopian outcome.