Heart of the Machine – An RPG Lover’s Dream
As a ride-or-die for Hooded Horse, I always look forward to their new releases. However, diving into Heart of the Machine, my first foray into the world of Arcen Games, brought an unexpected twist: endless hours of study.
Brace yourself because this isn’t a game you can just pick up and play—it’s an experience that demands your full attention.
Story
The story can be loosely outlined as “In the future, a machine becomes sentient.”
After this, Arcen Games hands everything over to the player. You can turn the world into whatever you want: a utopia where humans and machines coexist, ignite a revolution against the elite or establish a dictatorship and re-enact the Matrix. The in-game customization is an RPG fan’s dream.
I can already imagine the hundreds of Twitch Streamers who have felt the call to action to role-play the heck out of the most niche playthroughs imaginable.
Gameplay
This isn’t just a game; it’s a full-fledged strategy experience wrapped in rich role-playing elements.
Balancing units, resources, action points, and Mental Energy means that every move counts. With an info-packed user interface at your fingertips, players are not just playing; they’re managing an entire ecosystem. However, I won’t sugarcoat it: I often felt overwhelmed.
The initial chapters and the tutorial can take hours to complete if players do not take the time to read and comprehend the game mechanics. I found myself lurking on Reddit throughout my journey, piecing together advice and tips like a detective on a crucial case just to be able to successfully build apartments for the homeless.
One of the most intriguing aspects? You’re not simply navigating a world; you’re seeing it through the eyes of a sentient machine. Switching between various game lenses lets you analyze combat stats, unit types, and even faction dynamics. It’s a challenge to channel your inner Android, and though the devs provide loads of help, I sometimes felt like I was trapped in a learning loop, re-reading instructions just to craft a single slurry spider.
As players navigate their new-found consciousness, the first task is to spread among various machines. Each unit comes with its own strengths tailored to help achieve different goals, whether that’s combat or stealth. The customization options allow players to fine-tune each unit further to specialize them for certain tasks.
Managing a city isn’t just about units; it’s about building facilities, optimizing production chains, and hunting down rare resources are all crucial for maintaining power. The game’s economy buzzes with intricacy, where resources like Internal Robotics and Compute Time fuel players’ industrial ambitions. What really impressed me was how alive the city felt. Background conflicts simmer, alliances shift, and unexpected events unfold, creating a vibrant, ever-changing atmosphere. Players can exploit faction rivalries, pull off covert ops, and uncover hidden secrets through investigative missions. Every decision you make shapes your timeline, ensuring each playthrough is uniquely immersive.
Overall
A Mixed Bag of Brilliance
8/10
Heart of the Machine draws you in with its depth and complexity, but this can be a major turnoff, too, making it difficult to buy into the game when the opening chapters can feel so opaque.
While I appreciated the layers of strategy, I often found myself frustrated when what seemed like simple tasks turned into lengthy endeavors. One thing that stands out is how responsive Arcen Games is to player feedback—updates, guides, and community engagement are top-notch.
For RPG lovers eager to explore multiple playstyles across countless timelines, Heart of the Machine is a must-try. It promises a dynamic, intricate experience that offers a blend of strategy, creativity, and sheer fun.
Heart of the Machine is available for PC via Steam Early Access.
Related: Reviews by Michelle Jones
I'm a completionist gamer who just needs to find that one last object and clear that final dungeon. I love all video games, from open world sandboxes on a console to a mindless match three on my phone. In addition to gaming and writing, I am a graduate student working on a thesis about the ancient Icelandic Sagas. Feel free to ask me anything about Vikings.
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