The announcement of the new adventure game is warming Steffi’s heart right now—which is sorely needed. Maybe some of you feel the same way.
One of those evenings after work when you just can’t seem to wind down. Work is over, but my mind is still going over deadlines and view counts; nothing really feels like fun, and there’s so much to do around the house. So I do what people usually do to give their exhausted brains a little dopamine boost—scroll through social media feeds.
A post pops up. Machinarium 2? Wait, can that really be… And yes, indeed, it’s an official reveal from the Czech studio Amanita Design, the creators of gems like Samorost, Botanicula, Creaks, and, of course, Machinarium. Most recently, they ventured into social commentary with the magnificent—though unfortunately little-noticed—Phonopolis.
Anyone who’s ever played a game by Amanita Design knows what I mean when I say: This is art. Wordless puzzles, music that’s both unusual and enchanting, hand-drawn characters, and worlds that feel like you’re traveling through a parallel universe. The fact that the developers have managed to stick with it long enough to release a sequel to their big hit from back then—17 years later—feels like a warm little hug on a cold evening.
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Machinarium: A Look Back
The adventure of the little robot Josef is one of the highest-rated point-and-click adventures on Steam, with 95 percent positive reviews from over 17,000 user ratings. And that’s for a game so minimalist that our character can’t even speak.
Back then, Josef tried to save his robot girlfriend Berta from a nasty organization. In Machinarium 2 (or Machinarium², as it’s actually called), the two are on an adventure together. They discover a valley inhabited by two robot tribes. Their energy is gradually running out, and I already know I’m going to laugh and cry.
My goodness, back then, in 2009. Point-and-click games were having their heyday, Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” had the charts firmly in its grip, and James Cameron’s first *Avatar* movie was playing in theaters. Coldmirror was doing game reviews on YouTube (including one for *Machinarium*). Sure, looking back, you always see things through rose-colored glasses, but wow, those were simpler times for me.
Since then, the world has changed drastically—it feels like it’s gotten worse. Especially in recent years, it’s been feeling terribly bleak more and more often. Hardly anyone is free from fears about the future in the face of the global economic crisis, wars, climate catastrophe, a fragmented society, and so much more.
It’s nice that, in this ocean of problems, there are still little lights floating about—like a creative artist studio from Prague that continues to focus on handmade, quirky, and lovingly crafted games.
Judging by the attention the surprising reveal is garnering, many seem to feel the same way I do. The first trailer racked up 400,000 views in just one day, with thousands of people sharing their fond memories in the comments. The developers themselves are also touched by the positive response:
We wondered if anyone would still care after 17 years. You do, and we didn’t expect such a warm welcome. It shows us that we’re on the right track. Thank you all—we’ll do our best not to let you down!
A release date for Machinarium 2 hasn’t been announced yet. However, it’s reportedly been in the works for several years under the codename Project B.
How do you wrap up an article like this? Usually, we ask for your opinion at the end or crack a lighthearted joke. That seems a bit out of place after discussing such somber topics. Instead, I’ll just wish you all the best and lots of strength. We live in depressing times, but at least we’re on the only known planet with trees, chocolate chip cookies, and video games.
