‘Machine Dream’ Uses Magnetism to Navigate an Eerie Factory

Having a magnetic head comes in pretty handy as you wander through a menacing factory in Machine Dream. But try not to attract bad attention.

You’re a little magnet robot in a large factory filled with lethal drops and hostile machines. LOTS of hostile machines. Thankfully, most of them don’t seem all that concerned about you as they move past you, leaving you to your leaps through the inner workings of this factory. That’s good, because you’ll have enough trouble navigating these twisting environments. Having a magnet for a head will let you pull yourself toward steel surfaces when you’re wandering around, which gives you some added maneuverability you’ll definitely need.

At first, you’ll largely use it to pull yourself toward distant platforms. Something might look too far away, but a little magnetic pull will bring you in. You can also drag blocks around to activate things as well. It’s when you need to get creative with your magnetism that things get challenging. A narrow hallway with spikes on the roof and floor might require you to constantly shift your magnetic pull. Maybe you need to pull yourself close to a spiked platform without landing on it so that you get enough momentum to fling yourself to a further platform. This game gets pretty devious with its challenges.

And all the while, something dark seems to be brewing among the massive machines you pass throughout Machine Dream. The puzzle platforming is solid and fun, for sure, but there’s a creeping menace to this place that makes things seem far more threatening than they appear. Why are you so interested in escaping this place, and why do the big machines have such a problem with you when they find you? The mood of the game takes a solid puzzle platformer and turns it into something really special.

Machine Dream is available now on itch.io.