Item: Homo Machina
Rating: 95
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. Every once in a while, a game comes along that is pure art. Homo Machina is that game. The concept—treating the body as a factory full of tiny workers and valves—is brilliant and executed with incredible style. I was constantly surprised by how they translated biological processes like 'smelling a flower' into a complex mechanical sequence.

The puzzles themselves aren't particularly difficult; you won't get stuck for hours. But that’s not really the point. It’s an interactive story, an experience. It’s short, yes, but it’s high-quality from start to finish. If you have any interest in art, history, or just want to see something truly unique on your phone, this is worth every penny. It’s a sophisticated piece of software that reminds me why I still love this hobby.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Unique and stunning Art Deco visuals
Creative and educational premise
Excellent music and sound design

Puzzles can feel a bit too simple
Short duration (about 90 minutes)
Low replay value

Technical Report

Performance: Very polished. Animations are fluid and look great on high-res screens.

Accessibility:

Subtitles
Visual cues for puzzles

Audience Fit

Buy if: You appreciate unique art styles and interactive storytelling.

Skip if: You want challenging puzzles or long-form gameplay.

Similar Games:

Old Man's Journey
Machinarium
Lumino City

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old art enthusiast
Hardware: iPad Air
Playtime: 2 hours
Status: Finished the story

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1341706265

$2.99 4+★4.3 827 reviews

Author : ARTE Experience

Pubish Date : Wed Apr 18 2018

Last Update Date : Tue Dec 18 2018

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.5.6Tue Dec 18 2018

V.1.5.6
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* Bugs fixes for russian version
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* Best mobile Game - Game Connection, San Fransisco 2018
* Best mobile Game - Silver Lovie Award 2018
* Best mobile Game - Ping Awards 2018
Official nominee:
* Best audio/visual accomplishment - Pocketgamer Mobile Games Award 2018
* Gamers voice award - SXSW 2018 Austin
“… an amazing and intriguing game that's unlike anything you've played before.”
Pocket gamer
“Darjeeling has really captured the authenticity of Kahn's work”
Toucharcade
Homo Machina is a puzzle game inspired by the work of avant-garde scientist Fritz Kahn. Set off on a crazy journey to solve the surreal puzzles of Homo Machina and learn about the internal working of the human body, represented as a gigantic 1920s factory.
In this narrative puzzle, players are plunged into an ingenious system of nerves, vessels and valves. The aim is to help the body function correctly in about thirty steps or so throughout the entire day. Each scene breaks down daily acts, such as opening your eyes, chewing a toast or listening to music, through seamless navigation and intuitive and inventive gameplay.
Fritz Kahn, a pioneer of infographics and popular science, came up with easy to understand analogies to enable people to improve their understanding of the human body. By combining old school design with a contemporary influence, Homo Machina delights with its clever dialogue between the absent-minded director at the helm of the body-machine and Josiane, his diligent secretary, encouraging players to put to task the armada of workers to get the incredible factory up and running.
After Californium, Homo Machina is the new video game created by Darjeeling production. It was edited and co-produced by ARTE, European culture digital and TV channel, and Feierabend.
Requires iOS 9.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
A journey inside the human body factory
“… an amazing and intriguing game that's unlike anything you've played before.”
Pocket gamer
“Darjeeling has really captured the authenticity of Kahn's work”
Toucharcade
Homo Machina is a puzzle game inspired by the work of avant-garde scientist Fritz Kahn. Set off on a crazy journey to solve the surreal puzzles of Homo Machina and learn about the internal working of the human body, represented as a gigantic 1920s factory.
In this narrative puzzle, players are plunged into an ingenious system of nerves, vessels and valves. The aim is to help the body function correctly in about thirty steps or so throughout the entire day. Each scene breaks down daily acts, such as opening your eyes, chewing a toast or listening to music, through seamless navigation and intuitive and inventive gameplay.
Fritz Kahn, a pioneer of infographics and popular science, came up with easy to understand analogies to enable people to improve their understanding of the human body. By combining old school design with a contemporary influence, Homo Machina delights with its clever dialogue between the absent-minded director at the helm of the body-machine and Josiane, his diligent secretary, encouraging players to put to task the armada of workers to get the incredible factory up and running.
After Californium, Homo Machina is the new video game created by Darjeeling production. It was edited and co-produced by ARTE, European culture digital and TV channel, and Feierabend.

Ratings & Reviews

4.3 out of 5 with 827 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Homo Machina is a narrative puzzle game inspired by the avant-garde scientist Fritz Kahn. Players are plunged into a world of nerves, vessels, and valves where the human body is represented as a complex mechanical system. Solve thirty steps of a person's day—from breathing to digestion—through intuitive gameplay, clever dialogue, and stunning vintage art.

Features

Stunning 1920s mechanical art style

Narrative-driven puzzle experience

Educational insights into human anatomy

Clever and witty character dialogue

Tips

The Digestive System

Help the workers process 'toast' by opening valves in the stomach and synchronizing the movements of the mechanical crushers to match the chewing rhythm.

Promotion Videos

Homo Machina - Official Release Trailer - YouTube

News on this game

Gameplays

Interactive Infographics

Interact with every part of the screen to discover hidden animations. The game uses a 'click-and-drag' mechanic that makes the mechanical body feel heavy and real.