Dog in the Machine hands you a silly premise that you can’t help but smile at. The game allows you to play as a robot dog in a city that is run by machines. Humans have been kicked out of the city, and robot pets have been declared useless. The goal of the game is to escape and find your people. Instead of being a goofy gimmick, this game features a smart, funny, and very satisfying roguelite. This game is developed by Studio Chahut and published by Goblinz Publishing.
A City That Threw Away Its Best Friends
Dog in the Machine takes place in the mecha-city of Automatown. The machines have taken over, and humans have been pushed out. Robotic pets have been branded useless. Players play as an AutoDog who wants to break free and reunite with his owner. The tone and atmosphere of the game stay playful throughout. The setting is gloomy, yet the writing is never too serious. There are quirky characters that show up throughout the gameplay and add lore to the history of Automatown. The game features different breeds, and each comes from a different decommissioning room. So each breed has its own reasons to fight.
Home Alone, but You’re the Dog
Combat is the real star of Dog in the Machine. The battle plays out on compact grids, often around six by six squares. The arenas are packed with toys, and conveyor belts move your enemies around. There are different environmental hazards that the enemies react to. Players utilize the entire room in order to defeat their enemies. This gameplay loop is fun. You can push one robot into a spot that can set off a chain reaction. A single move might send five enemies crashing into each other. There is a satisfaction aspect to the domino effect. The gameplay of Dog in the Machine rewards creativity over brute force. The game rewards creativity over brute force.
The experimentation that Dog in the Machine offers makes it stand out from the rest in the genre. There is a real-time preview that shows how your planned moves will play out. Allowing you to play out different scenarios before you commit. There is also an unlimited rewind feature, and you can test wild ideas without any limitation. It is a tactical game that celebrates curiosity and makes every turn play out like a puzzle.
Tricks, Tricks, and More Tricks
After every fight in Dog in the Machine, your AutoDog learns a new trick. Tricks are the game’s version of special moves. The special moves usually do not work alone. They work really well when you combine them with other tricks and environmental hazards. Each of the 8 AutoDog breeds works differently. Each has its own attacks and traits, which adds to the replayability value of the game. In true roguelite fashion, you also earn TechShards that you can spend on permanent upgrades. The progression of the game feels fair and steady, and the levels are procedurally generated.
A Cute Face on a Clever Machine
The presentation of Dog in the Machine fits the tone. Animation is smooth, the presentation fits the tone, and the visuals are colorful. The UI/UX of the game is also created really well, such that everything is easy to identify. Sound effects are also done pretty well, and they have a mechanical feel to them. You can also pet the dog! The performance of the game is also extremely good. Dog in the Machine is well optimized and capable of running on low-end PCs.
The game, however, does have some issues. While the UI/UX is done well, there is an issue of readability in crowded fights. Enemy actions can overlap, and long chain reactions get hard to predict. In a game where the core loop revolves around these chain reactions, it becomes problematic. There is a rewind feature that softens the issue, but the mess is still there. Enemy variety is also limited, and there are only a handful of active enemy types. A thin roster hurts the roguelite aspect of the game. The balance of the game also needs another pass. There are some clear outliers within dog breeds. There are some minor issues like this that prevent the game from being one of the best in the genre.
Final Verdict
Dog in the Machine is a joyful, clever tactical roguelite. The chain-reaction combat is a blast. The rewind and preview systems make experimentation stress-free. The Trick-combining system lets you build a style that’s truly your own. The world is charming, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful. Limited enemy variety, cluttered previews, and some balance quirks keep it from perfection. None of them ruin the fun. They’re minor bumps on a very good ride. If you enjoy puzzle-like tactics, this is a good boy worth adopting.
