Maschinen-Mensch, the creators behind the popular Curious Expedition series, have introduced their latest IP, Mother Machine. In this new game, players take on the role of a mischievous gremlins engineered by a lonely supercomputer.

Set in a distant future on an abandoned planet, Mother Machine begins to malfunction and seeks a new purpose. To address this, she fabricates nameless organisms, effectively 3D-printing organic life forms and assigning them the task of exploring the long-forgotten world, which is now predominantly inhabited by local fauna and wildlife.

While the game doesn’t heavily feature dialogue, it compensates with immersive environmental storytelling, showcasing the desolate, dark caverns of the planet. As players progress, new areas to explore and additional abilities and mechanics become accessible. The caves offer diverse terrain to navigate, allowing players to utilize in-game stamina to scale walls and uncover hidden pathways, as well as opportunities to collect in-game currencies and powers.

In Mother Machine, players can team up with three people in drop-in co-op mode. The more gremlins involved, the greater the chaos and competition levels. Plus, a dynamic difficulty system is hinted at, with balanced co-op mechanics enabling skilled players to collaborate with novices. Platforming takes center stage, while the game is also described as an “action RPG” by Maschinen-Mensch, with mutation skill trees providing the means to modify and enhance the abilities of the creatures.

In a press release, the developers stated:

“At Maschinen-Mensch, crafting games with innovative procedural gameplay is in our DNA. Following the success of Curious Expedition 1 and 2, our team has grown to over 20 very talented individuals. Now, we’re excited to bring our unique approach to the action–RPG genre with our new IP, Mother Machine. We can’t wait to share this new adventure with our community.”

One of the most striking aspects of the game is its distinctive world setting, offering a lighthearted yet meaningful environment where unconventional abilities such as healing farts and protective belches hint at a deeper narrative concerning the boundaries of technology, the essence of solitude, and the strength of familial bonds.

Mother Machine is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2025, for unspecified consoles and PC via Steam.

Be sure to watch the announcement trailer for a glimpse into this intriguing new game.