TheEpic Games Storeis continuing its expensive free games strategy into September 2021. The store has been exceedingly generous with its free games this year, including some massive titles likeAlien Isolation, Control, andA Plague Tale: Innocencefor no cost in the last couple of months. August has seen a huge range of free titles, with many of these games focused on science fiction, vehicular travel, and the automation of game elements. WhileYooka-Laylee(which is free until August 26) bucks this trend, the other currently free gameVoid Bastardsfits the theme perfectly.
Following in the thematic footsteps of August’s science-fiction titles is the freeEpic Games Storeproduct for August 26,Automachef. While some of the free games at the start of the month likeTrain Sim World 2focused on the more realistic aspects of automation,Automachefasks players with engineering “tomorrow’s kitchens, today!” What is of particular note withAutomachefis how it sticks closer to the puzzler formula than automation. It delivers these puzzles with wit, as players are accompanied by the game’s (definitely not a robot) protagonist, Robert Person.
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Automachef and Sci Fi Puzzling
Automacheftakes the indie automation genre and recenters it around puzzles. The central conceit is all about automating, figuring out the best way to fix any number of terrible problems befalling a wide array of restaurants. As a savvy human, it is the player’s job to guide the automation process, making sure all of the intricate machinery functions correctly. There are dozens of machines in the base game to choose from, butAutomachefis not content with just that. Players are also able and actively encouraged to create their own machines with code. As one of a fewgames with coding included,Automachefreally sets itself apart from other puzzler-automation games.
The Puzzling Reviews of Automachef
Automachef’s devilish puzzles are not the only confusing thing about the game. Despite a mostly positive reception on Steam, several notable reviews show public opinion on the game is split. The game is more of a puzzler than a strict automation title likeAtrio: The Dark Wild.Unfortunately forAutomachef, this has worked somewhat against the game in terms of its public perception. Many of the user reviews on the store page reflect this, as the game sits at a 76 percent positive review score on Steam.
A lot of reviewers took umbrage with the game’s lack of flexibility. The best automation games tend to flourish in giving players a range of choice. For agame likeAutomachef, which prioritizes puzzling, this is not always the case. When a resource management puzzle is presented to the player, there is more often than not an optimal solution. These can sometimes be reached in multiple ways, but the same set of solutions become the more obvious choices. As such, the game is not nearly as open as some fans of the genre would expect. So, in a way,Automachef’s flirting with other genres benefits it in terms of gameplay variety, but perhaps sours some expectant fans.
Many negative reviews focus on the coding feature in the game. People either feel it’s far too complicated for a game of its nature, or argue the coding mechanics are not granular and customizable enough. That is the unfortunate reality of addingdifficult game mechanics; often they can be divisive. Quite a few of these reviews do appreciate the customizability offered inAutomachef, however, and it seems like as a feature it benefits the game overall.
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Team17 on the Epic Games Store
Automachef’s publisher, Team17, has been very active on the Epic Games Store front throughout the last few months. Team17 published bothYooka-LayleeandOvercooked 2,which have been free on the Epic Games Store. Team17 has an interesting history, as it went from just publishingWormsto releasing loads of modern indie titles. Notably, the publisher will be releasingThymesia,a plague-basedSouls-like, alongside many other upcoming titles.
Not only content with releasing free games on Epic, Team17 also offered upProject Alphaas a free title onAugust 2021’s Prime Gaming loot. Why Team17 has pivoted to giving away so many free games is up for debate, but it’s certainly good for getting players into the publisher’s huge selection of quality indie games.
Automachefwill be free on the Epic Games Store from August 26 to September 2.
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