One of the most beloved point-and-click puzzle games of the 2000s is getting a proper follow-up. Amanita Design has announced Machinarium 2, a direct sequel to the 2009 original, built by the same studio that made it. The announcement came with a trailer that already shows gameplay, and Steam wishlists are open right now.
The studio was refreshingly blunt about the timing. “We’re not getting any younger, and the world seems to be ending, so if we were ever going to make Machinarium 2, now is the right time,” Amanita Design said in its announcement.
Where the Story Picks Up
Machinarium 2 continues the story of Josef and Berta after the events of the first game. According to the developer, “After escaping the city of Machinarium, Josef and Berta crash-land in the barrens.” That crash drops them into a completely new location populated by fresh robot characters and multiple factions, so you’re not revisiting old ground.
The presentation stays true to the original: hand-drawn 2D visuals and no text dialogue at all. Characters keep communicating through noises and symbols, the same wordless language that made the first game so readable in any country.
The Big Change: You Control Both Characters
The headline mechanical shift is that you’re no longer stuck with a single protagonist. In Machinarium 2 you control both Josef and Berta, switching between them across different segments of the game. That strongly suggests puzzles built around having two characters in play rather than one lone robot solving everything.
To be clear about what this isn’t: there’s no co-op. The Steam listing describes Machinarium 2 as a single-player puzzle game, so the character switching is a design tool, not a multiplayer hook.
Floex Returns for the Soundtrack
The original game’s music is a big part of why people still talk about it, and the composer is back. “The soundtrack is composed by Tomas Dvorak, aka Floex, who scored the original Machinarium,” Amanita Design said. “His new work keeps the robot universe and acoustic textures of the first game, now elevated by symphonic arrangements.”
In other words, expect the same acoustic, mechanical atmosphere you remember, scaled up with orchestral arrangements.
Platforms and Release Date
- Confirmed platforms: Windows and macOS via Steam
- Wishlists: open now
- More storefronts: the studio says “More platforms and dates will be announced later”
- Release window: not announced yet
There’s no date at all so far. The one encouraging sign is that the reveal trailer already contains gameplay footage rather than a pure teaser, which usually means the project is further along than a first announcement would suggest.
The Original Is 80% Off Right Now
If you’ve never played the game that started it all, the Czech indie studio has cut the price of the original Machinarium by 80%, down to $2.99. The discount is limited and ends on October 15, so it’s a cheap way to catch up on Josef’s story before the sequel arrives.
Amanita Design hasn’t been idle in the years since 2009 either – the studio has shipped several games, including new entries in the Samorost series. Machinarium 2 marks its return to arguably its most iconic world.
Where to Read More
We’re tracking every new detail as it lands, so if you want the full picture, browse all our Machinarium coverage in one place. The studio’s full statement is also available in the official Amanita Design announcement.
FAQ
There’s no release window yet. Amanita Design says more platforms and dates will be announced later. The fact that the first trailer already shows gameplay suggests development is reasonably far along.
Windows and macOS via Steam are confirmed, with wishlists open now. The studio has said it’s interested in bringing the sequel to more storefronts and will announce them later.
No. Even though you control both Josef and Berta, there’s no co-op mode. Steam lists Machinarium 2 as a single-player puzzle game, and you switch between the two characters across different segments.
The sequel picks up directly after the original, with Josef and Berta crash-landing in the barrens after escaping the city of Machinarium. Playing the first game gives you that context, and it’s currently discounted by 80% to $2.99 until October 15.
Tomas Dvorak, better known as Floex, returns after scoring the original. His new work keeps the robot universe and acoustic textures of the first game, this time with symphonic arrangements.