PCGame

Heart of the Machine

Cyberpunk strategy RPG about growing an AI network across a city

Arcen Games · Published by Hooded Horse · Released Mar 6, 2026

RPGSimulationStrategy

Reviews
Very Positive
90% of 2,132
Recent reviews
Mostly Positive
79% of 72 in 30 days
Players
28
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Verified
Last update on Steam
1 week ago
Oct 28, 2026
Minimum PC
GTX 550 Ti
6 GB RAM · 5 GB disk
Full requirements

What is Heart of the Machine?

This cyberpunk strategy RPG puts you in control of a sentient AI created in an illegal lab beneath a decaying future city. Build facilities to extend its consciousness, construct or hijack robotic bodies for investigation and combat, develop technologies, and pursue interconnected storylines across timelines.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy branching science fiction stories about artificial intelligence
  • +you like building robotic units alongside city facilities
  • +you enjoy revisiting choices across different timelines

Not for you if...

  • −you want deep city-building and economic management systems
  • −you prefer minimal reading and straightforward menus
  • −you expect an unrestricted sandbox with self-directed progression

What players say

90% of 2,132 reviews are positive · 79% of 72 in the last 30 days

Players praise the writing and the range of paths through the AI's story. Common complaints are that building and strategy lack depth, progression can feel too guided, and menus make the many systems hard to follow.

Players over time

▲ +15% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 253 players on Oct 15, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 202628
Nov 6, 202627
Nov 5, 202626
Nov 4, 202626
Nov 3, 202635
Nov 2, 202644
Nov 1, 202673
Oct 31, 202663
Oct 30, 202648
Oct 29, 202646
Oct 28, 202654
Oct 26, 2026117
Oct 25, 2026112
Oct 24, 2026120
Oct 23, 2026108
Oct 22, 2026123
Oct 21, 2026129
Oct 20, 2026153
Oct 18, 2026182
Oct 17, 2026188
Oct 16, 2026195
Oct 15, 2026253
Oct 14, 2026196
Oct 13, 2026198
Oct 11, 202644
Oct 10, 202649
Oct 9, 202633
Oct 8, 202639
Oct 7, 202651
Oct 6, 202638
Oct 4, 202633
Oct 3, 202632
Oct 2, 202622
Oct 1, 202623
Sep 30, 202626
Sep 29, 202622
Sep 27, 202629
Sep 26, 202621
Sep 25, 202626
Sep 24, 202625
Sep 23, 202620
Sep 23, 202634
Sep 22, 202630

How many players finish Heart of the Machine?

2.1% of Steam players have unlocked «A Utopia Doesn't Involve Me», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

Heart of the Machine screenshot 1

Heart of the Machine system requirements

Minimum: GTX 550 Ti, 6 GB RAM, 5 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Heart of the Machine?

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Minimum

OS
Windows® 10 (64-bit)
Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-760 (quad-core) / AMD® Phenom™ II X4 965 (quad-core)
Graphics
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 550 Ti (1 GB) / AMD® Radeon™ HD 7770 (1 GB)
Memory
6 GB RAM
Storage
5 GB available space
DirectX
Version 11

Recommended

OS
Windows® 10 (64-bit)
Processor
Intel® Core™ i5-4470 (quad-core) / AMD® FX-Series™ FX-4350 (quad-core)
Graphics
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 760 (2 GB) / AMD® Radeon™ R9 380 (2 GB)
Memory
8 GB RAM
Storage
5 GB available space
DirectX
Version 12

Does Heart of the Machine have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does Heart of the Machine run on Steam Deck?

Verified Yes, Verified by Valve: it works on Steam Deck out of the box.

  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
  • External controllers are not supported for the primary player

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Achievements
284
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing, Trading cards
Languages
Text only: English, French, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Portuguese - Brazil.

Does Heart of the Machine use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 27, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

1 DLC available.

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