National Machine (2018)

Developer: Eric Sun
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Indie, Simulation, Strategy, Early Access
Rating: 3.0 of 5, 59 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 1.5 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

You manage production lines and build factories in a historical war-era sandbox, with a methodical and hands-on feel.

sandboxmanagementsimulationhistoricalcasualstrategicindustrial

What players say

Players like the WW2 arms race concept but say the early access build is hard to learn with no clear tutorial. Controls are fiddly, especially clicking small objects and connecting belts, and some report bugs that make the game unplayable.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.