Underplayed Gems

Bartlow's Dread Machine (2020)

Bartlow's Dread Machine cover
Developer
Beep Games, Inc., Tribetoy
Publisher
Beep Games, Inc.
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Action
Rating
4.3 of 5, 92 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 3.6 hours
Where to get it
Steam

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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

A twitchy, retro-styled arcade shooter with chaotic bullet hell action and a whimsical steampunk historical romp.

retroarcadetwin-stick shootercouch co-opstylizedfast-pacedchaotichistorical fantasy

What players say

Players praise the steampunk art style and music but are split on the gameplay: some enjoy the on-rails twin-stick twist, while others find the camera angles hide enemies and the controls feel clunky. The difficulty spikes late-game and performance crashes on some systems.

Screenshots

Bartlow's Dread Machine screenshot 1Bartlow's Dread Machine screenshot 2Bartlow's Dread Machine screenshot 3Bartlow's Dread Machine screenshot 4Bartlow's Dread Machine screenshot 5Bartlow's Dread Machine screenshot 6

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More by Beep Games

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.