Dog in the Machine (2026)

Developer: Studio Chahut
Publisher: Goblinz Publishing
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Indie, Strategy
Rating: 5.0 of 5, 32 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 1.8 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

A methodical tactical puzzle-box where you preview each move and chase satisfying chain reactions through compact, hazard-filled grids while assembling a modular arsenal between odd encounters.

tacticalstrategicdystopianchain-reactionmodularquirkycompactsynergy-driven

What players say

Players consistently compare this tactical roguelite to Into the Breach, praising the rewind feature that lets them undo actions and experiment freely with chain reactions. Runs build a meta progression where you unlock dog breeds with distinct playstyles, though some players have hit an infinite loop bug with wraparound edges.

Screenshots

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More by Studio Chahut

Post Human W.A.R (2017)

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.