Automaton Lung

About

Automaton Lung is a single player open world platformer game with mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Luke Vincent and was released on December 16, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Make use of your special abilities to skate, shoot, and fly through over 40 unique locations. In a strange land with almost no information you must be resourceful and clever. Question everything you see and trust nothing you hear.

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews

music18 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

Unique and compelling atmosphere with surreal, dream-like, and nostalgic low-poly visuals that evoke classic 3D games.
Enjoyable exploration-focused gameplay with large open worlds, collectibles, and multiple movement options such as hoverboard and jetpack.
Outstanding ambient soundtrack that enhances the mood and immersion throughout the game.

Gameplay can feel minimalistic, repetitive, and lacking depth with some frustration due to camera angles and janky controls.
Combat and level design, especially in open-world areas, are simplistic and sometimes lack polish or meaningful challenge.
Short game length with limited story or narrative guidance, making it less rewarding for players seeking a more complete or traditional experience.

music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
38%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ethereal, otherworldly, and atmospheric qualities that perfectly complement the surreal, alien landscapes and evoke nostalgia for 90s-era games. The soundtrack enhances the mood and immersion, often highlighted as the standout aspect that drives the exploration experience. Although some mention minor inconsistencies in tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's unique vibe and atmosphere.
- “Originally designed as an indie game developed for 3DS, it's a super rigid platformer with weird ambient lands and amazing, otherworldly music.”
- “It's more than likely the amazing soundtrack that just sends you on a journey of light and sound as you progress into another plane.”
- “The atmosphere, level design, soundtrack, and overall vibes of Automaton Lung are like nothing else.”
- “On the other hand, the weird foreign alien synthetic music just pumps strange feelings as you wander these sparse lands, fighting ducks, robots, clowns, aliens for no apparent reason.”
- “The only real downside I had with the game was the inconsistent soundtrack.”
- “Level design is barebones, the platforming / shooting is not good, and the music is whatever.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
Automaton Lung is widely praised for its unique, surreal atmosphere that combines eerie, liminal spaces with a nostalgic, 90s-inspired aesthetic. The game's haunting soundtrack and mysterious, open-ended world create an immersive and intriguing experience that captivates players despite its simple gameplay and low-fidelity graphics. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the standout feature, making exploration deeply engaging and emotionally resonant.
- “The atmosphere, level design, soundtrack, and overall vibes of Automaton Lung are like nothing else.”
- “They had some of the best ambiance, combining a liminal space feel with the vibe of a forgotten 90s game to create an atmosphere that made me feel something truly unique.”
- “The extremely low-fidelity graphics (made for the 3DS' 400x240 screen) give the game a very surreal atmosphere, working with the open ended level design to make the game feel like you're always exploring out of bounds of a different game, with no plot or explicit end goal driving you forward, just your own sense of exploration.”
- “The extremely low-fidelity graphics (made for the 3DS' 400x240 screen) give the game a very surreal atmosphere, working with the open-ended level design to make the game feel like you're always exploring out of bounds of a different game, with no plot or explicit end goal driving you forward, just your own sense of exploration.”
- “They don't have as much of the dreamy atmosphere, as they tend to turn into a bit of a "grind" to get the chips.”
- “A very strange atmosphere.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The gameplay of Automaton Lung is simple, minimalistic, and somewhat janky but still rewarding, featuring smooth movement and unique mechanics within bizarre, atmospheric environments. It blends platforming, puzzle, and exploration elements in a hypnotic collectathon style that appeals to those who enjoy old-school, easy-to-pick-up games despite repetitive or under-polished aspects. Overall, its gameplay is driven by a sense of wonder and discovery, making it a niche yet charming experience.
- “Automaton Lung's visual style, gameplay, and atmosphere are a treat to behold.”
- “It's a hypnotic little collectathon adventure with fun movement mechanics and a surreal world where you have to figure out what to do and where to go.”
- “Every one of these tools have several uses and hidden mechanics which you need to figure out.”
- “I dig the visual aesthetic, it's like some sort of strange alternate reality N64 game, but gameplay is really, really lacking.”
- “I think there are some great bones here for a really promising sequel, but this game's mechanics have left a lot to be desired for me and the sauce and vibe isn't enough for me to stay with a 15 dollar price tag.”
- “For sure an obscure game, giving any information on the gameplay would feel like spoiling it, so let's just say it's a janky collectathon with very simplistic combat set in a strange world with little to no story.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The game features a distinct retro, low-poly art style reminiscent of N64 and PS1-era visuals, creating a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere with simplistic yet expansive environments. Its graphics emphasize nostalgic aesthetics and evoke a mysterious, experimental vibe that complements the gameplay's open-ended exploration. While rudimentary, the visuals are praised for their craftsmanship, smooth 60 FPS performance, and how they enhance the overall immersive experience.
- “The extremely low-fidelity graphics (made for the 3DS' 400x240 screen) give the game a very surreal atmosphere, working with the open-ended level design to make the game feel like you're always exploring out of bounds of a different game, with no plot or explicit end goal driving you forward, just your own sense of exploration.”
- “The graphical style is reminiscent of something from the N64 or PS1's libraries, but the scope of the game feels larger than what was typical of 3D titles back then.”
- “The atmosphere, soundtrack, and environments all hit harder now that it has released on PC, and it now feels like a fully fledged experience, more than a novelty, where the art style can truly shine.”
- “The artwork and ambiance are fine and all, but they don't make a game, not even a $5 title at that.”
- “Gameplay is pretty simple and graphics are rudimentary, but that's part of the charm!”
- “The extremely low-fidelity graphics (made for the 3ds' 400x240 screen) give the game a very surreal atmosphere, working with the open ended level design to make the game feel like you're always exploring out of bounds of a different game, with no plot or explicit end goal driving you forward, just your own sense of exploration.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's story is minimalistic and largely implied, creating a surreal, exploration-driven atmosphere without explicit plot or clear objectives. Many players note the absence of a traditional narrative, instead experiencing a mysterious, forgotten world that invites discovery through gameplay and ambiance.
- “What little story is there is almost entirely implied, which also feels in tune with that logic of exploration.”
- “A bit like finding a forgotten, dying world to explore, or logging on to an old multiplayer game with no sign that anyone else has logged on in years and piecing together what's going on in the story.”
- “The extremely low-fidelity graphics (made for the 3DS' 400x240 screen) give the game a very surreal atmosphere, working with the open-ended level design to make the game feel like you're always exploring out of bounds of a different game, with no plot or explicit end goal driving you forward, just your own sense of exploration.”
- “No text, no story, only the counter for the number of "chips" you collect in each stage.”
- “The game is too minimalistic story-wise in my opinion and that's why I forgot about it right after I finished it.”
- “The game has no story.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in creating a unique emotional experience, blending a nostalgic 90s vibe with a liminal space ambiance that evokes deep, unexpected feelings. Players often feel a strong sense of nostalgia for long-forgotten games, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
- “They also had some of the best ambiance, combining a liminal space feel with the vibe of a forgotten 90s game to create an atmosphere that made me feel something truly unique.”
- “It's incredible how this game made me feel nostalgia for games I had not thought about for literal decades.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is a well-optimized PC port of a 3DS title, delivering smooth and efficient performance throughout.
- “This is a very good and optimized PC port of a 3DS game.”
- “The entire game runs smoothly.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has limited replayability and is relatively short, making it more suitable for a lower price point.
- “It's relatively short and there isn't much replayability, so I'd say the sale price I got it at ($10) is totally fair.”