Automaton Lung

About

"Automaton Lung" is an experimental third-person exploration game where players skate, shoot, and fly through over 40 unique locations. As you explore this strange land, you must be resourceful and questioning to uncover the mysteries of your surroundings. With each step, mile, and doorway, more secrets are revealed in this intriguing and atmospheric game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews

music16 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

Automaton Lung offers a unique and surreal exploration experience, reminiscent of nostalgic 3D platformers, with a captivating atmosphere and excellent soundtrack.
The game encourages players to explore at their own pace, providing a sense of wonder and discovery in its expansive, dream-like environments.
Despite its minimalistic design and lack of explicit narrative, the game successfully evokes strong emotions and invites players to fill in the blanks with their imagination.

The game suffers from a lack of polish and can feel unfinished, with some levels being frustratingly designed and controls that may take time to get used to.
Many players feel that the game is too short, with a completion time of around 4 hours, leading to concerns about its value at full price.
The gameplay can become repetitive, and some players have noted that the simplistic mechanics and lack of depth may not appeal to everyone.

music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
35%
10%
The music in "Automaton Lung" has received widespread acclaim for its ethereal quality and ability to enhance the game's surreal atmosphere, evoking nostalgia for 90s gaming. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, perfectly complementing the unique environments and gameplay, although some note occasional inconsistencies in the tracks. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience, making it a key aspect of its appeal.
- “The music, the movement, the surreal landscapes and geometry, the absolutely bonkers ending... this is why I love indie games.”
- “Fantastic music and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, level design, soundtrack, and overall vibes of Automaton Lung are like nothing else.”
- “The only real downside I had with the game was the inconsistent soundtrack.”
- “Right now I'd say its most compelling aspects are the surreal vistas and unusual music.”
- “No real 'goals', besides collecting more chips and the ones that you come up with yourself, and the music is really fitting for each location and fits the mood exactly.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
24%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, combining surreal visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and intricate level design that encourages exploration. Players appreciate the blend of eerie environments and nostalgic vibes, creating a sense of mystery and wonder, although some find certain areas frustrating. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, enhancing the overall experience and making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric gaming.
- “Some of the best atmosphere I have ever seen in a game.”
- “The atmosphere, level design, soundtrack, and overall vibes of Automaton Lung are like nothing else.”
- “Its abandoned world and open structure create a unique atmosphere that makes the player explore each level and building in search of meaning or something familiar, just to find weird creatures patrolling through ancient structures that seem to make no sense.”
- “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 atmosphere of its worlds was so dense I couldn't help but be sucked in; the world outside the game faded away as I ventured through a world reminiscent of the levels of empty multiplayer video games once filled with players.”
- “For me, the greatest strength of Automaton Lung is in that atmosphere, and that exploration.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The gameplay is characterized as a minimalist collectathon adventure with smooth movement mechanics set in a surreal, atmospheric world. While some players appreciate its unique aesthetic and environmental puzzles, many find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth, with simplistic combat and a janky feel. Overall, it offers an intriguing experience for those who enjoy easy-to-pick-up games, but it may not satisfy players seeking more complex mechanics or a robust narrative.
- “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.”
- “A really neat game that makes the most out of minimal gameplay design.”
- “I highly suggest this if you enjoy easy to pick and play games with an old school style and unique gameplay.”
- “I dig the visual aesthetic, it's like some sort of strange alternate reality N64 game, but the gameplay is 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 aren't enough for me to stay with a $15 price tag.”
- “The gameplay is a little repetitive.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic, low-fidelity aesthetic reminiscent of N64 and PS1 titles, creating a surreal atmosphere that enhances exploration. Users appreciate the unique art style and dreamy visuals, which evoke a sense of mystery and nostalgia, despite the simplistic design. The recent PC release has improved the visual clarity and performance, allowing the game's artistic elements to shine even more.
- “Nothing is explained, from the beginning you're dropped right into this surreal, desolate world full of dreamy visuals, mysterious architecture, and seemingly abandoned buildings, monuments, and cities with the occasional angry critter or weird polygon thing to deal with as you collect what are presumably computer chips.”
- “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 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.”
- “Gameplay is pretty simple and graphics are rudimentary, but that's part of the charm!”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's story is largely minimalistic and often feels non-existent, leading to a sense of exploration without a clear narrative or goal. Players describe it as an experience akin to wandering through a forgotten world, with an emphasis on atmosphere and exploration rather than plot. While the music is praised, the overall lack of a coherent story leaves many feeling indifferent once the game is completed.
- “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.”
- “The OST is amazing and the story is weird.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional response through its unique ambiance, blending a liminal space feel with nostalgic elements reminiscent of forgotten 90s games, effectively stirring feelings of nostalgia for players.
- “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 praised for its excellent optimization as a PC port of a 3DS title, with users noting that it runs smoothly 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 is considered relatively short with limited replayability, making the sale price of $10 seem reasonable to players.
- “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.”

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