OneShot: World Machine Edition

About

"OneShot: World Machine Edition" is a rebuilt version of the acclaimed puzzle adventure game, now playable on Steam Deck and Windows. Players help Niko, a child from an alternate world, rekindle the sun and save everyone, while searching for hidden collectibles and solving world-bending puzzles. With an original soundtrack and charming pixel art, this version features an updated engine and UI for a modern gaming experience. Remember, you only have One Shot.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

OneShot: World Machine Edition screenshot

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,592 reviews

story122 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

OneShot: World Machine Edition offers a beautifully crafted story that evokes strong emotions, making players cry multiple times throughout the experience.
The game features quality-of-life improvements, such as diagonal movement, a fast travel map, and additional collectibles, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
The virtual desktop interface allows for a more accessible experience on consoles and Steam Deck, making it easier for players to enjoy the game without needing to interact with their actual computer.

The virtual desktop setup detracts from the original's immersive fourth-wall-breaking mechanics, as it no longer interacts with the player's actual computer.
Some players feel that the additional content and features do not significantly enhance the game, making it less appealing for those who have already played the original version.
The game may feel less impactful for newcomers compared to the original, as the unique experience of solving puzzles through real computer interactions is lost.

story
247 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
1%
The story of Oneshot is widely praised for its emotional depth, unique world-building, and memorable characters, often leaving players deeply moved and even in tears. Many reviewers recommend experiencing the game with minimal prior knowledge to fully appreciate its narrative twists and themes of existentialism. Overall, it is considered one of the best story-driven games, with a compelling plot that resonates long after the game is completed.
- “The story is touching; the first time I finished this game, I'm not afraid to admit I cried.”
- “Oneshot is my favorite story-oriented game of all time, and I'm very comfortable with that.”
- “If you're looking for a short but super engaging game, with an interesting and mysterious world, a cast of diverse and engaging characters, and a story that will evoke tears and cement itself firmly in your memory for as long as you live, then Oneshot is the game for you.”
- “It thinks far better of its own storyline and character writing than what it is.”
- “It’s long, tedious and fails to be the cute and wholesome story it’s supposed to be.”
- “Not much added to the actual story; I mean, if it isn't broken, don't fix it, I guess.”
emotional
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game "Oneshot" is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing that it made them cry multiple times due to its touching story, relatable characters, and heartfelt moments. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create deep emotional connections, particularly with the character Niko, and praise its narrative for being both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Overall, players recommend the game for its rich emotional experience, making it a must-try for fans of story-driven games.
- “The story is touching; the first time I finished this game, I'm not afraid to admit I cried.”
- “It's not the longest of games I've ever seen, but dear lord it has such an emotional impact, and so much to the point where I think this is the first game I've ever actually cried to.”
- “Oneshot is the most emotional experience I've ever had; it is a world that feels like home, it is characters that feel real, it is something you don't want to let go.”
music
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional impact and nostalgic qualities. The inclusion of a music player and various soundtrack features enhances the overall experience, allowing players to revisit their favorite tracks. While some users noted limitations in the music player interface, the soundtrack remains a standout element that significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and storytelling.
- “The soundtrack is still fantastic, visual direction is cute and writing, in the main game, is solid enough for the length of experience.”
- “Listening to the soundtrack after finishing the game leaves me with feelings of fondness and nostalgia.”
- “I absolutely adore the characters, atmosphere, and music - and it's one I will probably always return to for more playthroughs eventually.”
- “My only complaint (so far: I still need to finish the true ending) is that the music player and gallery are very barebones: you have to manually flick through every item until you find the one you want, instead of it even being in categories.”
- “The music player, the wallpapers (despite having pretty art), etc. don't give many benefits, even in the context of it being a console port, because I can access those things on my mobile device as-is, without any restraints the in-game WM desktop places on me.”
- “You can't just pick the music track or picture you want to open, but instead you have to click through all the ones before the one you want to get to.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The gameplay of Oneshot is characterized by its unique meta-mechanics and immersive storytelling, blending elements of adventure games with creative puzzle-solving that often requires interaction with the player's actual desktop. While some players find the gameplay clunky or tedious at times, many appreciate its charm and the emotional depth it adds to the narrative. Overall, the game is seen as a delightful experience, particularly in its 2016 version, which enhances immersion and user interface, despite some criticisms regarding certain mechanics that can disrupt the flow of play.
- “The plot is lovely, the art is awesome, the gameplay is unique and very immersive.”
- “Not only is it so charming, but the mechanics of the puzzles, as well as the story, characters, and dialogue!”
- “Beautifull game & story once again & honestly this version really made the game even better both with UI and navigating through gameplay puzzles!”
- “After playing 15 minutes, I am now forced to wait to continue playing, and yes this is a game mechanic. The character gets tired and wants to 'take a nap'; however, the nap uses real time up to 45 minutes.”
- “Either way, this made me quit due to either intended gameplay or a game-breaking bug.”
- “For gameplay, it is substituted over your actual system in order to complete the puzzles, whereas in the original version you had to solve the puzzles by digging through your actual files.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
8%
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their outstanding art style and beautiful visuals, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Many players appreciate the memorable characters and intriguing world, with some considering it one of the most beautiful RPG Maker games. While some reviews mention the graphics as "decent," the consensus leans towards a strong appreciation for the artwork and aesthetic elements.
- “I love the art style, the memorable characters, the intriguing world and story, and basically everything else about it.”
- “This is by and far one of the most beautiful RPG Maker games ever, from the story, to the visuals, to the music.”
- “I absolutely love Nightmargin's art style, and their art makes the experience so much better overall.”
- “As for newcomers, I'd say nothing in WME warrants picking it up over the original as what you're getting is essentially for the fans with a fake PC desktop (like DDLC+), character bios, new artwork, and an in-built music player.”
- “Graphics: decent”
- “The gameplay is meh but I love the story, characters, and art style so much.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky characters like the 'lamplighter' and playful references to a "funny cat," which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere. Players find the comedic elements engaging, often leading to amusing situations, such as the frustration of navigating the game while trying to avoid spoilers. Overall, the humor is well-received, adding charm to the gameplay experience.
- “However, the whole process is impaired as the elevator to the surface isn't working, and you aren't the only one inconvenienced by it, as you meet a character called 'lamplighter', which honestly is a rather funny character, as this man just tries to get by each day, just refilling lamps.”
- “I find it rather hilarious now, as I had to check a guide to even see if I was doing anything right, whilst also being extremely careful to not spoil myself.”
- “We miss you funny lightbulb cat <3”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
23%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, with many players noting how it captivates them through its characters, music, and level design. While some feel the original version offered a more impactful experience, the recreation successfully retains the essence of the original's atmosphere, making it a compelling experience that players are eager to revisit. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances the overall enjoyment.
- “I absolutely adore the characters, atmosphere, and music - and it's one I will probably always return to for more playthroughs eventually.”
- “It's rare for a game to create such an immersive atmosphere that you forget you're playing a game at all.”
- “While I still maintain that the brevity and atmosphere of the original free version of the game led to a better one-shot experience, I cannot ignore the fact that both the 2016 release and especially this version are, for all intents and purposes, a very different game in its intent.”
- “Still would say the original hits harder due to the nature of the puzzles and the story, but the recreation is done faithfully and feels fresh, while retaining the original's atmosphere.”
- “The story, the characters, the music, the atmosphere, all of it grabs a hold of you and never lets go.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
56%
Players generally find the grinding in the game to be excessively long and tedious, detracting from the overall experience and the intended cute and wholesome narrative. While some appreciate certain changes that alleviate the grind, the consensus is that it remains a significant and often frustrating aspect of gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It’s long, tedious and fails to be the cute and wholesome story it’s supposed to be.”
- “The gameplay does nicely complement the story at most parts of the game, although it can be a bit tedious at times.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting no glitches or bugs and smooth performance on various systems, including Linux. However, some players have noted minor bugs in specific areas, indicating that while the game is mostly stable, there are occasional issues that could affect the experience.
- “It runs great on Linux as well.”
- “This game was awesome, I loved the graphics, and the fact that on a route I won't mention to avoid spoilers, the virtual desktop glitches!”
- “While this version of the game is a little buggy in some areas, I do like a lot of the things which have been added, even if only minor.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a charming story and adorable character designs that contribute to an engaging world, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique settings and fun puzzles, which complement the character development and foster a vibrant fandom.
- “The game features a wonderful story, cute world and character designs, and an amazing fandom.”
- “The game was super fun, with cute character designs, unique settings, wonderful music, and fun puzzles.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's replayability is enhanced by the WME version's greater number of unlockables, making it more engaging compared to the PC version, which offers more authentic meta elements and simpler modding support. Overall, players find that the variety of unlockables in WME contributes significantly to its replay value.
- “It's hard to say whether I prefer the PC version or WME because while the PC version has more authentic meta elements (and simpler modding support, but that's just a factor of the engine), WME's higher number of unlockables does make it more replayable overall.”
- “The game lacks significant changes in gameplay or story on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back, as the choices you make don't lead to vastly different outcomes.”
- “The limited variety in missions and objectives means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received unanimous praise, with users consistently reporting perfect performance across various platforms.
- “Performance: perfect”
- “Performance: perfect”