The Fabulous Fear Machine

About

"The Fabulous Fear Machine" is a single-player horror strategy game with an intriguing narrative and beautiful gameplay. As the Master of the Machine, generate fear by playing Legend cards, such as creepy stories, urban myths, and conspiracy theories, while managing resources and dispatching agents to new locations. With over 80 Legends to choose from, craft a custom blend of terror and evolve horror in this narrative-driven strategy game with pulp horror style.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 220 reviews

story27 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging art style reminiscent of classic pulp horror comics, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
The narrative is compelling, with dark and twisted stories that keep players invested in the characters' fates.
Gameplay mechanics are accessible yet allow for strategic depth, with new elements introduced in each campaign to maintain interest.

The game is relatively short, with only three campaigns that can be completed in under 10 hours, leaving players wanting more content.
Some players found the gameplay to be simplistic and lacking in challenge, with a linear progression that may not appeal to those seeking complexity.
The second campaign is notably shorter and less engaging than the others, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
75%
3%
The game's story is a captivating blend of pulp horror and dark humor, centered around three protagonists who seek a wish-granting machine, only to face dire consequences for their desires. While the narrative is engaging and features unique comic book-style presentation, some players feel the campaigns are short and lack replayability, with gameplay mechanics that can feel simplistic. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its immersive quality and intriguing character arcs, making it a standout aspect of the game despite some criticisms regarding depth and challenge.
- “The story is about three people seeking out 'the machine', a mysterious carnival attraction that grants wishes but with severe consequences, much like a djinn perverting a wish with hubris.”
- “A fantastic game that combines a love of pulp stories and conspiracy theories to create a captivating story alongside well-executed outbreak simulation mechanics.”
- “The fabulous fear machine is a strategy game with a strong main storyline where you must spread fear around the world to further your evil agenda, complemented by comic book panels that detail each character's plot and deeds.”
- “It feels like a story-driven board game (the choices you make in the campaign won't influence the ending).”
- “Maybe things change after the first scenario, but I found the story to be less paranormal and purely conspiratorial.”
- “The story is okay, albeit likely the weakest aspect.”
gameplay
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
5%
The gameplay is generally described as accessible and engaging, with mechanics that evolve throughout the campaigns, keeping the experience fresh despite some criticisms of simplicity and repetitiveness. While the art style and storytelling are praised for their creativity and charm, many players feel that the gameplay lacks depth and can become tedious over time. Overall, it offers a fun, if somewhat shallow, experience that may benefit from more complex mechanics in future iterations.
- “Each campaign plays with the mechanics enough to keep the game interesting, while never hiding information the player might be looking for.”
- “Gameplay is interesting and deep enough to hold your attention.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the game introduces things at a pace that allows you to easily learn how to play.”
- “The art style and theme is so fun that it makes up for what is kind of a shallow gameplay experience.”
- “I did not like the gameplay mechanics one bit; I found them tedious and ultimately boring.”
- “The gameplay is merely a way to have the story and pulp art be displayed.”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their striking comic art style, which enhances the storytelling and overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic that draws inspiration from pulp horror comics, creating a captivating visual experience that complements the gameplay. While the art style is a major highlight, some players note that the gameplay itself can feel simplistic in comparison.
- “With its striking art style, unique storyline, and charming characters, this game just pulls you in.”
- “The game features an incredible art style, fun gameplay, and some weird death plants.”
- “The presentation is top notch; it really nails the aesthetic and it's the game's big selling point for me.”
- “The art style is a huge plus, just make sure you are ready for some gore, because the game doesn't pull any punches.”
- “Some of the art is properly disturbing, not graphic, just in what it conjures up in your head about myths and legends of fear.”
- “From the art style to the campy, over-wrought dialogue to the rather shockingly gruesome violence in the inevitable twist ending, it all feels so damn authentic and true to that genre.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, blending beautiful artwork with a creepy, immersive storytelling style reminiscent of classic horror tales and pulp magazines. Reviewers praise its unique aesthetic, which effectively combines cartoonish elements with gut-wrenching narratives, creating a captivating and memorable experience. Overall, the atmosphere significantly enhances the game's appeal, earning high marks from players.
- “Atmosphere and aesthetic is what really makes this game special, though.”
- “The comic style is amazing and manages to evoke the pulp atmosphere of the magazines of the time; it reminds me of Creepshow and other B-horror movies.”
- “As cartoony and over the top as the atmosphere is, some of the stories and tactics emerging are gut-wrenchingly real.”
- “What will hook you in are the stories and atmosphere of the game, reminiscent of tales from the crypt.”
- “I'm not an RTS guy typically, but this game's atmosphere, challenge, and story really got me hooked.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some value for completionists aiming to collect all cards and unlock additional fears, the limited number of missions and lack of a hard mode or freeplay options restricts long-term engagement. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling and unique art style, but many feel that once the campaigns are completed, there isn't much incentive to replay.
- “All in all, a great little indie game with awesome art, an interesting 'careful what you wish for' story, and a fun strategy game with some replay value if you want to fill out the album of cards.”
- “However, there's a bit of replay value as you can't unlock all the game's fears on the first playthrough.”
- “Only 3 campaigns, though there is replayability for those completionists who want to get all of the classic horror comic cards.”
- “Game basically plays itself on normal, and I didn't see an option to play a 'hard mode' - if it gets unlocked after beating the game, I'll pass; there's basically no replayability as there are only 10 missions total (12 or 13 if you count the tutorial, which you shouldn't), and nothing like a 'skirmish' mode that I could see.”
- “Great game, easy to learn, good if you like darker stories, but after finishing the 3 campaigns there isn't much replayability. I was hoping for a freeplay/custom mode to play around with after I finished the campaigns; still, it was fun while it lasted.”
- “A challenging and innovative game that sees you spreading fear across the world, a solid concept told in a unique comic book style which helps sell the idea all the more, perhaps a little short and with rather limited replay value, still a large up from me.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it funny and engaging, appreciating its clever storytelling and mechanics, others criticize it for being overly simplistic and focused on mocking human flaws without depth. Overall, it appeals to a range of tastes, with some enjoying its quirky charm and others finding it lacking in substance.
- “Funny and thoughtful story, nice game mechanics.”
- “Bought on a whim not expecting much, but this is a funny little strategy game.”
- “I'm not actually a 'Tales from the Crypt' guy, but even I could enjoy the humor and art.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; while some players find the mechanics engaging and challenging initially, others describe them as tedious and repetitive, leading to a sense of boredom over time. Overall, opinions vary on whether the grinding enhances or detracts from the gameplay experience.
- “I can see some people calling the mechanics far too tedious and repetitive for how much time you have to sink into playing it, but I felt like there was still enough to keep me interested, at least my first time through.”
- “I did not like the gameplay mechanics one bit; I found them tedious and ultimately boring.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its seamless integration with the gameplay and art style, enhancing the overall experience. Additionally, the voiceover complements the music effectively, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
- “The gameplay, art style, and music tie together beautifully.”
- “The voiceover and the music are fitting and interesting as well.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players appreciate the game's optimization mechanics, noting that while initially straightforward, there is significant depth in managing influence and agent assignments. The ability to adjust strategies mid-run alleviates concerns about making mistakes, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The optimization mechanics in this game are incredibly engaging, providing players with the freedom to adjust their strategies on the fly and refine their approach as they progress.”
- “I love how the game encourages you to constantly optimize your decisions. It keeps the gameplay fresh and challenging, making every choice feel impactful.”
- “Trying to figure out how to best expend your influence and how to best assign your agents seems easy at first glance, but there's a lot of room for optimization. The game allows you to make changes mid-run, so you don't have to be afraid of messing up.”
- “The optimization mechanics feel underdeveloped, making it frustrating to manage resources effectively.”
- “Despite the potential for strategic depth, the optimization options are limited and often lead to suboptimal outcomes.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players report that the game effectively evokes a sense of unease, creating an emotionally charged experience that is both impactful and enjoyable.
- “The game made me feel genuinely uneasy a few times, but in a good way.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters left a lasting impact on me.”
- “I found myself deeply connected to the story, experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions.”