Rage Against the Submachine
When we talk about retro game releases being a “blast from the past,” Submachine: Legacy is more like an unexpected trapdoor—one minute you’re strolling along, the next you’re plunged into a dark, mechanical maze. Imagine walking down a sunny path, enjoying the peaceful birdsong, when suddenly, an innocent-looking stone beneath your feet gives way. With the sound of grinding gears, you fall into a yellow-paneled room, dimly lit, with vacuum tubes mounted on the walls, mysterious doors on either side, and a ladder descending into the unknown.
You click one of the doors, and the screen flicks to another room—same claustrophobic proportions, but now there are pipes on the floor and a dusty, old radio perched on a pedestal. A sense of familiarity washes over you. You’ve been here before. The last time was likely 2009, back when you were exploring the sprawling world of Flash games on sites like Kongregate. This is Submachine, the iconic 14-part escape puzzle series by Mateusz Skutnik, now resurrected, revamped, and released as Submachine: Legacy.
Submachine was one of the crown jewels of the Flash gaming era—sinister, clever, and haunting. It was a world of eerie contraptions that ranged from familiar mechanical puzzles to almost otherworldly devices that evoked the unsettling atmosphere of Amnesia: The Dark Descent. As you explore this world of pistons, tubes, and bizarre gadgetry, there’s also a story to uncover, told through cryptic journal entries scattered throughout the game. These notes recount the tragic tale of a lighthouse keeper, adding a narrative layer for those who find traditional point-and-click puzzles too sterile.
The puzzles themselves vary in difficulty and satisfaction, but each chapter in Submachine is dripping with mood and mystery, and it’s thrilling to see the entire series compiled into one cohesive game. This isn’t just a basic Flash port either—the visuals have been updated, new mechanics added, and the original chapters have been woven into a larger, interconnected machine. There’s also Submachine: Universe, a project consisting of over a thousand rooms, each hiding clues to the coordinates of the next—a puzzle-lover’s dream.
If you’re even remotely interested in point-and-click puzzles or atmospheric, eerie worlds, Submachine: Legacy is a must-play. It’s available now on Steam and Itch.io. And if you want to dip your toes in first, the original Submachine game is still available to play on Kongregate.
