Machine Yearning Review (Android/Mobile)

by Jim Smale · September 18, 2024

Machine Yearning Review, Machine Yearning works through linking words to shapes (defining) and then remembering the link later (verifying), thereby creating your own language. Initially, simple tasks grow more challenging as the number of words grow and even more so when colors are added. Make no mistake, robot jobs are serious business.

Machine Yearning Review Pros:

Delightful pixel art graphics.
135MB Download size.
Full touchscreen controls.
How to play section.
Memory and cognitive gameplay.
The goal of the game is to create your own language by associating shapes and colors to specific words, you then have to remember those associations as you progress.
Every interaction is time-based.
Timed and endless modes have three difficulties – Easy, Medium, and hard.
The campaign mode is a world map level select type deal.
You can replay levels.
Timed mode lets you choose the time limit – 2,3 or 5 minutes.
Along with a score you earn a trophy.
You take on a lot of interactions on one level.
I love the end-of-level breakdown with any unlocks popping up on screen usually displayed on floppy disks.
Unlock and equip new hats for your character and background.
Three game modes – Campaign, Timed, and Endless mode.
It is a game that once it clicks serves as a fantastic bit of brain food.
Every game is different.
It’s very satisfying when you nail interaction after interaction.
The game is played in portrait mode.
Free to play with a one-off chargeable add-on to unlock the hats.
How you play is up to you, you can go by the name or you can go by your own memory of the shapes and colours but man that gets tough.
Even when I get lost in it all and mess up, I still find myself smiling like a Cheshire cat.
All the UI and menus look fantastic.
Unlimited replayability.
Powerups can be earned and unlocked which help a lot like slowing down time or lives etc.
Three hearts means you can make three mistakes before a game is over.
Your best score and score to beat are shown in each game mode.
Excellent soundtrack.
Anyone watching over your shoulder will think this is some deeply technical battle of wits but it is surprisingly accessible and quick to learn.

Machine Yearning Review Cons:

Can take a little time to get it all nailed down.
Hats are locked behind a paywall, it is a cheap game nonetheless and this serves as an FYI.
No Google Play achievements.
Doesnt have any multiplayer.
At times I thought it would have been cool to see a sort of script of my language.
The tutorial is just a how-to-play text file, a playable or video sequence would have done a much better job.
Doesnt have any Google integration like leaderboards etc.
Can only be played in portrait mode.