Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
City of the Great Machine is a strategy game set in a grim universe of technocratic Victorian steampunk. The game features the conflict between the Great Machine, an artificial intelligence network, and an alliance of Heroes.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Action Queue
Place actions into an ordered queue that resolves now or on later turns.
Area Movement
Move pieces between connected regions rather than along individual spaces.
Cooperative Game
Players coordinate their actions toward a shared objective and win or lose together.
Hidden Movement
One or more pieces move secretly while opponents infer their locations.
Modular Board
Build the play area from interchangeable sections that vary between games.
Read the full game description
City of the Great Machine is a strategy game set in a grim universe of technocratic Victorian steampunk. The game features the conflict between the Great Machine, an artificial intelligence network, and an alliance of Heroes. The Great Machine is either controlled by a player or is automated, which completely changes the game play. The Great Machine controls a City built on mobile platforms in the sky. As the Great Machine, the player (or game AI) commands a force of perfected Servants and mechanical Guards. The Great Machine's ultimate goal is to suppress social unrest and complete its grandiose Master Plan to perfect the human race. The other players are Heroes working together against the Great Machine to start a revolution. They encourage discontent in the City, enlist the support of famous citizens, and inflame riots. They also attempt to prevent the Great Machine from completing the Master Plan, as it leads to the enslavement of the human race. Game features: City of the Great Machine may be played as One-vs-Many (2-4 players) or cooperatively/solo (1-3 players). Modular board allows for infinite City layouts. The players may reposition the City Districts during the game. Hidden movement. Each round, the Heroes secretly choose the Districts they will go to. Resource management. Both sides of the conflict have multiple actions to take and pay for them in Trust (Heroes) or Bonds (the Great Machine). The same is true for movement and other tasks. Asymmetric game play and unique victory conditions. The Heroes need 3 Riots to win, while the Great Machine strives to complete the Master Plan. Secrecy. The Heroes need to conceal their plans from the Great Machine, however, they may discuss their intentions only in the presence of the Great Machine.