Whispers of a Machine similar games & best alternatives

Whispers of a Machine

PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, Mac, iOS • 2019

Should you play it?

Whispers of a Machine is a Sci-Fi Nordic Noir that tells the story of Vera, a cybernetically augmented detective in a post-AI world, who investigates a string of murders and unravels a dark conflict over forbidden technology.

What works
  • Engaging cyberpunk detective story
  • Meaningful player choices affecting gameplay
  • Innovative augmentation mechanics
  • Well-written characters and voice acting
  • Good replayability with multiple paths and endings
Things to keep in mind
  • Short game length
  • Lack of manual save slots limits experimentation
  • Some puzzles can be cryptic or unintuitive
  • Limited world exploration and background npcs
  • Story and worldbuilding could be deeper

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Kathy Rain: Director's Cut

  • Chaos on Deponia

  • Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

  • Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn

  • Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit

  • The Journey Down: Chapter Two

  • Loco Motive

  • Lamplight City

  • Dinocop
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

  • Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn

  • Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn
  • Autonomy

    Sorcery! Parts 1 and 2
  • Escapism

    Gamedec - Definitive Edition

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Whispers of a Machine: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Competition, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Strategy, Story.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players make meaningful choices that shape the story and character progression, with freedom to explore different paths and outcomes."

    Capsule for Sorcery! Parts 1 and 2 Sorcery! Parts 1 and 2

    "Players make meaningful choices that shape character personality and unlock different augmentations, allowing multiple approaches to puzzles and story progression."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and some trial and error; players receive feedback and progress through skillful problem solving."

    Capsule for The Night of the Rabbit The Night of the Rabbit

    "Puzzles require logical thinking and investigation skills with some challenge; players receive feedback and can solve problems in multiple ways."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal investigation and story progression without competitive elements or player comparison."

    Capsule for SIMULACRA 2 SIMULACRA 2

    "Focus is on personal investigation and story progression without competitive elements or player comparison."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players are motivated to replay multiple times to explore different scenarios, characters, and endings despite difficulty and occasional frustration."

    Capsule for Help Will Come Tomorrow Help Will Come Tomorrow

    "Players are motivated to replay the game to explore different personality paths, augmentations, and endings, encouraging multiple playthroughs."

  • Cooperation

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    "Gameplay is single-player focused with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures

    "Gameplay is single-player focused with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with different choices and approaches to puzzles; the game encourages creative problem solving within its narrative."

    Capsule for Repella Fella Repella Fella

    "Players creatively solve puzzles using different augmentations and dialogue choices that affect gameplay style and puzzle solutions."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Hyper Light Drifter Hyper Light Drifter

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive cyberpunk world and detective narrative provide strong escape from real life through engaging storytelling."

    Capsule for Gamedec - Definitive Edition Gamedec - Definitive Edition

    "Immersive narrative and atmospheric world provide an engaging escape from reality into a cyberpunk detective story."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story and gameplay; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Asbury Pines Asbury Pines

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in story, mystery, and gameplay; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Encourages trying different puzzle solutions and dialogue options to progress."

    Capsule for The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

    "Encourages trying different dialogue options and augmentations to explore alternate puzzle solutions and story outcomes."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Players explore a small town and various locations, uncovering clues and secrets."

    Capsule for Kathy Rain Kathy Rain

    "Players explore a small town environment with some backtracking and discovery of clues, though the world is limited in scope."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Players express themselves through dialogue choices and shaping protagonist's personality; some customization of gameplay style."

    Capsule for Dispatch Dispatch

    "Players shape protagonist personality through dialogue choices affecting augmentations and interactions, enabling self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Set in a futuristic cyberpunk world with virtual realities and speculative fiction elements, blending imaginative fiction with detective themes."

    Capsule for Gamedec - Definitive Edition Gamedec - Definitive Edition

    "Set in a futuristic cyberpunk world with sci-fi augmentations and speculative technology, blending imaginative fiction with detective narrative."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

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    "Primarily a solo experience with minimal social interaction beyond NPCs; no multiplayer or community features."

    Capsule for Felvidek Felvidek

    "Primarily a solo experience with limited social interaction beyond NPC dialogue; no multiplayer or community features."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop investigative skills and learn story details through repeated play and puzzle solving."

    Capsule for Sally Face - Episode One Sally Face - Episode One

    "Players develop investigative skills and learn to use augmentations effectively; story and puzzles encourage problem-solving growth."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay typical of point-and-click adventure games; no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for Bad Dream: Fever Bad Dream: Fever

    "Standard sedentary gameplay typical of point-and-click adventure games; no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention on puzzles and story progression; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Nancy Drew®: Warnings at Waverly Academy Nancy Drew®: Warnings at Waverly Academy

    "Requires focused attention on puzzles and story progression; not designed for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -3

    "Interactions are surface-level with NPCs; no deep emotional or relationship building."

    Capsule for Off-Peak Off-Peak

    "Interactions with NPCs are limited to dialogue and investigation; no deep emotional or relationship-building mechanics."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -4

    "No leadership or group management elements; player follows narrative path."

    Capsule for Sword of Asumi Sword of Asumi

    "Player follows a narrative path without leading or managing others; no leadership or group management elements."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players unlock new abilities and complete levels, progressing through the story and puzzles."

    Capsule for Isle of Ewe Isle of Ewe

    "Players unlock new augmentations and abilities based on personality choices, enabling progression through puzzles and story."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    2

    "Generally calm and slow-paced gameplay with relaxing music and atmosphere."

    Capsule for Agatha Christie - The ABC Murders Agatha Christie - The ABC Murders

    "Generally calm and atmospheric gameplay with some tension from mystery elements but overall a steady pace."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Enjoyable pixel art visuals and atmospheric music provide sensory stimulation, though not intense."

    Capsule for Grim Nights Grim Nights

    "Enjoyable pixel art and atmospheric music provide sensory stimulation, though not intense or highly exciting."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social status or recognition systems; gameplay is focused on individual experience."

    Capsule for Drakensang Drakensang

    "No social recognition or status mechanics; gameplay is focused on individual experience."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with engaging characters, plot twists, and mystery."

    Capsule for Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn

    "Strong narrative immersion with well-developed characters, meaningful choices, and engaging cyberpunk mystery plot."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Requires logical thinking and planning to solve puzzles and choose correct dialogue options."

    Capsule for 神明的一天世界(God's One Day World) 神明的一天世界(God's One Day World)

    "Requires logical reasoning and planning to solve puzzles and decide dialogue options affecting augmentations and outcomes."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some suspense and mystery elements create mild tension, but overall experience is calm and quirky."

    Capsule for Puzzle Agent 2 Puzzle Agent 2

    "Some suspense and mystery elements create mild tension, but overall gameplay is calm and contemplative."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players find good value in story, art, and replayability despite some gameplay shortcomings."

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    "Players find good value in story, replayability, and unique mechanics despite relatively short playtime."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -3

    "Minimal violence; focus is on mystery and puzzle solving rather than combat or destruction."

    Capsule for PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse

    "Minimal violence; focus is on investigation and puzzle solving rather than combat or destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    -3

    "No survival mechanics; the game is set in a stable environment focused on investigation rather than threat avoidance."

    Capsule for Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper

    "Stable conditions with no survival mechanics; gameplay centers on investigation rather than threat avoidance."

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Last update: 01/06/2026