Deus Ex Machina

Apr 26, 2026 • Home • Edit

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🔚 Deus Ex Machina is a puzzle-platformer where you draw arrows to move the robot.

Play

Play the game:

• itch.io
• Wavedash
• remarkablegames

Or download:

• Windows
• Mac
• Linux

Description

This is a puzzle-platformer where you play as the “god in the machine”, drawing and manipulating arrows to guide a robot through treacherous industrial levels.

Guide the machine. Become the god.

The game features a robot/player character that auto-walks through levels, and you must strategically place directional arrows (with limited resources) to navigate spikes, gaps, and obstacles.

The title plays on the Latin phrase deus ex machina—literally “god from the machine”—referencing both the player’s omniscient role in manipulating the game world and the industrial/robotic theme.

How to Play

• Left-click to draw an arrow block
  • Left-click again to rotate it
  • Some levels limit the number of arrows you can place
• Right-click to erase a block
  • Some blocks are permanent
• Avoid the spikes
• Reach the orb to win
• Press “R” to restart the level

Credits

• Victor H (Music Composer)
• Mark (Programmer)
• 16x16 Industrial Tileset
• Sounds
  • Kenney Interface Sounds
  • Menu SFX Pack
  • Typewriter Machine

Background

This game was made for Gamedev.js Jam 2026, and the theme was Machines

Inspired by Factorio and Super Mario Maker’s level creator, we ideated around a conveyor belt puzzle.

I cloned the game from phaser-platformer and prototyped a platformer-puzzle where players could draw arrow tiles that move the character in a chosen direction.

I then added the following features:

• More levels (up to 9 upon completion)
• Left-click to place an arrow tile, left-click again to rotate it, and right-click to erase it
• Permanent tiles and spikes
• A budget tracker, where later levels limit the number of arrows you can place

Victor H composed the music and advised on sound design.

Since the tileset has a dark,industrial theme, we considered the following genres:

1. Industrial
2. Electronic
3. Glitch

As well as these artists for inspiration:

1. Nine Inch Nails
2. Daft Punk
3. Aphex Twin

He composed the following tracks:

• Menu
  • A dark piano melody that serves as a prelude to what’s to come.
• Main
  • The melody builds with chords, pads, and industrial drums.
• Continuation
  • In later stages, a brooding bassline and arpeggiated piano variations are introduced, accompanied by a glitch beat.

Overall, the soundtrack has a dark, melodic tone with industrial drums.

Check out the game and give it a play!