This game is beyond my expertise. It is designed for those familiar with musical notes and tones, or as people usually call them, Charlie Puth. As someone who is tone-deaf, I enjoyed it for a couple of hours until the NPCs started asking me to create music beyond my lacking capabilities.
Distraction Machine
- Release Date:
- Jun 9, 2023
- Developer:
- Miscellaneum Studios
- Publisher:
- Miscellaneum Studios
- Platforms:
- Windows
Game Tags
About This Game

ABOUT
Caught in the crossfire of warring cults in the midst of an undead apocalypse, a community of survivors perseveres through the power of music!
Welcome to Island City, a bustling metropolis that’s fallen prey to feeders, undead hordes who feast on the living. Government and its military have been wiped out leaving survivors to fend for themselves. The Children of Arms carve out their territory, mowing down the living and undead alike. The Purified seek to rid the world of feeders and humanity itself through fire. The Marauders wreak havoc, taking what they want and partying ‘til the end of it all. And the Quartier is one of too few fortified communities forced to endure the chaos. But this microcosm is exhausted, depressed, overwhelmingly on the brink of collapse. Its survivors could use a distraction.
You are The Distractor, the Pied Piper of the Undead, and the master of the Distraction Machine, a musical device cobbled together with bike parts & found objects that seems to control feeders. It also has the power to soothe, embolden or manipulate the living. The power and mystery of this machine can only be wielded by You.
Will your music save your people or lead them to ruin?
FEATURES
There are two major ways to play Distraction Machine - the story-driven Chronicle Mode and the open ended Conductor Mode for you to explore.
The apocalypse has destroyed the Old World. Survivors cling to hope, scavenging for supplies, and reclaiming territories full of resources. Each group survives in their own way resulting in turf wars with casualties swelling the feeders’ fetid ranks. Caught in the crossfire of warring cults, a community of survivors perseveres through the power of music. In Chronicle Mode, your choices and the music you create have the power to change people, their relationships to each other and how the community as a whole functions for better… or for worse.
- Diverse cast of characters with a wide variety of wants, needs, and ambitions
- 2.5D Animation - A comic book art style allows for the characters to pop out on the screen and contribute to the DIY aesthetic
- Puzzles - Fulfill musical requests from NPCS in your community and beyond using a set number of instruments, themes, or music box configurations with creative puzzle solutions
In Conductor Mode, endless music creation with no narrative elements, allowing you create and share your music with friends.
- Loop Library - A collection of music loops from drum beats, melodies and soundscapes you can mix and match give you the power to create complete original music easily
- Playsheets - Grid assigned to each instrument where loops can be loaded to or individual notes can be placed.
Other features:
- A storyline that connects with the world from our Z'Isle comic series
- Choices within dialog
- Diverse roster of characters with full backstories to make them multidimensional
- Unique cyclepunk aesthetic
- Unlike most music games (that are rhythm based) musical composition is key to gameplay
- Playable on Windows
Support needs?
Reach out to us on Twitter @Misc_Studios for questions, comments, concerns, or just to join our vibrant community! 😉
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
- OS: Windows 10
- Hard Drive/Storage: 3 Gb of storage
Screenshots
User Reviews
Brace yourselves, long review inbound! Distraction Machine takes players on an journey through a post-apocalyptic world where they step into the shoes of a Distractor, a unique type of bard. Although not my usual jam, this game blends the puzzle and rhythm genres with some cool storytelling ideas and emotional moments. In true post-apocalyptic fashion, you don't just distract crawlers with music but also assemble instruments from scrap materials found in the decaying city. It's nice to see a "bard" outside of the the usual medieval setting. The story in "Distraction Machine" is surprisingly engaging and filled with a whole set of interesting characters. The developers have successfully woven together a cool plot, even if that's not the usual focus for games like this. And hey! Don't worry if you're not a musical virtuoso—this game doesn't really require it. I was a bit concerned diving into this one given my terrible musical skills, but I had a great time nonetheless. The thing is...
A lovely mix of a game with deep narrative and a musical tool where you can build your own instruments and write your own music! For the musically challenged like myself, the game gives you a ton of preset track for each of the instruments to use as a great starting point!
drum machine joy
Distraction Machine is a breath of fresh air amidst so many zombie games! Loved the unique musical system and focus on the human side of a post-apocalyptic story. The art is gritty and gorgeous, and the music you create truly drives the narrative. I'm not a musical guy so the ability to create these tracks was a lot of fun. If you're looking for a zombie game with a difference, Distraction Machine is worth a try.
System Requirements
Minimum
- OS: Windows 10
- Storage: 3 GB available space
FAQ
How much does Distraction Machine cost?
Distraction Machine costs $14.99.
What are the system requirements for Distraction Machine?
Minimum: Minimum: OS: Windows 10 Storage: 3 GB available space
What platforms is Distraction Machine available on?
Distraction Machine is available on Windows PC.
Is Distraction Machine worth buying?
Distraction Machine has 100% positive reviews from 5 players.
When was Distraction Machine released?
Distraction Machine was released on Jun 9, 2023.
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