It’s not worth it to play as a person.
People all over the world are having moral problems with the progress of AI and robotics in general. At the same time, robots are becoming more and more famous in pop culture, especially in video games. You can even see them becoming the main characters, switching from their usual roles as supporting characters or violent bad guys.
You can do just that in these games: read some interesting stories through the eyes of robots. You can play as future androids fighting on the human side in a variety of games, from action-packed adventures to puzzles that will make you think.
Machinarium
You play as Josef, a cute little robot, in the rusty world of Machinarium. What’s your job? To get his beautiful robot girlfriend back from the Black Cap Brotherhood gang. It’s not easy, though, because Josef’s journey is full of problems that will test your ability to think things through.
In this point-and-click adventure, you have to solve problems and finish different minigames, some of which are harder than others. In the meantime, enjoy the relaxing background music and hand-drawn images that perfectly capture the steampunk feel of Machinarium, a city full of robots.
Steelrising
There is no question that Steelrising has the coolest robots on this list. Take a look at Aegis, the main character. She is Marie Antoinette’s personal bodyguard and a dancer whose moves are so dangerous that other automatons are afraid of her. So it makes sense that the whole possible future of the French Revolution rests on her metal shoulders.
When it comes to fighting, Steelrising works the same as any other Souls-like game. You can expect tough enemies and difficult boss fights, which will make the game both hard and fun. With lots of conversation and cutscenes, it’s different because it’s more story-driven than other games in the same genre. That’s not a bad thing if you like history and are interested in France in the 18th century.
Portal 2
If you liked Portal 1, there’s no reason not to play Portal 2. Even better, with better level design, gameplay, and some really cool new characters. You still need to place portals to solve problems. New things, like lasers and tractor beams, make things even more fun, though.
Another great thing about Portal 2 is that it has one of the best two-player co-op experiences out there. You and your friend can play as the robots Atlas and P-Body and work together to solve tasks, laugh at GLaDos’s sarcastic humor, and finish new test chambers as the game’s story goes on.
Subsurface Circular
This one is an interesting text-based story that takes place in one night on a subway train. You play as a detective robot that looks into the case of the robotic working class that went missing. Your plan? To just sit on the train and talk with other mechanical people while gathering the clues they need to solve the case.
Yes, Subsurface Circular is a pretty easy game that you can finish in one sitting. But it makes an impact on its players that lasts. So, this game might be right up your alley if you like games that make you think and ask deep philosophical questions. Don’t forget to check out its follow-up, Quarantine Circular, for a similar experience in the future.
NieR: Automata
It’s clear that NieR: Automata has everything that makes a great video game. A lovely story that takes place in a horrible future and deals with deep spiritual issues? Yes, check. Never-forgettable music? Yes, check. Androids that look good? Without a question, check as well.
To my surprise, NieR: Automata is fun for almost all video game genre fans, since it has parts of RPGs, brawlers, hack-and-slash games, and even text adventures. All of that action takes place in an open world set after the end of the world, and you can play as one of three different soldier androids that were made by aliens to destroy enemy machines.
Detroit: Become Human
Because Detroit: Become Human is so interactive, it’s easy to think that it’s a 12-hour movie set in a future Detroit where androids are fully accepted by society. Kara, Connor, and Markus are three playable androids whose stories are so interesting that you’ll feel deeply invested in their lives.
Keep in mind, though, that the outcomes of your decisions have a big impact on how the game turns out. After all, Detroit: Become Human has a lot of different ends, so it can be played over and over again.
The Talos Principle
You have been warned: The Talos Principle is one of the few games that will truly make you question your existence. Even though you play as a robot, the philosophical ideas mixed in with the historical scenes could easily make you question your life and the world you live in.
Furthermore, Basket Random will test your intelligence with more than one hundred tricky tasks that start out easy and get harder over time. Plus, the story is also a bit of a puzzle. It stays a mystery the whole time, so you’ll have to look into it and make some fun decisions that will help you figure it out.
Haiku, The Robot
Haiku, The Robot might be a good Metroidvania game for you if you want something a little easier. You get to play as Haiku (the robot, of course) and learn about the horrible world of Arcadia, as the name suggests.
Arcadia is not a good place to be, even though it looks retro and has cute pixelated figures. Many bad robots have been hacked by a computer bug and will test your fighting skills, so make sure you pick up power-ups along the way. You will definitely need them at some point to beat some great boss fights.
Heart & Slash
For people who want to try Roguelike games, Heart & Slash is a good place to start. As Heart, the robot you play as, you fight machines that have killed everyone. There are a lot of cool ways to improve Heart’s gear and a lot of different guns to pick from.
Also, you’re sure to enjoy this 3D brawler’s fast-paced action and funny moments. Each world has its own bosses and enemies, which will keep you on your toes. This game is meant to be very hard, just like many others in its genre, because it uses the idea of “permadeath.”
Grow Home
You play as B.U.D., a silly little robot, in this cute journey. You get to explore an open-world alien planet. Even though you get to take pictures of some interesting plants and animals, don’t forget that B.U.D. is trying to save his house. To put it another way, you’ll need to carefully grow and climb a huge plant that will help his planet get more air.
In general, Grow Home is a fun and cute game, but it can be hard at times. A lot of the game is about moving around, so you should get good at climbing since riding a Star Plant is a big part of it.
