Designers / Publisher / Year: Mateusz Skutnik / Self / 2025
Player Count / Playtime: 1-4 Players / 30 mins
Genre / Type / Mechanics: Card Game, Maze, Puzzle, Abstract
Submachine is a compact tableau-building card game that I backed on Kickstarter, and one of my favorite things about it is the presentation. I’m a sucker for games that come in a small tin, and this one is easy to throw in a backpack for a trip, camping, or a quick filler between heavier games.
The game itself is very easy to learn, and I enjoyed the futuristic artwork and unique symbology. Once everyone understands the icons, turns move quickly and the game plays in a short amount of time.
Unfortunately, the gameplay never quite lives up to the presentation. As one of my friends put it, “You just put down cards, and then the game ends.” It’s a funny way to describe it, but it’s surprisingly accurate. There just aren’t many interesting decisions to make, very little player interaction, and not much excitement from start to finish. You build your tableau, score your points, and that’s about it.
Submachine isn’t a bad game. It works well enough as a quick filler, but it left me wanting a little more depth and engagement. I don’t regret backing it, but it’s not one I find myself reaching for very often.
Verdict: A beautiful little tin game that’s easy to learn and pleasant to play, but the gameplay feels a bit too shallow to keep me coming back. It’s okay, just not particularly memorable.
Reviewed on 07/07/2026
Score Breakdown
| Category | Description | Score (1–10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Aesthetics & Components | Visual design, artwork, tactile quality, and overall presentation. | 7 |
| 2. Rules Clarity & Accessibility | Ease of learning, clarity of rulebook, setup time, and iconography. | 7 |
| 3. Strategic Depth | Amount of meaningful decision-making and long-term planning. | 5 |
| 4. Luck vs. Skill Balance | How fairly chance and skill coexist. | 5 |
| 5. Player Interaction | Engagement and social dynamics between players. | 5 |
| 6. Pacing & Downtime | Flow, engagement, and smoothness of play. | 7 |
| 7. Replayability | Longevity, variability, and continued appeal. | 6 |
| 8. Theme Integration | How well the mechanics and story fit the theme. | 5 |
| 9. Enjoyment & Emotional Impact | Pure fun factor—excitement, tension, satisfaction. | 6 |
| 10. Innovation & Uniqueness | Creativity, originality, and distinctiveness from other games. | 6 |
| Overall Mean Score | 5.9 / 10 | |