Yes—play Machinarium first if you want the full story context for Josef, Berta and the robot city that leads into the sequel. The original is not established as mandatory homework: the available official information does not say that you must finish it to understand or play Machinarium 2. If your main interest is the sequel’s new puzzle systems or visual style, you can wait for its release. As of October 17, 2026, however, the sequel is announced but unavailable, and its Steam listing gives no release date beyond “To be announced.”
The short answer: worthwhile context, not a confirmed requirement
Machinarium 2 follows Josef and Berta after they escape the original city. That makes the first game the clearest way to meet the characters and understand the setting before the next adventure begins. You will see how Josef’s story starts, why Berta matters to him, and what kind of wordless puzzle adventure Amanita Design is continuing.
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That recommendation needs a precise qualification. No reviewed official source says that completing Machinarium is required before playing the sequel. There is no confirmed statement that the sequel will block newcomers, assume every plot detail, or omit an introduction. Treat the original as valuable background rather than an announced prerequisite.
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- Play the original now if character continuity, atmosphere and a complete lead-in matter to you.
- Wait for the sequel if you mainly want to evaluate its two-character puzzle design, or if you prefer to start when the new game is actually available.
Because Machinarium 2 has no announced release date, playing the first game is also a way to spend the waiting period with the series instead of treating the sequel’s wishlist listing as a purchase opportunity.
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What the original Machinarium establishes
Josef’s first adventure
Machinarium is a single-player adventure developed by Amanita Design and released on October 16, 2009. Steam’s description introduces Josef as a small robot discarded in a scrap yard. He must return to the city of Machinarium and rescue Berta from the Black Cap Brotherhood.
That premise supplies the sequel’s most important narrative context. You meet Josef before the events described for Machinarium 2, and you experience the city that Josef and Berta later leave behind. Playing in release order lets you see their relationship develop rather than encountering them only after the escape.
The communication style
The original communicates largely without conventional dialogue. Characters use comic bubbles, animation and symbols instead of long spoken conversations. This is not merely a presentation gimmick: reading a character’s gestures and symbols is part of understanding what a puzzle wants you to do.
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Why that matters for the sequel
The sequel’s setup begins after Josef and Berta escape the original city, so the first game gives meaning to that starting point. You know what “the city” is, who Josef and Berta are, and why their departure is a continuation rather than an unrelated robot story.
It is still important not to overstate the connection. The available listing for Machinarium 2 does not promise that every event from the original will be required knowledge, nor does it describe a recap system. The safest conclusion is that the original enriches continuity while the need to finish it remains unconfirmed.
What Machinarium 2 adds
A new setting after the escape
The official store description says Josef and Berta crash-land in a barren area after escaping Machinarium. They discover a valley containing two robot communities: one organized around a monastery and another in the city of Oilton. Both communities are short of power, creating the central situation for the new adventure.
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This premise expands the world beyond the original city. A player who starts with the sequel will encounter new locations and communities, while a returning player will recognize that Josef and Berta’s journey has moved into its next phase.
Switching between Josef and Berta
The sequel specifically describes switching between Josef and Berta and using their different abilities to solve puzzles. That is a meaningful change in the play structure. The original centers on Josef’s adventure; the sequel is presented as a two-character problem-solving game in which the solution may depend on choosing the right character or coordinating their abilities.
Do not assume that this description reveals the exact control scheme, puzzle rules or difficulty curve. It establishes the two-character concept, not detailed mechanics. Until the game is released, claims about specific abilities, cooperative play or puzzle complexity would go beyond the confirmed information.
Controls and communication
The sequel listing says that both a gamepad and a mouse are supported. It also describes wordless communication, preserving a core identity from the first game while moving the characters into a different adventure.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThat combination gives prospective players a useful comparison. The original’s wordless, hand-drawn point-and-click format is a strong indicator of the series’ tone. The sequel appears to retain that visual and communicative approach while adding character switching and broader input support.
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Music and returning creative talent
The store listing identifies Tomáš Dvořák, also known as Floex, as the returning composer. Dvořák told PC Gamer, “When I composed the first Machinarium soundtrack years ago, I never anticipated such a huge response.” His return links the sequel to one of the original’s recognizable creative elements, although the listing does not describe the full soundtrack or its size.
Original versus sequel at a glance
| Question | Machinarium | Machinarium 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Available for purchase on Steam | Announced but not yet available; Steam lists release date as “To be announced” |
| Story position | Josef is discarded in a scrap yard and returns to Machinarium to rescue Berta | Josef and Berta crash-land in a barren area after escaping Machinarium |
| World | The robot city of Machinarium | A valley with a monastery community and the city of Oilton |
| Core play | Logical puzzles, quests, brain teasers and minigames | Puzzles built around switching between Josef and Berta and their different abilities |
| Communication | Comic bubbles, animation and symbols instead of lengthy dialogue | Wordless communication is described in the store listing |
| Visual identity | 2D hand-drawn backgrounds and characters | The listing presents it as a continuation of the series’ style; detailed technical specifications are not stated |
| Input | Original store listing details are not stated here | Gamepad and mouse support |
| Composer | Original soundtrack by Tomáš Dvořák (Floex) | Tomáš Dvořák (Floex) returns as composer |
Choose the right order for your goal
Play Machinarium first for story continuity
This is the recommended route if you care about seeing Josef and Berta’s relationship from its beginning. The sequel’s opening situation refers to their escape from the original city, and the first game is the only confirmed way to experience that earlier adventure before the sequel.
You also get a direct introduction to the series’ wordless storytelling and puzzle language. That can make the sequel’s premise easier to appreciate without requiring you to guess how the characters communicate or why the setting matters.
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Play it first if you want a complete Amanita introduction
The original is a self-contained game with a clear objective, a defined city and a full sequence of puzzles and minigames. Starting there gives you a finished experience while the sequel remains unavailable. It is a sensible choice for someone discovering the series rather than someone trying to optimize a few hours before a confirmed launch date.
Wait if mechanics matter more than backstory
If your main question is whether the sequel’s character-switching system will appeal to you, the original cannot answer that directly. Its gameplay description focuses on Josef’s logical puzzles, quests, brain teasers and minigames, while the sequel is described as using Josef and Berta’s different abilities together.
In that case, waiting for more official gameplay information—or for release—will tell you more than replaying the first game. The original can show you the series’ tone and visual language, but it cannot demonstrate the sequel’s final puzzle structure.
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Wait if you only want to play the newest release
The sequel’s Steam page currently provides a wishlist route rather than a game purchase. Since its release date is still “To be announced,” there is no confirmed launch window around which to plan a short preparatory playthrough. Waiting is reasonable, but it means accepting that you will not yet have a date for the new adventure.
How long should you spend preparing?
There is no official statement that you must finish the original, and no announced requirement to replay it immediately before the sequel. You can therefore choose among three preparation levels:
- Full playthrough: Choose this when you want the complete Josef-and-Berta story and the original city’s puzzles in sequence.
- Selective revisit: If you have played it before, revisit the opening and the sections that establish Josef, Berta and the city. This refreshes the setup without treating the game as compulsory homework.
- No preparation: Start with Machinarium 2 when it launches if you are primarily interested in its new abilities and controls. The available information does not establish that newcomers will be unable to follow it.
Because no official playtime requirement or recap policy is stated, avoid planning around a specific number of hours or assuming that a particular chapter is essential. Your choice should be based on how much continuity you want, not on an unverified completion rule.
What current reception tells you—and what it does not
Steam showed 94% positive from 5,061 English reviews and 96% positive from 222 recent reviews when accessed on October 13, 2026. These are live platform review figures, not an independent review score or a fixed quality rating. They can change as users post new reviews.
The figures indicate strong user reception for the original at that access date. They do not prove that every reader will enjoy its puzzle design, that the sequel will receive the same response, or that the sequel will preserve every feature exactly. Use them as a signal of audience enthusiasm rather than a guarantee.
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Buying the original
The original Machinarium is sold digitally through Steam. Its listing also shows a digital collector’s edition bundle that includes the soundtrack and an art book. Check the live store page for the current price, regional availability and edition details, because those can change.
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Following the sequel
Machinarium 2 is not currently available for purchase. Its Steam listing offers a wishlist route, which is the appropriate option if you want a platform notification when the status changes. Do not treat the wishlist page as evidence of a release date, launch price or guaranteed availability on another platform.
Physical products are not part of this decision
The confirmed evidence concerns digital Steam games. It does not establish a useful Machinarium-specific physical edition, guide, manual, soundtrack disc, art book shipment or merchandise item for this comparison. A generic gamepad is also not a topic-specific purchase requirement: the sequel’s listing says gamepads are supported, but it does not say that one is necessary.
Why the sequel is happening now
In an October 8, 2026 interview with PC Gamer, Amanita CEO and designer Jakub Dvorský explained the studio’s timing: “We’re not getting any younger, and the world seems to be ending, so if we were ever going to make Machinarium 2, now is the right time.”
The quote explains the decision to return to the series, not the sequel’s release schedule or its final content. It should not be read as a promise that launch is imminent. The current store status remains “To be announced.”
Final recommendation by player type
| If you are this kind of player… | Best choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You want Josef and Berta’s complete story | Play Machinarium first | The sequel follows their escape from the original city. |
| You are new to Amanita’s style | Play Machinarium first | It introduces the hand-drawn visuals and wordless puzzle language. |
| You care mainly about two-character mechanics | Wait for more sequel information | The original cannot demonstrate the sequel’s ability-switching design. |
| You only want the newest game | Wishlist the sequel and wait | It is announced but unavailable, with no date listed. |
| You already finished the original | Do not replay it unless you want a refresher | No source establishes a required replay or completion condition. |
Verdict
Machinarium is worth playing before Machinarium 2 for the story connection, the introduction to Josef and Berta, and the chance to understand the robot city that the sequel leaves behind. It is not confirmed to be required. The sequel’s official description points to a continuation with new locations, two-character ability switching and mouse-or-gamepad support, but it does not state that players must complete the first game.
For most newcomers, the best order is release order: play the 2009 original now, then move to the sequel when its release date is announced. For players who care only about the sequel’s new mechanics, waiting is equally defensible—especially while the game remains unavailable.
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