The Clockwork Automaton

A two-player describe-and-instruct puzzle game

If you like games where one player sees the puzzle and the other holds the manual, The Clockwork Automaton is built the same way, for two people or for one person and an AI.

One of you looks at the automaton in the browser. The other opens the maker's notebook on a phone or prints it. Neither of you can solve a module alone.

Play the first module free Read the notebook
The full game: the automaton's face, gears, masks, bells and hallmark tiles under a serial plate, three lamps and a spring dial

How to set it up

  1. The player at the screen opens the game. The expert opens the notebook somewhere the player cannot see it.
  2. Pick a difficulty and wind the spring. The expert asks for the serial plate, the lamps and the faults.
  3. Describe, ask, answer, press. Swap seats after each round: describing and reading are different skills.

Over a video call

It works over any call without sharing a screen. Share the round number from the start screen and you can both replay the exact same automaton later.

The full game: five modules

GBP 6 one-off

The face, the gear train, the masks, the chimes and the hallmarks. Four difficulty levels. Runs offline in your browser.

More ways to play

The Clockwork Automaton A puzzle game to play with ChatGPT voice A puzzle game to play with Claude A puzzle game to play with Gemini Live Read the face: a FACS expression puzzle