Distraction Machine

Distraction Machine is set in Island City, a metropolis overrun by feeders, undead that prey on the living. With the government and military wiped out, survivors scavenge supplies and reclaim resource-rich territory, while rival groups fight over turf and add casualties to the feeders’ ranks. You play as the Distractor, the only person able to wield a musical device called the Distraction Machine, which is cobbled together from bicycle parts and found objects. It appears to control feeders and can also soothe, embolden or manipulate the living.

Island City

The Children of Arms kill both the living and the undead to claim territory. The Purified seek to destroy the feeders and humanity itself through fire, while the Marauders take what they want and party amid the collapse. The Quartier is one of the few fortified communities, but its exhausted and depressed survivors are close to breaking point. The story connects to the world of the Z'Isle comic series.

Chronicle Mode

In this story-driven mode, your choices and the music you create affect characters, their relationships and how the community functions, for better or worse. Dialogue includes choices, and the cast has varied ambitions, needs and backstories. You also solve puzzles by fulfilling musical requests from people in and beyond the community, using specified instruments, themes or music box configurations.

Conductor Mode

This open-ended mode focuses on making music without narrative elements. You can create music using a library of loops, including drum beats, melodies and soundscapes, and mix them to make complete original tracks. Playsheets provide a grid for each instrument, where you can load loops or place individual notes.

Both modes let you share music and remix songs made by friends. Musical composition is central to the gameplay rather than rhythm-based play. The game uses 2.5D animation with a comic-book art style and a cyclepunk aesthetic.