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The Even More Incredible Machine

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Overview

The Even More Incredible Machine is a puzzle game released in 1993 that expanded upon the beloved original Incredible Machine with new content while retaining the core Rube Goldberg-inspired gameplay that made the series famous1. Developed by Jeff Tunnell Productions under the Dynamix banner and published by Sierra On-Line, the game challenged players to build elaborate contraptions using common household objects to accomplish simple tasks through complex chain reactions2. The title represents a “vintage blend of educational and entertainment software at their finest,” combining physics-based puzzle solving with creative sandbox gameplay3.

The game includes 87 puzzles from the original Incredible Machine alongside 73 brand new puzzles, bringing the total to 160 levels of increasingly challenging contraption-building gameplay4. New parts and enhanced music accompanied these additional puzzles, offering both returning players and newcomers substantial content to explore5. The core gameplay remained unchanged from its predecessor—players solve puzzles using only the parts provided, arranging them in elaborate configurations to effect simple state changes like turning on a light or getting a ball into a basket1.

Few games can offer the same sense of satisfaction that comes from seeing a plan come together, and The Even More Incredible Machine exemplifies this design philosophy6. Whether classified as edutainment or purely as a puzzle game, the title became recognized as “an exceptionally amusing videogaming classic” that demonstrated how physics simulation could create endlessly engaging gameplay7. The game’s appeal extended beyond traditional gaming audiences, reportedly causing “a chain reaction that brought productive work to a halt at a major naval yard” when demonstrated to an engineer friend of the development team3.

Story Summary

The Even More Incredible Machine does not feature a traditional narrative storyline, as the game focuses entirely on puzzle-solving mechanics rather than plot-driven gameplay4. Players take on the role of an inventor or engineer tasked with completing various objectives using increasingly complex contraptions built from everyday objects and mechanical components.

Each puzzle presents a specific goal that must be accomplished—such as getting a basketball into a hoop, turning on a light, or helping a small character reach a destination—using only the parts provided in that particular level1. The challenges range from simple setups requiring only a few components to elaborate multi-stage machines that require precise timing and positioning of dozens of interacting elements.

The game’s “Freeform Mode” allows players to transcend the structured puzzles entirely, providing a sandbox environment where they can create their own machines and scenarios without objectives or part restrictions4. This creative freedom became a beloved feature, with players reporting spending hours constructing elaborate contraptions for pure entertainment, such as “filling [a map] to the border with pinball bumpers…and then putting about 20 tiny little human guys in there…so they fall and bounce all over the place”8.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The Even More Incredible Machine uses a mouse-driven point-and-click interface that allows players to select, position, and adjust various mechanical parts on a 2D playing field4. Players can drag components from a parts palette onto the workspace, rotate certain objects, and adjust their precise positioning to create functional machines6. The keyboard also supports functionality, with keys 1-9 and A-L allowing players to select different music tracks during Freeform mode gameplay9.

The game operates on a deterministic physics engine that produces consistent results without random number generation, meaning the same machine configuration will always produce identical outcomes when activated3. This predictability is essential to the puzzle design, allowing players to test, iterate, and perfect their solutions through experimentation.

Structure and Progression

The game presents 160 total puzzles organized in escalating difficulty4:

  • Puzzles 1-87: Classic challenges carried over from the original Incredible Machine, providing familiar content for returning players and a solid foundation for newcomers9
  • Puzzles 88-160: All-new challenges featuring additional parts and more complex solutions, representing the “even more” content promised in the title9
  • Freeform Mode: An unlimited sandbox mode where players can build contraptions without objectives or restrictions4

The puzzles can also include variable environmental conditions, with some featuring altered gravity settings or atmospheric pressure changes that affect how objects behave10.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The game features 45 different types of parts that players can use to build their contraptions10. These include common household objects, mechanical devices, and whimsical elements that interact according to simulated physics rules:

  • Mechanical Elements: Gears, pulleys, conveyor belts, trampolines, and various switches
  • Projectiles and Containers: Balls, balloons, baskets, and buckets
  • Power Sources: Generators, motors, and explosive devices
  • Living Components: Small human figures, mice, and cats that move and interact with the environment
  • Decorative/Functional: Pinball bumpers, ramps, and various structural elements

The game emphasizes creative problem-solving, with most puzzles allowing multiple valid solutions10. Players must understand how different components interact—how a ball’s momentum transfers through impacts, how gravity affects falling objects, and how timing sequences can trigger chain reactions—to successfully complete challenges6.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The Even More Incredible Machine received positive reception as an enhanced version of an already beloved puzzle game. The series was recognized for its unique blend of entertainment and educational value, with IGN describing the franchise as “a vintage blend of educational and entertainment software at their finest”3. The game’s physics-based puzzles gained recognition for helping develop problem-solving skills while remaining genuinely entertaining8.

The original Incredible Machine’s impact on gaming culture was demonstrated dramatically when Neil Harris wrote in Computer Gaming World about how showing the game to an engineer friend caused “a chain reaction that brought productive work to a halt at a major naval yard”3.

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospectives continue to view The Even More Incredible Machine favorably as a classic of the puzzle genre. User reviews on gaming preservation sites describe it as “the greatest puzzle game ever” and praise its enduring appeal8. The game maintains strong user ratings across multiple platforms, reflecting its lasting legacy in the puzzle game genre.

Aggregate Scores:

  • MobyGames: 84% (Critics)1
  • MyAbandonware: 4.31/58
  • PlayMiniGames: 4.33/511
  • GameFAQs: “Great” rating (21 user ratings)4

The original Incredible Machine achieved significant recognition, being inducted into the Computer Gaming World Hall of Fame in 2006 and ranked #62 in their “150 Best Games of All Time” list in 19967.

Development

Origins

The Incredible Machine concept originated with designer Kevin Ryan, who had been developing ideas for a Rube Goldberg-style puzzle game for years before the opportunity to create it arose2. The game was inspired by multiple sources, including Bill Budge’s Pinball Construction Set, the classic Mouse Trap board game, and the puzzle mechanics of Lemmings10. The concept drew heavily from the works of Rube Goldberg, whose elaborate cartoon contraptions depicted complex machines designed to perform simple tasks in the most convoluted way possible2.

Three weeks after Ryan had been working on game concepts, Jeff Tunnell left a phone message offering him a job at Jeff Tunnell Productions specifically to develop “a Rube Goldberg game”12. This partnership would prove instrumental in bringing The Incredible Machine to life and establishing it as a successful franchise.

Production

The original Incredible Machine was developed on a remarkably modest budget of $36,000 over approximately nine months3. This lean development approach was characteristic of Jeff Tunnell Productions, which operated as a smaller studio under the Dynamix umbrella while maintaining creative independence.

Jeff Tunnell Productions developed The Even More Incredible Machine after Tunnell left Dynamix to start his own company, though the studio continued to work closely with Sierra On-Line for publishing and distribution13. The development team focused on creating new puzzle content and additional parts while preserving the physics engine and interface that made the original game successful.

Development Credits:7

  • Designer: Kevin Ryan
  • Designer: Jeffrey Tunnell
  • Composer: Christopher Stevens

Technical Achievements

The game’s physics simulation engine was a significant technical achievement for its era, providing deterministic simulation that allowed complex multi-body interactions to be calculated in real-time3. Unlike many games that used random number generators for variety, The Incredible Machine’s engine ensured that identical setups would produce identical results every time—a critical feature for puzzle gameplay that required precise solutions.

The engine simulated gravity, momentum, friction, and collision detection across dozens of simultaneously active objects, allowing players to create genuinely complex chain reactions10. The system was sophisticated enough to support variable gravity and atmospheric pressure settings in certain puzzles, demonstrating the simulation’s flexibility10.

Technical Specifications

CD-ROM Version:1

  • Resolution: 640x448, 16 colors (VGA)9
  • Audio: Contains regular CD audio tracks for background music1
  • Media: CD-ROM with enhanced audio quality

Floppy Version:1

  • Media: 3.5” Floppy Disk
  • Audio: MIDI-based music (lower quality than CD version)

GOG.com Release (2009):14

  • Installer Size: 16.8 MB
  • Localization: English
  • Platform: Windows (via DOSBox emulation)

Cut Content

No significant cut content has been documented for The Even More Incredible Machine.

Version History

VersionDatePlatformNotes
1.01993DOSInitial release with floppy disk distribution1
1.01993Windows 3.xWindows version release5
1.01993MacintoshMac OS release5
CD-ROM1993DOS/WindowsEnhanced CD audio version1
DigitalOctober 1, 2009WindowsGOG.com re-release via DOSBox9

Regional Release Variations:8

  • United Kingdom: 1993 (DOS)
  • United States: 1994 (DOS)
  • France: 1995 (DOS)
  • Japan: Released as “もっともっとインクレディブル・マシーン”15

Technical Issues

Several technical issues have been documented for various versions of the game9:

  • Windows 3.x Version: Does not function on 64-bit versions of Windows
  • Puzzle Progress Bug: Every time the game is restarted, it displays the first puzzle instead of tracking progress
  • Recent Puzzle Feature: The “most recent puzzle” feature only works correctly starting with puzzle #88
  • Score Persistence: Player scores are not stored when exiting the game
  • Volume Bug: Setting volume values larger than 6 causes graphical corruption and can cause the application to hang
  • GOG.com Release: Digital distribution version does not include speech and/or CD-audio tracks, resulting in reduced music quality compared to original CD-ROM release9

A community patch (GOG2CD Patch v.13062023) was created by modder Patrxgt to address the audio quality issues, replacing the low-quality floppy disk audio files with higher-quality versions from the original CD-ROM release16.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

The game includes several holiday-themed Easter eggs that appear when playing on specific dates17:

  • October 31: A Halloween Pumpkin appears in the game
  • December 25: A Christmas Tree decoration becomes available
  • March 17: A Four Leafed Clover appears for St. Patrick’s Day
  • February 14: An unpoppable heart-shaped balloon appears for Valentine’s Day

The original Incredible Machine was recognized in “1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die,” cementing its status as an important title in gaming history7.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

The Incredible Machine series achieved substantial commercial success, selling over 1 million copies by 20003. This sales performance established the franchise as one of Dynamix’s most successful properties and led to numerous sequels and spin-offs over the following decade.

The series spawned multiple follow-up titles including The Incredible Machine 2 (1994), Sid & Al’s Incredible Toons (1993), The Incredible Toon Machine (1994), The Incredible Machine 3 (1995), Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions (2000), and The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions (2001)2.

Awards

The franchise received industry recognition, with Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions winning the PC Family Award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences3.

Collections

The Even More Incredible Machine has been included in several compilation releases:

  • The Incredible Machine Mega Pack (2009): A digital compilation released by PushButton Labs containing The Even More Incredible Machine, The Incredible Machine 3, Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions, and The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions18
  • GOG.com Release: Available for digital purchase with DOSBox emulation for modern systems14

Fan Projects

The Incredible Machine franchise inspired a spiritual successor called Contraption Maker, released in 2014 by Spotkin Games2. The rights to The Incredible Machine were acquired by PushButton Labs in 2009, later transferring to Disney Interactive following corporate acquisitions2.

The game can now be played in browser through various classic gaming preservation websites, making it accessible to new generations of players11.

  • Game Manual: Included with original retail release, providing instructions for gameplay and copy protection codes9
  • User-Created Guides: Multiple FAQs and walkthroughs were created by the community, including comprehensive guides by Mike8787 (2003) and Lord_Seth (2006)19

Critical Perspective

The Even More Incredible Machine represents an important milestone in puzzle game design, demonstrating how physics simulation could create emergent gameplay long before such mechanics became commonplace in indie games. The game’s influence can be seen in countless “sandbox physics” titles that followed, from World of Goo to the many Rube Goldberg-inspired mobile games that proliferated in the smartphone era.

The series’ educational applications were recognized early, with the games being adopted by educators to teach physics concepts and problem-solving skills6. This dual appeal—entertaining for casual players while genuinely educational—positioned The Incredible Machine as a pioneering “edutainment” title that succeeded on both fronts without compromising either7.

The game’s design philosophy of allowing multiple solutions to each puzzle was ahead of its time, encouraging creative experimentation over rote memorization of predetermined answers10. This approach influenced subsequent puzzle game design and remains a benchmark for the genre.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

  • GOG.com - Available as part of The Incredible Machine Mega Pack

Download / Preservation

Manuals & Extras

Series Continuity

The Even More Incredible Machine serves as an expanded re-release of the original game, bridging the gap between the 1992 debut and the substantially revised sequel that followed. The game preserves all content from the original while adding significant new puzzles and features, making it the definitive version of the first-generation Incredible Machine experience9.

The series would continue to evolve with The Incredible Machine 2 in 1994, which introduced additional features and an entirely new puzzle set, followed by The Incredible Machine 3 (also known as Version 3.0) in 19952. A spin-off series featuring cartoon characters, beginning with Sid & Al’s Incredible Toons and continuing with The Incredible Toon Machine, expanded the franchise’s appeal to younger audiences20.

References

Footnotes

  1. MobyGames – The Even More Incredible Machine – developer, publisher, platforms, release dates, critic ratings, media formats ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  2. Dynamix Fandom Wiki – The Incredible Machine Series – series history, inspiration, version list, developer information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  3. Wikipedia – The Incredible Machine – sales data, awards, development budget, naval yard anecdote, IGN quote ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  4. GameFAQs – The Even More Incredible Machine – user ratings, puzzle count, freeform mode information ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  5. Internet Archive – The Even More Incredible Machine – platforms, release year, new content details ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. ClassicReload – The Incredible Machine – gameplay description, educational use ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  7. MobyGames – The Incredible Machine – credits, Hall of Fame status, player reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. MyAbandonware – The Even More Incredible Machine – user ratings, user comments, regional releases ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. PCGamingWiki – The Even More Incredible Machine – technical specifications, bugs, version information, GOG release ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  10. The Digital Antiquarian – design influences, part count, puzzle features ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  11. PlayMiniGames – The Even More Incredible Machine – user ratings, browser playability ↩ ↩2

  12. Dynamix Fandom Wiki – Kevin Ryan – development origin story ↩

  13. Sierra Fandom Wiki – Dynamix – company history, game development ↩

  14. GOG Database – digital release details, installer size ↩ ↩2

  15. ClassicReload – The Even More Incredible Machine – Japanese title, platform information ↩

  16. GamePressure – GOG2CD Patch – audio quality mod information ↩

  17. GameFAQs – Cheats – holiday Easter eggs ↩

  18. MobyGames – The Incredible Machine Mega Pack – compilation contents ↩

  19. GameFAQs – FAQs – community guide information ↩

  20. MobyGames – The Incredible Toon Machine – spin-off information ↩

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