18 min read

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Overview

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions is a puzzle game released in 2001, serving as the eighth and final installment in the beloved Incredible Machine series.1 Developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line, the game builds upon the legacy of its predecessors by offering players 250 brand-new puzzles that challenge them to construct elaborate Rube Goldberg-style contraptions.2 The objective remains consistent with the series’ core concept: arrange a given collection of objects in needlessly complex fashion to perform simple tasks such as getting a character home safely, catching a cat in a basket, or lighting fireworks with a laser beam.3

The game functions as a direct continuation of Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions released a year earlier, featuring identical gameplay mechanics while providing substantially more content and increased difficulty.4 Players can choose to solve the 250 included puzzles or create their own contraptions using a comprehensive construction set, with the ability to swap puzzles with other players over the Internet through the WonSwap service.2 The award-winning legacy of the series continued with this installment, which combined improved head-to-head multiplayer modes and an updated easy-to-use interface.2

Although the game applies properties of physics to problem solving, it is so delightfully entertaining that gamers of all ages won’t realize the depth of learning involved.5 The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions represents a vintage blend of educational and entertainment software at their finest, making it particularly appealing to families and educators seeking engaging content for children.6

Story Summary

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions does not feature a traditional narrative storyline. Instead, the game presents players with a series of self-contained puzzle scenarios, each featuring its own objectives and challenges.6 Players interact with a quirky Professor character who serves as an in-game guide and mentor, providing instructions and hints for each puzzle through both readable text and voiced narration.6

Each puzzle presents a unique scenario with specific goals that must be accomplished. Tasks range from simple objectives like getting Mel home safely to more complex challenges such as blowing up fish tanks with missiles or lighting fireworks using laser beams and chain reactions.8 The Professor’s humorous commentary accompanies each puzzle, with memorable phrases like “Wipe that puzzled look off your face. It’s just a game, mon!” adding personality to the experience.9

The scenarios span a variety of whimsical situations that incorporate household objects, animals, and fantastical elements. Players might need to build monkey or mouse-powered machines, use lasers and fire fireworks, or start fires using a bowling ball and flint.10 The absence of a connected narrative allows each puzzle to stand alone as its own mini-story, creating hundreds of unique problem-solving situations.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions features a point-and-click interface with keyboard and mouse controls.1 The game operates in a paused state during construction, allowing players to carefully place objects in the environment before running the simulation to observe the results.10 Players select parts from their available inventory and drag them onto the playing field, rotating and positioning them precisely to achieve the desired outcome.

The interface was updated from previous installments to be more user-friendly and intuitive.2 In freeform mode, parts are split into categories to help players quickly locate the components they need.11 Every part includes a help button that displays a close-up view along with an explanation of how it works, making the game accessible to newcomers while maintaining depth for experienced players.11

Structure and Progression

The game contains 250 puzzles organized across multiple difficulty levels:1

  • Tutorial: 50 introductory puzzles teaching game mechanics (identical to Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions)1
  • Easy: Straightforward puzzles introducing basic concepts
  • Medium: Moderately challenging scenarios requiring more complex solutions
  • Difficult: Advanced puzzles with no hints provided9
  • Expert: The most challenging puzzles demanding precise placement and creative thinking
  • Two Player: 50 competitive head-to-head puzzles12

The biggest difference from its predecessor is that this game is considerably harder than Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions.13 All Difficult levels have no hints in the sequel, unlike in the original game.9 Speedrunners have completed all difficulty levels in approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes for the “Doctor of Contrapology” challenge, which requires completing every puzzle.14

Puzzles and Mechanics

The core gameplay involves constructing Rube Goldberg-type contraptions using over 100 different machine parts.12 These components range from simple tools to complex mechanisms, including:15

  • Basic objects: levers, pulleys, ropes, balls, and ramps
  • Power sources: candles, motors, generators, and lasers
  • Animals: cats, mice, monkeys, and other creatures that interact with the environment
  • Specialty items: anti-gravity pads, cannons, trampolines, and conveyor belts
  • Environmental elements: cheese, balloons, dynamite, and fireworks

The game gives players a surprising amount of freedom by offering multiple solutions to puzzles.16 This open-ended design encourages creativity and experimentation, allowing players to discover unconventional approaches to problems. The physics simulation is deterministic with no random number generator, ensuring that identical setups produce identical results every time.3

The Professor provides puzzle goals that can be read or listened to, offering accessibility for younger players.17 Sometimes solutions require making sure every single thing is in exactly the right place, demanding precision and patience from players.18

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its puzzle design while noting it was largely an expansion of the previous game’s formula.

GameSpot awarded the game 7.6 out of 10, with reviewer Trey Walker noting that “Like its predecessor, Even More Contraptions is an excellent puzzle game that is sure to please amateur inventors and puzzle game fans alike.”19 He acknowledged that “The problems in the game are only minor, and they do not detract from the overall experience and the high quality of the puzzles.”19

IGN gave Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions (the immediate predecessor) 8.4 out of 10, with Martin Reyes calling it “a vintage blend of educational and entertainment software at their finest.”6 He praised the educational value, stating “It’s a scientific fact: kids can’t run out of energy” in reference to the game’s ability to engage young players.6

All Game Guide awarded the game a score of 90, praising how “the game applies properties of physics to problem solving” while being “so delightfully entertaining that gamers of all ages won’t realize the depth of learning involved.”5

GameZone described it as “a wonderful program that will challenge players to use their brains in ways that involve both logic and creativity.”5

Children’s Software Revue (2001) provided a glowing endorsement, stating “Our testers, who ranged in age from seven to 43, all loved the program.”2

Absolute Games (Russia) gave Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions 80%, with reviewer Vyacheslav Golovanov recommending: “If you prefer developing brain muscles rather than finger muscles - try TIM4. You’ll like it, I assure you.”20

Modern Assessment

The Contraptions series (2000–2001), including both Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions and Even More Contraptions, received mixed reviews averaging around 7/10.7 Critics praised the shift to 3D visuals and enhanced edutainment value but offered criticism for occasionally dated physics simulations and less intuitive controls compared to the 2D originals.7

Hardcore Gaming 101’s retrospective noted that “After the long wait between The Incredible Machine 2/3, ROTIM’s a bit of a disappointment” while acknowledging that “Even More Contraptions is pretty much an expansion pack to ROTIM, but except for the first 50 tutorial puzzles from the original, the puzzles are brand-new.”11

User reviews remain enthusiastic decades after release. One reviewer on GameSpot declared “This is one of my all-time favorite PC games. This is a classic series done even better.”21 Many players fondly remember the game from their childhood, with comments like “This game was my LIFE as a kid” and “I Loved this game as a kid, me and a friend both had a copy at one time, the two of us would spend hours putting together intricate contraptions.”22

Aggregate Scores:

  • MobyGames: 7.9/101
  • GameSpot: 7.6/10 (User average: 8.3/10 from 100 ratings)19
  • GameRankings: 76.00%3
  • Glitchwave: 3.56/5.023
  • MyAbandonware: 4.59/5 (58 votes)22
  • GOG.com User Reviews: 4.5/510
  • RAWG: Rated “Exceptional”24

Development

Origins

The Incredible Machine series originated in 1992 as a collaboration between designer Kevin Ryan and Jeff Tunnell’s team at Dynamix.15 With a modest budget of $36,000, the team managed to create a game that felt like a physics experiment wrapped in a fun, puzzle-driven package.15 Inspired by the works of Rube Goldberg, the cartoonist famous for depicting absurdly complicated machines performing simple tasks, the series would go on to spawn seven more titles over nine years.9

Even More Contraptions emerged as a direct continuation of Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions, released just a year earlier in 2000.4 The development team sought to capitalize on the revived interest in the franchise by providing substantially more content while maintaining the core gameplay that fans loved. Kevin Ryan, who had been designing and programming games for almost five decades by the 2010s, remained instrumental in defining the series’ puzzle philosophy.25

Production

The game was developed by Dynamix, Inc. under the Sierra On-Line umbrella.1 While the core gameplay remained identical to Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions, the development team focused on creating 200 brand-new puzzles to supplement the 50 tutorial levels carried over from the previous game.1

The production incorporated music from earlier Incredible Machine versions, creating a sense of continuity with the series’ history.1 Most tracks remained the same as the previous game, but new compositions were added for this installment, including a few tracks from the very first The Incredible Machine game.26

Development Credits:1

  • Design: Brian Hahn, Neil Witkin, Jared W. Eden, Richard Tunnell, Garrett Turner
  • Original Series Designer: Kevin Ryan15
  • Producer Team: Jeff Tunnell Productions (original series)1

Technical Achievements

The Contraptions series marked a significant visual upgrade for the franchise, with parts now rendered in 3D rather than the 2D sprites of earlier installments.11 The game utilized a DirectDraw API for graphics rendering, supporting 800x600 resolution in 32-bit color.27

The physics engine remained deterministic, ensuring consistent puzzle solutions across all playthroughs.3 This technical decision was crucial for a puzzle game where players needed to refine their solutions through iteration—knowing that the same setup would always produce the same result was essential for the gameplay loop.

The game introduced the WonSwap service, allowing players to share homemade puzzles over the Internet—an innovative feature for its time that extended the game’s longevity through user-generated content.3

Technical Specifications

Windows Version:28

  • Resolution: 800x600 (fixed)27
  • Color Depth: 32-bit27
  • Audio: General MIDI, Digital (sampled) or MIDI (synthesized) soundtrack27
  • API: DirectDraw, DirectX 827
  • Disk Space: 40-50 MB minimum, 300 MB recommended27
  • Frame Rate: Less than 30 FPS27

Minimum Requirements:28

  • OS: Windows 95/98/ME/2000
  • Processor: Intel Pentium 90 MHz
  • RAM: 32 MB
  • Video: 1 MB VRAM, SVGA
  • CD-ROM: 4X speed
  • Input: Keyboard, Mouse

Recommended Requirements:28

  • Processor: Intel Pentium 166 MHz
  • RAM: 64 MB
  • Hard Drive: 50 MB free space

Macintosh Version:29

  • Resolution: 800x600, 16-bit color
  • OS: Mac OS 8.6, Mac OS X or higher
  • Processor: PowerPC 120 MHz
  • RAM: 32 MB
  • Storage: 50 MB hard drive space
  • Additional: CarbonLib 1.2, QuickTime 4.1

Cut Content

No significant cut content has been documented for this release. The game successfully included all planned puzzles and features.

Version History

VersionDatePlatformNotes
1.0September 14, 2001WindowsInitial release30
1.02001Mac OSMacintosh release1
1.02001Palm OSPalm Pilot version with custom parts/puzzles3
Mega PackOctober 1, 2009WindowsIncluded in compilation by PushButton Labs/Disney31
Digital2018WindowsAdded to GOG.com database32

The Palm Pilot version featured unique content designed specifically for the handheld platform, with custom parts and puzzles tailored to the device’s capabilities.3

Technical Issues

Several technical issues have been documented over the years:

  • Mac version audio files on disc were reported to be lower quality compared to the PC version.26
  • Modern macOS compatibility issues have been reported, with the game not working on newer versions of Apple’s operating system.2
  • Macintosh users reported issues with full-screen switching on small screen resolutions.33
  • Expert Level 19 “Panorama” puzzle is reportedly broken because a pre-set conveyor faces the wrong direction.9

Easter Eggs and Trivia

The game features several holiday-themed special items that appear when the computer’s system date matches specific holidays:34

  • Halloween (October 31): A bat appears when building contraptions, flying around when hit with a ball. A Jack-O-Lantern part also becomes available that can be lit with matches, lasers, or ignition devices and scares cats.34
  • Christmas Day: A Santa Claus lamp appears, functioning like a lava lamp but shaped like Santa.34
  • St. Patrick’s Day: A Leprechaun appears when building contraptions, dancing when hit with a ball.34
  • Valentine’s Day: A Cupid part unlocks, flying straight like a blimp and capable of popping things with its arrow.34

Additional trivia:

  • Puzzle names often reference popular songs, including “Like A Hurricane,” “Ring Of Fire,” and “Light My Fire.”9
  • The game intentionally breaks fundamental physics laws for gameplay purposes—lighting a fuse with a flashlight seems odd but works within the game’s logic.9
  • A cheat code allows instant victory: pressing ‘V’ at any time while the puzzle is running completes it immediately.35
  • The password system allows unlocking content with specific entries.35

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

The Incredible Machine series sold over 1 million copies by 2000, establishing itself as one of the most successful puzzle game franchises of the era.3 The series received the PC Family Award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences at the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.3 The original game was ranked #62 in Computer Gaming World’s “150 Best Games of All Time” list in 1996 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2006.36 The first game was also featured in “1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.”36

Even More Contraptions won the 2001 Puzzle Game of the Year according to MobyGames readers’ vote.1 Unfortunately, this would be the last original entry in the series, with Sierra not producing another Incredible Machine game after 2001.21

Collections

The game has been included in several compilations:

  • The Incredible Machine Mega Pack (2009): Published by PushButton Labs and Disney Interactive, this compilation included Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions (2000), The Even More! Incredible Machine (1993), The Incredible Machine 2 (1994), and The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions (2001).31
  • Hoyle Puzzle Games (2005): The game was included in this compilation release.3
  • GOG.com Digital Release: Currently available as part of The Incredible Machine Mega Pack, priced at $9.99.31

Fan Projects

Contraption Maker (2014): The spiritual successor to The Incredible Machine was developed by Kevin Ryan and the team at Spotkin, many of whom were original series creators.25 Ryan described the development experience: “Working on Contraption Maker with modern processors and GPUs, huge memory, connectivity, and high definition monitors is like being in a dream world.”37 The game features over 200 different parts and critters, with 196 main puzzles and 54 tutorial puzzles, plus support for multiplayer contraption creation with up to 7 players.25

An iOS version was published by Disney in 2011 but was removed from the store within a year.37

A speedrunning community has developed around the game, with active competition on speedrun.com. The current “Doctor of Contrapology” record stands at 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 47 seconds, set by Ben_eXceL.14

  • In-Game Manual: The GOG.com release includes a 37-page manual (2.1 MB) as bonus content.32
  • Digital Soundtrack: The soundtrack is available as bonus content with the GOG.com release (126.9 MB).32
  • Fan Walkthroughs: Comprehensive walkthroughs were created by community member Lord_Seth, winning FAQ of the Month in August 2005.30

Critical Perspective

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions represents both the culmination and conclusion of one of gaming’s most beloved educational puzzle franchises. Its family-friendly quality led to widespread popularity in homes and schools alike, introducing countless children to basic physics concepts through engaging, hands-on experimentation.9

The game’s design philosophy of offering multiple solutions to each puzzle fostered creativity and critical thinking, distinguishing it from more rigid puzzle games of the era.16 While critics noted that the Contraptions series felt somewhat dated compared to the innovative 2D originals, the core gameplay loop remained compelling enough to earn strong reviews and passionate fan devotion.7

The series’ influence can be seen in numerous physics-based puzzle games that followed, from Crazy Machines to the mobile hit Cut the Rope. The fact that original creator Kevin Ryan returned to develop Contraption Maker decades later speaks to the enduring appeal of the Rube Goldberg puzzle concept. As one reviewer noted, the game excels at challenging players to develop “brain muscles rather than finger muscles”—a design philosophy that remains relevant in an era increasingly concerned with meaningful educational gaming.20

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

Download / Preservation

Manuals & Extras

  • Manual included with GOG.com Mega Pack (37 pages)32

Series Continuity

The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions serves as the eighth and final entry in The Incredible Machine series, directly building upon Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions released the previous year.4 While it shares 50 tutorial puzzles with its predecessor, all other content was newly created for this release, making it function as both an expansion and standalone product.11

The series began in 1992 with the original The Incredible Machine, which established the core concept of building Rube Goldberg-style contraptions.36 Over the following nine years, Dynamix released seven additional titles, each expanding the parts catalog and puzzle count while refining the formula. Following Even More Contraptions, Sierra did not produce another entry in the series, making this the franchise’s swansong until the spiritual successor Contraption Maker arrived in 2014.21

The game’s IP rights passed through several hands following Sierra’s dissolution, eventually landing with Disney through the PushButton Labs acquisition. This allowed for the Mega Pack re-release that keeps the classic games commercially available for modern audiences.8

References

Footnotes

  1. MobyGames – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – release dates, developers, designers, platforms, ratings, awards ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  2. Amazon – Product Listing – release date, publisher, product description, Children’s Software Revue quote ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  3. Wikipedia – The Incredible Machine – series history, sales data, awards, WonSwap feature, physics engine details ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  4. Gamepressure – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – release date, developers, game description ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Metacritic – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – All Game Guide review, GameZone review ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. IGN – Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions Review – Martin Reyes review, score ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  7. Grokipedia – The Incredible Machine – series overview, mixed reviews analysis, engine info ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  8. Dynamix Fandom Wiki – series history, developers, IP rights ↩ ↩2

  9. TV Tropes – The Incredible Machine – trivia, puzzle references, bugs, difficulty comparison ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  10. GOG.com – The Incredible Machine Mega Pack – game description, user reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  11. Hardcore Gaming 101 – The Incredible Machine – retrospective review, 3D rendering, expansion pack details ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  12. GameSpot – Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions Review – Trey Walker review, parts count, puzzle count ↩ ↩2

  13. GameFAQs – Even More Contraptions FAQ – Lord_Seth walkthrough, difficulty comparison ↩

  14. Speedrun.com – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – speedrun records, categories ↩ ↩2

  15. ClassicReload – The Incredible Machine – development budget, Kevin Ryan, Dynamix collaboration ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  16. Old-Games.com – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – multiple solutions, parts description ↩ ↩2

  17. GameFAQs – Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions FAQs – puzzle goals description ↩

  18. Neoseeker Forums – Even More Contraptions Walkthrough – player discussion, precision requirements ↩

  19. GameSpot – Even More Contraptions Review – official review score, user ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  20. Absolute Games (Archived) – Russian review, Vyacheslav Golovanov quote ↩ ↩2

  21. GameSpot – User Reviews – Im_Paul user review, series history ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  22. MyAbandonware – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – user ratings, nostalgic comments, availability status ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  23. Glitchwave – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – user ratings, platform info ↩

  24. RAWG – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – rating, release date ↩

  25. Reddit – Contraption Maker Discussion – Kevin Ryan comments, Contraption Maker details ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  26. FFShrine Forums – Soundtrack Discussion – audio quality, soundtrack origins ↩ ↩2

  27. PCGamingWiki – The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions – technical specifications, API, resolution ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  28. VGRequirements (Archived) – system requirements ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  29. Macintosh Repository – Mac specifications ↩

  30. GameFAQs – Even More Contraptions FAQs – release date, FAQ of the Month ↩ ↩2

  31. MobyGames – The Incredible Machine Mega Pack – compilation contents, publishers ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  32. GOGDB – Product Entry – digital release info, bonus content ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  33. GameFAQs – Return of the Incredible Machine FAQ – Mac fullscreen issue ↩

  34. AbsolutCheats – Easter Eggs – holiday special items ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  35. SuperCheats – Cheats – cheat codes, passwords ↩ ↩2

  36. MobyGames – The Incredible Machine (Original) – awards, hall of fame, 1001 Games list ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  37. Wired – Contraption Maker Article – Jeff Tunnell quote, iOS version history ↩ ↩2

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