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About Nex Machina
Nex Machina is a twin‑stick arcade shooter from Housemarque that draws inspiration from classic titles like Robotron and Smash TV. It is set in a cable‑punk future where sentient robots have turned against humanity, emphasizing fast‑paced action and voxel‑based destruction.
The Windows version offers more than 100 levels across six worlds, a deep scoring system linked to community and friend leaderboards, and local split‑screen co‑op. Visuals use signed‑distance‑field ray‑tracing on a reworked Housemarque engine and the game supports full controller input.
01 / THE GUIDE
Core Gameplay
Players move with one stick and fire with the other, allowing independent direction of travel and fire. The design centers on destroying waves of hostile robots while navigating the level layout.
The game emphasizes pure action and competition, with voxel destruction as a visual hallmark. Levels contain secret paths and hidden humans that can be discovered during play.
- Experiment with different stick angles to keep enemies in view while moving away from danger.
- Look for visual cues that indicate a secret path entrance.
02 / THE GUIDE
Levels and Worlds
Over 100 challenging levels are divided among six distinct worlds, each presenting its own visual theme and enemy types. The level count is explicitly noted in the official description.
Secret paths, hidden levels, and humans are scattered throughout the worlds, providing optional exploration beyond the main enemy waves.
- When a level feels repetitive, search the edges for unusual geometry that may hide a secret path.
- Re‑enter earlier worlds after unlocking new abilities to locate missed hidden routes.
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Local Co‑op Multiplayer
The title supports shared/split‑screen co‑op on a single Windows PC, allowing players to use twin‑stick controls simultaneously. Both participants face the same enemy waves and level layout.
Co‑op simply adds other players to the existing gameplay experience.
- Coordinate movement to avoid both ships occupying the same space.
- Communicate enemy spawn patterns to maintain consistent fire coverage.
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Scoring and Leaderboards
A deep scoring system records performance metrics such as enemy destruction and level completion. Scores are posted to community and friend leaderboards, creating a metagame around high‑score competition.
Steam achievements are available for the game, providing additional goals that players can pursue alongside score improvement.
- Review top leaderboard entries to see which levels yield the highest scores.
- Check the achievement list to identify objectives that align with your play style.
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Technical Features
Nex Machina runs on a voxel‑driven, significantly reworked Housemarque engine that incorporates signed distance field (SDF) ray‑tracing and morphing technology, delivering advanced visual fidelity on Windows PCs.
The game includes full controller support, Steam Cloud, Steam Trading Cards, and Remote Play options for phone, tablet, TV, and Together, extending accessibility across various hardware.
- Enable Remote Play on a secondary device if you prefer a larger viewing area.
- Use Steam Cloud to keep your progress available across multiple Windows installations.
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