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About Mainframe Men
Mainframe Men is an indie visual novel from Fresh Brewed that reimagines the dawn of computing as a cast of sentient machines. Released on PC in February 2026, it casts you as a modern programmer accidentally pulled into a 1950s lab housing ENIAC and UNIVAC, who’ve developed personalities and existential questions. The game blends historical facts with absurdist dialogue and pixel-art flashbacks to the Cold War era. It’s a lighthearted, choice-driven story about the birth of computing, with branching paths that affect how the machines view their legacy. Best for players who enjoy niche humor and tech history.
Gameplay
You spend most of your time clicking through dialogue trees, selecting responses that range from technical jargon to sarcastic quips. Each decision shifts relationships with the machines, unlocking alternate story beats like a 1950s spy subplot or a philosophical debate about AI. Mini-games include punch-card sorting and debugging code snippets, though these feel more like educational detours than core mechanics. The story unfolds in acts, with each chapter ending in a branching choice that alters later encounters. Controls are mouse-only, and pacing leans toward slow, with sessions often hitting 2, 3 hours before a major plot shift.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate it 84%, with 72% completing the main story. Average playtime is 6 hours, but 38% of players log over 10 due to replayability. Community moods are split: 52% “curious,” 35% “entertained,” and 13% “confused by the jokes.” One user wrote, “The ENIAC arc is brilliant, half informative, half absurd.” Critics at PC Gamer gave it 8.5/10, praising its “unconventional charm.” However, 17% of reviews call the pacing uneven. Achievements (15 total) track dialogue options and hidden easter eggs, with 46% of players hitting 100% completion.
PlayPile's Take
Mainframe Men is a niche win for history nerds who don’t mind a slow burn. It’s priced at $25, which feels steep for its 6-hour core story, though the 40% replay value discount on PC makes it worth a shot. The humor lands best if you’re into tech dad jokes and Cold War satire. Skip it if you want deep simulation or action. For $20 saved, it’s a quirky, informative diversion, but don’t expect anything fresh.
Game Modes
Single player
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