- Selected for the BIC 2026 Competition, the ambitious debut title of new developer Girion Games
- A 2.5D mecha stealth adventure combining cassette futurism visuals with comic/webtoon-style cutscenes
“MAKINA,” a mecha stealth action adventure currently under development by the Korean indie game developer KIRYON GAMES, will be released on PC (Steam) on December 25, 2026.
In a post-apocalyptic world where human emotions have become the most valuable energy source, the new title ‘Machina’ depicts the narrative of a vengeful pilot leading a machine that amplifies desire into the heart of a megacity addicted to emotions.
The game is characterized by a unique aesthetic achieved by combining cassette futurism and comic book-style direction into the 2.5D side-scrolling action genre. It is reported that development is currently over 65% complete and the final build-up to enhance the game’s quality is in full swing.
The fun of stealth and combat derived from the extreme contrast between the inside and outside of the cockpit
The world of ‘Machina’ begins 133 years after the end of the ‘War of the Worlds,’ a massive clash over emotional energy. Although the old civilization was shattered, the surviving humanity continues to live entirely dependent on emotional energy amidst anxiety and fear.
The settlement ‘Neo Sol,’ created by converting a subway station, has maintained a precarious peace through emotional energy and piloted exoskeleton weapons called ‘Machina.’ However, this peace is shattered when a minor mistake by a rookie Machina pilot named ‘Cheshire’ leads to an attack by the powerful force ‘Alpha.’
Alpha kidnaps all the inhabitants of Neo Sol, and Cheshire boards ‘Rasha,’ a dangerous machina that amplifies emotions and desires, to rescue them. His destination is Alpha’s massive city, ‘Tempest.’
The player infiltrates Tempest to track down and eliminate four emotion-obsessed rulers, including a scientist, an architect, a K-pop idol, and a director, while uncovering the reasons behind their obsession with emotions and the massive conspiracy hidden behind it.
The game alternates between two main playstyles. While aboard the Machina, players confront massive enemies by activating destructive tactical abilities such as ‘Express Mode’, ‘Elbow Rocket’, and ‘Railgun’.
On the other hand, when you are out of the cockpit in a vulnerable pilot state, you must use emotional gadgets to stealthily carry out assassinations, avoid the enemy’s gaze, and solve puzzles to clear a path.
The Makina cannot move without a pilot, and the pilot cannot survive without the Makina. The combination of these two contrasting gameplay styles and cinematic multi-stage boss battles is expected to provide players with a deep sense of immersion.
The world where cassette futurism meets comics and webtoons
‘Machina’ boasts retro visuals inspired by Cassette Futurism, a retro sci-fi sensibility of the 80s and 90s.
With a unique design where analog machines and futuristic technology coexist, and Steam tags such as ‘Atmospheric’, ‘Post-apocalyptic’, and ‘Comic Book’, the atmosphere where hard-boiled sci-fi and emotional stories coexist is impressive.
The most notable feature is the hand-drawn cutscene direction, which is deeply influenced by comics and webtoons. The graphic novel-style direction, deeply rooted in the sensibilities of comics and webtoons, seamlessly transitions with gameplay to drive the narrative. It is the element that best demonstrates the ‘cinematic sci-fi’ identity the studio aims for.
The debut work of a K-new indie studio that has built a solid foundation
Leon Games began building its worldview in earnest in April 2025 by commencing planning for the ‘Machina’ project.
After establishing a corporation in August of the same year, preparations for commercialization began in October with the production of a playable demo. In December, the project was selected for the Seoul Business Agency (SBA)’s Stove Indie support program, putting it on a full-scale development track.
Starting with the first teaser in March of this year, we successively released a prologue in May and a Steam page in June, and in August, we entered the competition section of the Busan Indie Connect (BIC) Festival 2026 to have our first on-site interaction with users.
Following this, there are plans to participate in the Swedish Game Conference in October and G-STAR in November, and after the official PC (Steam) launch in December 2026, there are plans to expand into console platforms such as PlayStation and Nintendo Switch in the first quarter of 2027.
‘Machina’, presented by a new development company established just over a year ago, is an ambitious title featuring a differentiated worldview, narrative direction, and fresh combat mechanics.
The true value of ‘Machina,’ which combines retro-style cassette futurism visuals with stylish cutscenes reminiscent of webtoons, shines on the dizzying boundary between the interior of the cockpit, where heavy mechanical sounds resound, and the exterior, where one must hold their breath.
A perilous journey between a giant machine and a human pilot unfolds in a world thirsty for emotion. Cheshire’s race toward ‘Tempest,’ a city chilled by vengeance, begins now.
Information regarding ‘MAKINA’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Kiryon Games (KIRYON GAMES, Kiryon Co., Ltd., South Korea) |
| Publisher | Girion Games (Self-publishing) |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Stealth, Mecha Action |
| platform | PC (Steam) and Console (PS/NS) expansion scheduled for Q1 2027 |
| Release date | December 25, 2026 |
| engine | Unity |
| price | $9.99 (USD) |
| language | Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), etc. |
| Playtime | Up to about 5 hours |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Expanding recognition through festival stages, including participation in the BIC 2026 competition. |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
