Machinarium developer’s next game will be built with stunning 3D dioramas

polygon.com:

Amanita Design, the Czech indie collective known for creating beautiful and whimsical games like Machinarium and the Samorost series, announced its next project on Wednesday. The new game is called Phonopolis, and it will follow a man named Felix in his journey to rise up against an authoritarian government. It will also be Amanita Design’s first 3D game.

Like the studio’s most recent project, 2020’s Creaks, Phonopolis will integrate both puzzle and exploration elements. You’ll play as Felix, a “thoughtful young man” who accidentally becomes aware of the ways in which he and his fellow countrymen are being manipulated by an authoritarian ruler via a system of loudspeakers. After becoming conscious of the threat, he sets off to stop the all-powerful leader from taking control of everyone in the city, once and for all.

The team behind the game, led by Petr Filipovič, Eva Marková, and Oto Dostál, said in a news release that Phonopolis, both “ideologically and visually,” is “strongly influenced by avant-garde artistic trends of the interwar period such as constructivism, futurism, or suprematism.” Rejecting tradition and celebrating new revolutionary ways characterized the artistic movements of that period, according to Marková.

“We are attempting to utilize avant-garde art in some more playful, enjoyable ways, not unlike children’s toys and paper models. One of our goals is to cheer the player with a bit of honest childlike joy,” Marková said.

Amanita also released some concept art from Phonopolis. It’s absolutely stunning, and you can view the full gallery below.

Amanita Design was founded in 2003 and is known for creating visually captivating point-and-click games such as the Samorost series, Machinarium, and