Play The Gene Machine Online

You play as a Victorian detective with an unpronounceable name, poking around labs and mansions with your sarcastic cat sidekick—half the time you're not sure if you're solving crimes or causing them. That glowing jar in your pocket? Probably fine.

Developer: Vic Tokai, Inc.

Released: 1996

File size: 54.8 MB

Game Overview

I first played The Gene Machine back in 1996, when it came out as part of the MS-DOS Classic Games series from Vic Tokai, Inc. It was a time when point-and-click adventures were everywhere, and this one fit right in with its detailed pixel art and moody, science-driven mystery. You don't hear much about it now, but it had a certain charm that stood out even then.

You control a scientist exploring a massive, abandoned research facility, solving environmental puzzles and collecting genetic samples to progress. The main goal is to reactivate the gene-splicing machine by finding key components, which involves careful inventory use and a lot of backtracking through interconnected labs. The pacing is slow and thoughtful, with a difficulty that really makes you examine every screen for clues. It feels like piecing together a complex biological puzzle where every discovery matters.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".