Submachine Universe

Submachine Universe is a spin-off project, developed as part of the Submachine series by Mateusz Skutnik. It is created with major contribution from fans: several theories about the nature or history of the mysterious Submachine, created by fans (sometimes on Skutnik's request) were included in the game and some ideas for locations were based on fan-made artwork. Also other kinds of fan-made content, such as photographs or drawings, are a part of the game.

The game began as browser-only in 2010 and included 50 locations and 23 theories. After that, it was periodically updated and expanded. In January 2017 the so far biggest change was introduced. Skutnik decided to keep the game free, in recognition of the fans' contribution, but to make it download-only and discontinue the browser version.

The game begins in a lab dormitory, also known from "Submachine 5". The player receives a few coordinates of locations after turning on a computer and afterwards it is up to him or her to explore the "subnet" further by looking for clues to new locations in the previously visited ones. Some clues are given straight, but some are more difficult to find: for example, they may be hidden in photos or videos or they may be given as simple equations with unknowns, which can only be solved after the value of the unknown is revealed in a clue in another location. Some of the locations included in the game are revisited places from previous games (usually with some changes), but most are found only in Submachine Universe itself. Some locations can only be accessed by using karma portals in another location.

At first Submachine Universe was described as "not a game" because, while having some inventory puzzles like the games in the main storyline, it had no goal other than exploration and couldn't be finished. However, this has changed in the currently newest version: the game can now be completed (by escaping from the Submachine network) and several aspects of the premise and the puzzles involved are similar to Submachine 10: the Exit.