Choose The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2
Choose The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 if you want the Stereo Sound, Narrated Game Menus, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. 1,057 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 vs Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged
The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 and Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged both land in Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam. The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 (2012) is 14 years older than Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged (2026). The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged has no Deck rating yet. No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged
Choose Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged if you want the Adjustable Text Size, Camera Comfort, and Adjustable Difficulty side of the pairing. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged launched in 2026.
Both The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 and Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged sit in Indie, Adventure, and Casual on Steam and both list Subtitle Options, Color Alternatives, and Custom Volume Controls, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 |  Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2026 |
| Genres | Indie, Adventure, Casual | Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 3.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 89.7% positive (1,057 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Cockroach Inc. | Revolution Software Ltd |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 (2012) is 14 years older than Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged (2026).
- The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged has no Deck rating yet.
The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 vs Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged — FAQ
- Should I play The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 or Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged first?
- If you want chronology, The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 (2012) came out before Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 and Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Adventure, Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Broken Sword - The Smoking Mirror: Reforged doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.