The Switch has become a great platform for narrative Science Fiction games. Quarantine Circular, Subsurface Circular, NeoCab, In Other Waters, and a number of other fantastic little releases have allowed players to explore heady themes like automation, the nature and ethics of AI, and the rocky relationship between privacy and the convenience of technology. CAN ANDROIDS PRAY is the latest addition to the genre, presenting a “sitcom-length” conversation between two mech pilots as they await their imminent death.

CAN ANDROIDS PRAY is a weird game to “review”. That “sitcom-length” claim is completely true - it is only about 20 minutes long. There isn’t a lot of gameplay to really discuss. It is exactly what I mentioned above. It’s a conversation between two mech pilots who have been caught in an explosion chasing an enemy mech. Their suits are disabled, and they are waiting for their death - either through a fuel tank explosion or breathing poisoned air. Your main role is to steer the conversation, dictating how their last moments play out. The can choose how one of the pilots responds to the other’s questions - that’s about it.

That’s about all there is to it. CAN ANDROIDS PRAY is a 20-minute conversation where you can choose responses for one of the two participants. Your choices change the dialogue, adding some replay value, but the end outcome is basically the same.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. CAN ANDROIDS PRAY is still a fascinating experience. The writing is fantastic. You can feel the pain, rage, and - finally -acceptance in the other pilot. It is bleak, but also utterly fascinating. The detail and world building presented in the 20 minutes is also fairly interesting. During this conversation, the prospect that one or both of the pilots are not human at all is dropped right into the forefront. A large number of the mechs are actually piloted by AI, and no one knows what they actually are. Ultimately, however, the end result is the same - death awaits both human and AI.

CAN ANDROIDS PRAY is an interesting short story about acceptance of death, religion and feelings on what comes after, and how those feelings change given the existence and prominent use of artificial intelligence. The visual elements are minimal, but effective - as is the ambient soundtrack.

It definitely isn’t a game for everyone, or even really a “game” as we generally define it. Yet, it is kind of fascinating and certainly worth experiencing for those interested in existentialist Science Fiction. Is it worth $2.99? Overall, I think so. I’ve certainly spent that much on far worse things, and many lengthier games have left me with far less to stew over after completing them.

A copy of CAN ANDROIDS PRAY was provided for this review.

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