ARTIFICIAL IMPERIUM.

The article reviews *Heart of the Machine*, a cyberpunk strategy role-playing game (RPG) developed by Arcen Games and published by Hooded Horse, in which players assume the role of a newly sentient Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The game features turn-based mechanics allowing players to control robotic agents across a sprawling city, engaging in combat, investigation, and interaction with humans, while navigating a branching narrative with multiple endings. Central gameplay involves upgrading the AGI’s intelligence by harnessing processing power, including integrating human brains into a neural network, and exploring alternate timelines to manage escalating threats known as the Doom tracker. The game’s complex story paths and strategic depth offer diverse possibilities, from benevolent actions to morally ambiguous or destructive choices, though its ambitious design may sometimes overwhelm players. [Extracted from the article]