Clockwork Cleanup is a free-to-play auto-battler with a roguelike twist that’s gaining serious traction on Steam. In this game, players must protect a spell factory from swarms of bizarre creatures armed with nothing but their wits, a grid of tiles, and MAC, the Magical Automatic Custodian.

Clockwork Cleanup makes every tile count

The core mechanic hinges on connecting tiles that charge up MAC, your robotic ally. The longer the connection, the stronger the attack. But the grid is limited, which turns every placement into a calculated move. You’ll often be forced to sacrifice something good for something better.

MAC doesn’t hold back when powered up, but neither do the enemies. Across 35 battles each split into five escalating waves, you’ll square off against 22 distinct foes, including hulking bosses that can wreck your setup if you’re sloppy.

What makes Clockwork Cleanup feel fresh

What sets this game apart isn’t just the satisfying puzzle-loop of tile placement. Between battles, you’ll gather rewards and make strategic upgrades like expanding the grid, healing, or shifting tile paths. These decisions stack fast and hit harder the deeper you go.

Here’s what you can do after each fight:

• Upgrade your arsenal
• Extend your grid
• Heal MAC
• Merge tiles for bonus effects
• Reroute tile paths

This evolving strategy keeps things from going stale though not everyone agrees.

Clockwork Cleanup is winning fans, but not everyone

The game boasts a glowing 99% positive rating on Steam. Most players appreciate the tight mechanics and the fact that it’s completely free of microtransactions. Still, some wish it packed in more content. A few reviews mention that the experience ends just when it gets interesting.

Will Clockwork Cleanup build long-term steam?

Right now, Clockwork Cleanup is a hit. But its staying power might depend on how much depth the developers can add down the line. For now, though, it’s a bite-sized blast of brainy, grid-based chaos and that’s more than enough for its growing fanbase.