After navigating a series of development hurdles over the last five years, Pragmata has finally arrived to critical acclaim. The game plunges players into a high-tech lunar research facility, casting them as Hugh, a seasoned space investigator who crosses paths with Diana, an enigmatic young android.
Trapped within a crumbling lunar base overrun by rogue AI, the duo must rely on one another to survive. While the premise shares the claustrophobic dread of Event Horizon—where investigators answer a distress call only to find a desolate, hostile vessel—Pragmata eschews pure cosmic horror in favor of grounded, mystery-driven science fiction.
Imagine the emotional weight of Logan blended with the cerebral, grand scale of Interstellar, all centered on the evolving relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence. If that premise resonates with you, here are the finest films to watch after finishing Pragmata.
5 Solaris (1972)
More of a meditative psychological experience than a traditional film, Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris investigates the mysteries of the cosmos through the lens of human grief and memory. Based on Stanisław Lem’s novel, the story follows psychologist Kris Kelvin as he arrives at a neglected space station orbiting the mysterious planet Solaris.
Mirroring Hugh’s experience in Pragmata, Kelvin finds a crew unraveling after a series of inexplicable events. He soon discovers that the station is a crucible for repressed trauma, as the planet itself begins to manifest physical projections of his darkest memories. It is a haunting, deliberate, and deeply philosophical journey that mirrors Pragmata‘s exploration of what it means to be sentient.
Where to watch: HBO Max
4 After Yang (2021)
While A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a classic in this genre, After Yang offers a more intimate, emotionally devastating perspective on synthetic life. Directed by Kogonada and produced by A24, the film focuses on a family struggling to repair their malfunctioning android son in a near-future setting.
Yang occupies a space similar to Diana in Pragmata; though synthetic, he is deeply woven into the fabric of the family unit. The film asks profound questions about whether memories and emotional bonds can equate to a “soul.” It is an understated masterpiece that lingers long after the credits roll.
Where to watch: Available to rent online.
3 Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 is perhaps the definitive portrayal of synthetic life coexisting with humanity. Set thirty years after the original, the film follows “K,” a replicant Blade Runner who unearths a long-buried conspiracy that threatens to rewrite the reality of his world.
Beyond its stunning visuals—which set a new standard for modern sci-fi cinematography—the film excels in its quiet examination of identity and longing. The bond between K and the AI hologram Joi serves as a perfect thematic companion to the connection between Hugh and Diana in Pragmata.
Where to watch: Available to rent online.
2 Ex Machina (2015)
Alex Garland’s Ex Machina traps a young programmer in the isolated, high-tech compound of an eccentric tech CEO. Tasked with performing the Turing test on an advanced humanoid robot, he quickly realizes that the lines between creator and creation are far more blurred than he imagined.
With its sterile, minimalist aesthetic and tense, claustrophobic atmosphere, it captures the isolation found in Pragmata perfectly. It is a sharp, gripping study of manipulation and machine consciousness that remains one of the best sci-fi films of the last decade.
Where to watch: HBO Max
1 Moon (2009)
The title alone highlights the immediate thematic link to Pragmata. Moon follows Sam Bell, an operator on a solitary lunar mining base who slowly begins to lose his grip on reality as his contract nears its end. His only companion is an AI named GERTY, whose true motives remain frustratingly opaque.
Moon is essential viewing for anyone who enjoyed Pragmata. It trades explosive action for a slow-burning, psychological unraveling set against the unforgiving backdrop of space. It is a masterful exploration of the cost of isolation and the crushing weight of systemic deception.
Where to watch: Tubi
Source: Polygon
