Any recommendations for time loop games?
Any recommendations for time loop games?
I really enjoy time loop games where the player can explore and there's a story, and isn't just a puzzle game. I played Outer Wilds a few years ago and I loved everything about it, it's my favorite in the genre.
Ones I've played and liked / have on my list to play that look good:
- Outer Wilds - (I still need to play the DLC)
- Deathloop
- Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- Undertale?
- The Sexy Brutale
- Zero Escape series (on my list to play)
Ones I don't like as much:
- The Forgotten City - I liked the story (for the most part) but I felt it was spoiled far too early. I think by being a shorter non-linear game that was likely to happen. I got 3/4 endings in 6 hours. It was very hand-holdy which I didn't like. It had quests and quest markers which I felt didn't help the game at all. I wish it went the Outer Wilds approach and instead listed everything you learned, so the player would have to piece together what they needed to do next.
- Twelve Minutes - I watched a playthrough of this game. The story was very interesting, but I don't think I would have the patience for the puzzles, it's a puzzle heavy game. I would like a game with more exploration.
- Minit - Played it for ~3 hours, it was interesting but I would like a longer time loop.
These games have a time travel mechanic which I still enjoy but aren't really what I'm looking for:
- Braid - The story is very interesting but it's a puzzle platformer with levels.
- Life is Strange - I love this game but it's a time travel game rather than a time loop.
- Chrono Trigger - I think this game has time travel instead of a time loop, it's still on my list to play.
- Steins;gate (now on my list to rewatch rather than play, and it's more time travel rather than groundhog day time loop).
Are there any hidden gems I'm missing? Preferably looking for games I can play on PC but I also have a Switch, Wii U, and 3DS.
Well you've already recommended the next best one. The dlc for Outer Wilds.;)
I've literally just completed Outer Wilds, before finding the... entrance... to the DLC, and it's not grabbed me like the rest of the game. Is it worth doing?
The vibe for the DLC is completely different than the rest of the game, so I'm not terribly surprised that you'd be a little put off. However, Mobius Studios did plan to have the DLC even when they were still making the main game. In other words, it integrates very well into the story and explains pieces of the lore that were left unanswered in the main game.
If I were to use an analogy, it would be like
spoilers
going to the Quantum Moon
in that it's technically optional but the game really won't feel complete if you decide not to do it
The DLC has a couple of game design choices that I've felt detracted from the experience, and put it a notch below the main game. I'm still glad I played it, because the core Outer Wilds vibe is still there, and finishing the main game again after wrapping up the DLC had a worthwhile emotional payoff.
Not quite "time loop", but related: Return of the Obra Dinn. I need the developer to make another game with exactly the same mechanics.
Thanks for reminding me to play it! it's been on my list forever, it looks so good.
There's a tiny game called Loop Hero where your hero goes on a literal loop around the world, facing enemies as they go and while you craft a world of out existence. Pretty fun.
Not a time loop game but has one of the best time loop levels of any game I have played - Titanfall 2.
Returnal is brutal but really fun.
This looks interesting! I'll add it to my list, until it either gets a patch on PC to fix the memory leak, or I come across a PS5.
The Mooncrash DLC for Prey (2017) isn't strictly a time loop game but it might have a lot of the elements that you find interesting.
Play the Outer Wilds DLC, if you loved the base game, you will like the DLC too
Yes. You need to play the dlc. It is so worth it.
Slay the Princess is a relatively light game (largely narrative) that has this as part of its conceit.
Enderal. If you have Skyrim I'm your steam library, you can get Enderal for free.
"Time loop" is a stretch, but if time loop is your cup of tea, I guarantee Enderal will scratch that itch.
I've posted a full pitch for it before - when I'm on my computer next I'll dig it up and repost it here (on mobile now).
Until then, search the steam store for it, and avoid spoilers like the plague.
As promised:
Enderal.
Official page here: https://sureai.net/games/enderal/
Original Skyrim version: https://store.steampowered.com/app/933480/Enderal_Forgotten_Stories/
2016 Skyrim re-release “special edition” version: https://store.steampowered.com/app/976620/Enderal_Forgotten_Stories_Special_Edition/
You’ll need whichever version corresponds with the version of skyrim you own. If you own both, I’d recommend choosing the version of enderal that goes with the version of skyrim that you play the least - because it uses skyrim’s assets, switching back and forth has been known to corrupt saves, so back up any skyrim saves you care about.
Anywho, Enderal is set in its own universe - it looks and kind of feels like skyrim because it’s built from the same blocks, but has nothing to do with the Elder Scrolls, or Tamriel, etc (barring a few easter eggs). New lore, new characters, new terrain, new music, new voice acting.
The company that made it is “SureAI” - indie dev crew that has nothing to do with AI. /shrug. It’s a predominately German studio, and while Enderal is available in English, iirc the English version is voice acted mostly by German native speakers who happen to know English as a second language. Reason for mentioning that is: be gentle in your judgement of the voice acting, lol. Along the main quest line, it’s pretty much all rock solid; some of the side quests and random NPCs… not so much. And the children NPC voice acting is fucking awful. The console command “TAI” (after targeting an entity) can be used to shut up an annoying NPC without breaking it - just TAI it again if you happen to need to interact with it for a quest or something later.
Speaking of the command console - don’t be afraid to use the command console!! Again, this game is built on Skyrim’s engine/assets, so it comes with all of skyrim’s problems - e.g., step on a basket full of cabbage; get launched into low orbit. Things like quest items falling through the floor n’ shit can happen, so you may need to use the console to force a quest to progress or some shit - also save frequently, same reason. And from a technical standpoint, some of the shit they do with Skyrim’s engine is mindblowing.
Not much of a sales pitch so far lol. The good stuff though: Enderal’s story is pretty wild. There isn’t really a traditional antagonist - instead it tackles concepts ranging from philosophical to religious to emotions / repressed emotions… this game WILL get under your skin, but in a really artistic kind of way. Very much a passion project by the devs.
Combat and skills are completely redone. It’s not like Skyrim where you can just shoot icicles up a mudcrab’s ass until your destruction level is 100. It plays kinda like an oldschool RPG where killing shit gives you overall-level xp, but raising skills requires skillbooks that you’ll need to find or buy. Also the things that were OP in skyrim are no longer so - try the sneaky archer build in Enderal and you’ll get your ass handed to you in pretty much every encounter. I recall having a lot of fun with the 2H sword path; and the magic ‘schools’ are mostly redone (like iirc there’s a school of ‘Entropy’ that an entire talent tree dedicated to dark lifesteal type spells, and stronger attacks that use HP instead of mana) so read through the options, cuz a lot of them will be totally new.
Even with all the combat tweaks though, it plays pretty familiar to Skyrim, just don’t lean too heavily into Skyrim’s tricks.
The story though, and the way they tell it… holy shit. If you’re a bookworm, you know when you finish the last page of a REALLY good book, and then get hit by that kind of empty feeling as it sinks in that the ride is over, and you want more but know there’s nothing left? I’ve played a fuckton of videogames, and only ONE has ever hit me with that at its conclusion: and yup, it’s Enderal.
It’s a slow start, and there’s some jankiness in general like the occasional shit voice acting and technical instability, but if you can look passed that shit (and I mean, keep in the back of your mind that it’s a FREE passion project from an indie dev crew with no real budget), then this game will go down as one of your all time favorites.
May I recommend No-one has to die? It's a bite-sized webgame that I thought was really good, you can finish it in under an hour.
Also if you're going to play steins;gate I would recommend skipping the sequel (steins;gate 0). It's not good.
Maybe Radiant Historia fits your bill. It's a JRPG by Atlus originally on the DS, with a remaster on the 3DS. You can time travel to different nodes in the story and the game will replay identically, which of the "loop" part. It has a branching storyline stemming from a choice early in the game, and you have to hop to the other branch to get abilities and information for the other.
Surprised I haven't seen Quantum Break in here. It's a pretty good shooter with some magic powers thrown in for fun. You don't get much say in the story, but it still kept my interest all the way through. And it has an interesting take on time travel, woven into the story quite well. It was made by Remedy Entertainment, before Control but after Alan Wake. Also I liked how they cast real actors in the game and made them recognizable. I picked out Courtney Hope in the game from seeing her in Control, even though her character is different in QB.
You might enjoy the recently released Cobalt Core. It's really more like Slay the Spire in space, but the addition of a time loop gives a neat narrative framing to the deckbuilder mechanics.
Bioshock infinite comes to mind, even though the timeloop aspect of the game is entirely related to the storyline, no game mechanics use it.
Try Hitman. All the characters walk around the world and go about their business, and it's up to you to plan out how to go between that and do the assaination after understanding movement routes and actions
I was pleasantly taken by surprise when I got around to playing Angels With Scaly Wings. The title and the trailer had given me a very incorrect idea of what the game was going to be like. Once past the somewhat contrived set up, it ended up being a very well paced sci fi story that keeps throwing curve balls at you loop after loop.
That sounds amazing, I've added it to my list. Thank you!
timemelters?
The time loop mechanic for combat looks very interesting, thank you.
Cobalt Core is also timeloopy :3
A time loop roguelike deckbuilder... I enjoyed Slay the Spire a lot, I will add this one to my list, thank you!
Verily!
Katana Zero
Personally I would recommend watching the Steins;Gate anime rather than playing the game. The game has a bit of a confusing mechanic for making choices and reaching the true ending basically requires a guide. I also feel the story flows better in the anime, even if some details are left out.
It's also one of the few series where I unconditionally recommend the English dub, which may make it more accessible to those that don't necessarily watch a lot of anime. Part of it is that the script relies so heavy on localized, niche cultures and science jargon, and partly because there are some crazy good performances.
Agreed, the dub is good and actually does a better job at conveying the story than the subtitled version does. The subtitled version can be a little confusing for someone watching it for the first time.
I played the game first and then watched the anime. I always tell people the game is good. I like the idea of not being influenced by a pre-set “true” ending. That is my preference though.
I watched the anime years ago but have forgotten most of it other than the fact I liked it a lot! Thank you, I will rewatch it instead of playing the game.
Oxenfree
Alan Wake American Nightmare
There is No Time to Explain. It's one of those mechanics based platformers with crazy time loop story.
It's a bit out there, but Planescape: Torment.
It's not a real time loop, but you're an immortal amnesiac who just woke up on a mortuary slab.
Apparently not for the first time either.The game revolves around figuring out why you're even immortal, what to do about it, and what your different previous incarnations were up to.
While not a time loop, it has a unique vibe that's vaguely similar to a time loop in a sense.
Maybe more like a death loop I guess (not related to the Deathloop game).
It's a 90s era CRPG if that's your jam.This looks very promising, I'll check it out!
Fair warning...
It's old (Infinity Engine, like Baldur's Gate 1)
It's a lot of text to read.It's still one of my favourites, but its age shows.
It's light on exploration and close to a visual novel, but for non-linear narrative, it's possible you might like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.
I don't want to say too much about it, but Undertale is more about a different kind of loop structure, something unique to gaming. If you like it, you may also like Pony Island, which does work with loops a bit.
Chrono Trigger's time travel works more like crossing timelines that are in parallel but are also in motion, all with some impact on each other. Still a great game in general, though.
I'll have a look at 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, thank you!
Years ago I played Undertale and Pony Island and I love them both so much. I have a soft spot for 4th wall breaking games.
Prince Of Percia: the Sands of Time It's an oldy, I don't know how it's aged, but you can rewind time a couple seconds when you make a mistake. Of course there's puzzles that make use of this mechanic and puzzles that make this mechanic useless and the story is all about time as well. I thought it was pretty fun at the time.
You unlocked a memory for me: I remember playing one of the games in the series, I think it was Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands because I think I played it on DS. I'll check out a playthrough of Sands of Time, thank you!
Have you heard of Minit?
Not really my thing and haven't played much of it, but it definitely fits the bill.
Singularity was pretty good.
I forgot about this one! I played it for an hour years ago, I need to find time to continue playing it.
Probably not what you are looking for but Call of Duty Zombies is a timeloop. Every match you play is canon to the lore. Black Ops 3 on PC is probably the best one to get since it has the most of the maps from earlier games + Steam workshop support for custom maps. Most levels even have ways to beat them and break the timeloop which will provide a cutscene with lore drops.
If you and some friends can get the game on sale the base game alone is great without DLC just for the endless amount of content in the workshop.
I'm bad at zombies but I play with friends that are much better than me and we have fun. I'm still learning how to get a good train of zombies going.
I guess this game is a time loop in the same way Hitman could be considered a time loop.
Quantum Break might fit if my memories serve me well enough (it's been a while). It might only be time jumps, not loops.
Don't know if Time Travelers from Level 5 qualifies as time loop but I liked it. Seems it's only in Japanese, though. I hope they'll port it to Steam in English eventually.
This is probably not your speed, but I can’t stop myself from mentioning Deathloop…
Also, and this is a bit of a stretch, but Day of The Tentacle was a great game with a time element… I’m reminded by this because I asked ChatGPT for a list of games that met this criteria.
https://chat.openai.com/share/00b809c0-dabb-4fcd-86ab-8f5f38e64463
I played Deathloop before and I loved it, I need a sequel asap.
Thank you for the list! I see a few interesting games on there that I will look into more.
I haven't played it enough to have an opinion on how good it is, but Lemnis Gate is a PvP oriented shooter based around time loop mechanics.
Have a look at Three Minutes to Eight - small indie game released on Steam a while back. Haven’t given it a good run myself yet.
And as someone else mentioned: Oxenfree. Definitely good vibes there.
The premise to Three Minutes to Eight is interesting, I'll check it out. Thank you!
Might not be exactly what you’re looking for as it might be iOS only, but theres two games called Evoland and Evoland 2 I played a long time ago. There is sort of a past/present/future and you travel between the times. When in past it’s all 8 bit graphics. In present it’s a step up but still not great. In future it’s full 3D. I really enjoyed those games. But I’m not much of a gamer so you can take it with a grain of salt.
They are both on Steam! Funnily enough I was debating on adding Evoland 2 to my post as it kind of counts but also doesn't. But the ending of that game hit me hard. Loved the story and how the graphics changed, a very unique game.
Super time force ultra is a side scrolling shoot em up with heavy time travel that is like speed running with yourself and saving and cooperating with time travel versions of yourself. I'm not sure if it fits what you're looking for but it's a lot of fun
Save the Date by Paper Dino. Absolute classic time loop indie game. It's very short but well worth a play.
Your list already has my favourites and some I haven't tried yet. I'm struggling to wrap my head around separating life is strange while counting steins gate though, I feel like both are both loop and travel and several other time tropes as well. Good luck in your search anyway