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.
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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.
I’ve never heard of this mod before, but you’ve sold me on it! Thank you, I can’t wait to play it.
Yay!
Don’t be afraid to shoot me the random comment as you progress - one of the worst things about Enderal is how few people have played it, so there’s no one to just nerd out over it with!
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.
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Gnosia seems right up my alley, thank you!
I played Life is Strange as the episodes were coming out, the ending hit me worse than any game has. I believe I remember that segment, the cockroach and the jukebox? I love that game.
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.
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.
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
