An Immersive Time Loop Thriller with Minor Repetition Issues


Table of Contents

Location: Home

Date Played: Aug 2022

Team size: 1

Duration: 5-8 hours

Price: ~S$24 on Steam

Premise

"Twelve Minutes" offers a unique and captivating gaming experience, standing out in a sea of repetitive genres. Developed by Luis Antonio, this top-down interactive thriller combines engaging storytelling with mind-bending puzzles, creating a memorable journey through time.

In the game, you assume the role of an unnamed protagonist trapped in a time loop, reliving the same twelve minutes repeatedly. While navigating a modest apartment, interacting with objects, and engaging in dialogue with your wife and an unexpected intruder, you uncover a complex web of secrets and mysteries. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, challenging your assumptions and leaving you hungry for more.

Gameplay

The gameplay mechanics are straightforward, with simple controls that allow you to click to move and interact with items. The time loop element injects urgency and tension into the experience, forcing you to make rapid decisions and adapt to changing circumstances. Each action you take influences the outcome, leading to various possible results.

However, the game does suffer from moments of frustrating repetition, particularly when you're working through a puzzle that requires several minutes of setup to reach a crucial point. Fortunately, essential decisions in the game offer shortcuts to bypass lengthy dialogue and sequences, helping mitigate the frustration.

Puzzles/Thoughts

➕Intriguing Mystery: The story is the highlight, drawing players in with its layers of mystery and suspense.

➕Decent Puzzles: The game offers puzzles that require creative thinking to progress and uncover more of the story.

➖Time Loop Execution: While the concept is interesting, it introduces a fair amount of repetition. Implementing more shortcuts or faster skip options could have enhanced the experience.

Verdict

"Twelve Minutes" may have its share of frustrating moments, but the unfolding mystery is incredibly satisfying. Overall, it's a recommended experience.

Rating: 4/5

★★★★✩

You can buy their game here