this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2023
57 points (95.2% liked)

Patient Gamers

18941 readers
26 users here now

A gaming community free from the hype and oversaturation of current releases, catering to gamers who wait at least 12 months after release to play a game. Whether it's price, waiting for bugs/issues to be patched, DLC to be released, don't meet the system requirements, or just haven't had the time to keep up with the latest releases.

Relavent communities: !games@lemmy.world !games@sh.itjust.works !retrogaming@lemmy.world !videogamesuggestions@lemmy.zip !linux_gaming@lemmy.world

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

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.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] zeroshift11@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Well you've already recommended the next best one. The dlc for Outer Wilds.;)

[–] scratchresistor@thelemmy.club 8 points 2 years ago (2 children)

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?

[–] Contramuffin@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

spoilersgoing 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

[–] Balinares@pawb.social 4 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] RiderExMachina@lemmy.ml 19 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not quite "time loop", but related: Return of the Obra Dinn. I need the developer to make another game with exactly the same mechanics.

[–] StringPotatoTheory@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Thanks for reminding me to play it! it's been on my list forever, it looks so good.

[–] Alxe@lemmy.world 17 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] BeardyGrumps@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago

Not a time loop game but has one of the best time loop levels of any game I have played - Titanfall 2.

[–] DamienGramatacus@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Returnal is brutal but really fun.

[–] StringPotatoTheory@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] petenu@feddit.uk 9 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] ScreamingFirehawk@feddit.uk 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Play the Outer Wilds DLC, if you loved the base game, you will like the DLC too

[–] chris@l.roofo.cc 4 points 2 years ago

Yes. You need to play the dlc. It is so worth it.

[–] Sentrovasi@kbin.social 7 points 2 years ago

Slay the Princess is a relatively light game (largely narrative) that has this as part of its conceit.

[–] BenVimes@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] simple@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] Hello_there@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

[–] SorteKanin@feddit.dk 4 points 2 years ago (3 children)

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.

[–] Ashtear@lemm.ee 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] itchick2014@midwest.social 2 points 2 years ago

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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] tabarnaski@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 years ago

Bioshock infinite comes to mind, even though the timeloop aspect of the game is entirely related to the storyline, no game mechanics use it.

[–] cygnosis@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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.

[–] match@pawb.social 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Cobalt Core is also timeloopy :3

[–] StringPotatoTheory@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

A time loop roguelike deckbuilder... I enjoyed Slay the Spire a lot, I will add this one to my list, thank you!

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] people_are_cute@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 years ago

Katana Zero

[–] Balinares@pawb.social 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] StringPotatoTheory@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

That sounds amazing, I've added it to my list. Thank you!

[–] nomnomdeplume@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] nycki@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] singularity@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

Quantum Break might fit if my memories serve me well enough (it's been a while). It might only be time jumps, not loops.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Singularity was pretty good.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] TooJ20@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago
[–] bedrooms@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] conciselyverbose@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

Have you heard of Minit?

Not really my thing and haven't played much of it, but it definitely fits the bill.

[–] BustinJiber@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

There is No Time to Explain. It's one of those mechanics based platformers with crazy time loop story.

[–] RustedSwitch@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] abbadon420@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] StringPotatoTheory@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

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!

[–] Ashtear@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

[–] StringPotatoTheory@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

[–] candle_lighter@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›