Clocker

About

Clocker is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by indienova and was released on February 14, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Clocker is a single-player, fantasy role-playing puzzle game with a unique time mechanic. Players control two protagonists, a father and daughter, using their special abilities to solve puzzles, manipulate time, and uncover the story from different perspectives. With a hand-drawn sketchy style, large and complex logic framework, and heart-warming plot, Clocker offers a vexing and thrilling time-based adventure."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Clocker features a unique time manipulation mechanic that allows players to influence the outcomes of characters' actions, creating engaging and thought-provoking puzzles.
The hand-painted art style and evocative soundtrack contribute significantly to the game's emotional atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling experience.
The dual-character structure, allowing players to control both the father and daughter, adds depth to the narrative and provides a compelling exploration of their relationship.

The English translation is often poor, leading to awkward dialogue and confusion in the narrative, which detracts from the overall experience.
Puzzles can be frustratingly complex, with some requiring obscure logic that may not be intuitive, leading to trial and error that can disrupt the game's flow.
The game suffers from pacing issues, with backtracking and lengthy loading screens that can interrupt the immersion and make the experience feel tedious.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
68%
12%
The story of "Clocker" revolves around a father and daughter separated by a temporal disturbance, with players guiding them through time-based puzzles to reunite. The narrative unfolds organically through gameplay mechanics rather than dialogue, creating an emotional experience that blends heartfelt storytelling with intricate puzzles. While the visuals and atmosphere enhance the story's impact, some players feel the narrative could benefit from more direct emotional payoffs, leading to a bittersweet conclusion that emphasizes the theme of understanding time rather than conquering it.
- “At its core, it tells the story of a father and daughter separated by a mysterious temporal disturbance, and the player’s task is to guide them toward reunion through a series of intricate time-based puzzles.”
- “The concept is both intimate and ambitious, blending heartfelt storytelling with a mechanical complexity that challenges the mind as much as it tugs at the heart.”
- “The story concludes on a bittersweet note that reinforces the central idea that time cannot be conquered but only understood.”
- “This can be powerful for those who appreciate subtle storytelling, but others may wish for more direct emotional payoffs or dialogue-driven moments.”
- “Well, there are around 5-6 puzzles for you to solve, the story is simple, the puzzle itself is the game.”
- “The good points about it, aside from the concept (not entirely new but with its own unique twists), are definitely the art style, a sort of 2.5D that mixes some 3D elements and depth of scenarios with mostly 2D characters and animations, and also the storyline, that while not being overly complicated, as one might expect from a time travel themed game, it still can deliver some good points and results pleasant in the end, save for the ending which is a bit too stereotypical.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The gameplay of Clocker is centered around innovative time-manipulation mechanics that blend exploration and puzzle-solving, allowing players to influence the timelines of individual characters. While the game features captivating visuals and an emotionally resonant narrative, some players find the mechanics repetitive and the overall experience somewhat limited in scope. Despite these criticisms, the unique concept and engaging gameplay elements make it a notable entry in the indie puzzle genre.
- “Rather than relying on dialogue-heavy storytelling, Clocker uses its mechanics and atmosphere to express emotion, creating a narrative that unfolds organically through the player’s actions.”
- “The father’s manipulation of time changes the world in unpredictable ways, while the daughter’s exploration and determination to fix the damage bring emotional weight to the mechanical process.”
- “At the core, this title is a puzzle game, making time mechanics its gameplay centerpiece: as the father, players will be able to use the clock, a mysterious artifact, to make the time of individual characters flow or reverse, each of them with their own timeline and consequences.”
- “It's just an excuse for the gameplay, and it knows it.”
- “Once you get over the excitement of the dual time mechanics and realize that's all you're going to be doing a couple of more times, the game ends.”
- “Within hours of gameplay, I figured out the puzzle is kind of repeated.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The graphics of Clocker are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which effectively blends 2D and 3D elements to create a captivating atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful artwork and quality art direction, noting its unique mix of western and eastern influences that enhance the overall visual experience. The visuals complement the innovative gameplay and engaging storyline, making for a visually appealing puzzle-platformer.
- “Clocker is a captivating puzzle-platformer that combines innovative time-manipulation mechanics with stunning visuals.”
- “The art style is just gorgeous and I am in love with the gameplay and mechanics so far.”
- “Pleasant hand-drawn style of graphics, also combining 2D and 3D techniques to give depth to the environments.”
- “The good points about it, aside from the concept (not entirely new but with its own unique twists), are definitely the art style, a sort of 2.5D that mixes some 3D elements and depth of scenarios with mostly 2D characters and animations.”
- “Peculiar, and overall rather detailed, hand-drawn graphics style with quality art direction.”
- “Pretty painting art style.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Clocker is an emotionally resonant puzzle adventure that intricately weaves themes of time, memory, and family into its gameplay. The game’s minimalistic narrative and dreamlike art direction enhance its emotional depth, inviting players to engage with subtle storytelling while solving complex puzzles. While some may desire more explicit emotional moments, the overall experience is a heartfelt exploration of human connections, making it a notable entry in the indie puzzle genre.
- “Clocker, developed by Wild Kid Games and published in collaboration with Indienova, is a quiet yet emotionally resonant puzzle adventure that explores the relationship between time, memory, and family.”
- “The concept is both intimate and ambitious, blending heartfelt storytelling with a mechanical complexity that challenges the mind as much as it tugs at the heart.”
- “It’s a small game with a big emotional heart, and its ability to connect complex mechanics with human storytelling marks it as a standout within the indie puzzle landscape.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring reflective piano pieces that enhance the atmosphere and complement the narrative about treasuring time. While most tracks are average, the ending phase stands out with an exceptional soundtrack that elevates the overall experience.
- “The music is pretty good; most of the tracks are piano pieces that fit the mood.”
- “It has nice visuals, music, and an interesting story about time, and how you should treasure it before it's gone.”
- “The music often fades into near silence, creating a reflective atmosphere that gives the player space to think and feel between puzzles.”
- “Soundtrack and effects are average, except for the ending phase, which sports an excellent soundtrack of definitely higher quality than those seen before that point.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere in Clocker is characterized by a reflective and emotionally resonant experience, where mechanics and art style convey narrative without heavy dialogue. The music enhances this ambiance, often fading to silence to allow players to engage deeply with their emotions, while the overall aesthetic and smooth storytelling evoke a poignant, sometimes melancholic mood.
- “Rather than relying on dialogue-heavy storytelling, Clocker uses its mechanics and atmosphere to express emotion, creating a narrative that unfolds organically through the player’s actions.”
- “The story is really smooth and catches people's hearts immediately, but meanwhile, it has a pretty sad atmosphere.”
- “The music often fades into near silence, creating a reflective atmosphere that gives the player space to think and feel between puzzles.”
- “The story is really smooth and catches people's hearts immediately, but meanwhile, there is a pretty sad atmosphere around.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, leading to stability issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, providing a seamless experience with minimal lag.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on performance and stability, making the gameplay smooth even on lower-end systems.”
- “The game's optimization allows for impressive graphics without sacrificing frame rates, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Poor performance optimization.”
- “Performance and stability issues.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect frustrating due to issues with improper saving and a tedious hint system, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Leveling up requires an excessive amount of time, which can be frustrating.”
- “The hint system is tedious and doesn't provide the help I need during grinding.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive character design, showcasing unique and well-crafted personalities that enhance the overall experience.
- “The character development is incredibly rich and immersive.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic.”
- “Each character has a unique backstory that adds depth to their motivations and actions.”