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Crushed In Time

is a fun puzzle game, with a fun story and great visuals. Many of the puzzles, built around the unique stretch-and-pull mechanic, are fun and cleverly designed, but that mechanic can start to feel gimmicky and lose its charm before too long. It’s unfortunate to say that the game just doesn’t quite live up to
Crushed In Time Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
91% User Score Based on 394 reviews
Critic Score 78%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
Crushed In Time Game Cover

About Crushed In Time

Crushed In Time is a single player puzzle game with romance, mystery and comedy themes. It was developed by Draw Me A Pixel and was released on June 10, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Embark on an adventure with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson on this surprising and elastic point-and-click adventure. Grab, pull, and release to help them solve a bizarre investigation full of humor and meta-time travel!

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Looking for games like Crushed In Time? Here are top puzzle recommendations with a romance, mystery and comedy focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, There Is No Game: WD or Loco Motive.

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Reviews

91%Audience ScoreBased on 394 reviews
story50 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions

  • Highly creative and original puzzle design centered around a unique point-and-stretch mechanic that remains engaging throughout the game.
  • Humorous, witty dialogue with well-acted and charming characters that provide a fun and meta narrative experience.
  • Strong art style and varied visual presentation that pay homage to classic point-and-click adventures while adding modern twists.
  • Some puzzles are overly challenging, unintuitive, or rely on trial-and-error with timing elements that can cause frustration and disrupt pacing.
  • The hint system is often vague or insufficient, leading many players to rely on external walkthroughs to progress.
  • Certain chapters feel unnecessarily long or tedious, and the absence of a chapter select feature reduces replayability and accessibility for achievement hunting.
  • story

    120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    42% positive mentions, 53% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The story is widely praised for its clever meta-narrative, humor, and heartwarming character moments, often blending time travel and game development themes in a creative, playful way. While some find the pacing uneven and consider certain chapters or plot elements unnecessary or underdeveloped, the engaging dialogue and charming characters generally keep players invested. Despite occasional frustrations with puzzles impacting the flow, the story is a highlight that appeals especially to fans of the developer’s signature style.

    • “A beautifully crafted game with great characters, a wholesome story, fantastic references and a rollercoaster of emotions.”
    • “Writing is witty and charming for all characters, and the plot delves into game development in ways even its predecessors wouldn't dare, consistently delighting in its surprises.”
    • “It's what you've come to expect from Draw Me A Pixel: a blend of puzzles, humor, and a surprisingly engaging story.”
    • “Chapter 9 felt unnecessarily long, especially since the story seemed like it could have concluded at the end of chapter 8.”
    • “The plot became one long-winded joke, with no real storyline moving forward.”
    • “A lot of plot elements are glossed over (e.g., who is the player? Obviously not a team member since the problem “solved itself,” but the game points out that the puzzles being solved is unnatural and not by the characters. Also, why Watson couldn’t just put both post-it notes on the master side at the end? Emmet only switched it because he wanted to replace Emma). That's a fairly big problem in a game that is so heavily story motivated.”
  • gameplay

    101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    23% positive mentions, 71% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The gameplay centers on a unique stretch-and-pull mechanic that offers creative and often clever puzzle designs, contributing to a playful and humorous experience. However, many players find this mechanic gimmicky and fatiguing over time, with some puzzles becoming tedious or overly reliant on trial-and-error, which can detract from overall enjoyment. While innovative and well-executed, the repetitive use and occasional control frustrations limit the gameplay’s long-term appeal.

    • “The central stretching mechanic sounds extremely gimmicky on paper, yet it manages to make the entire experience feel more playful and remain fun to use through the entire story.”
    • “The gameplay was really unique and fun, there were so many fun little ways to interact with things.”
    • “The gameplay involves you acting as an invisible agent, guiding Holmes and Watson by grabbing, stretching, and slapping the environment in order to push buttons, turn cranks, and get people to just move a few steps to the left, goddarnit!”
    • “The mechanics of gameplay became stale quite fast, especially as pulling/stretching everything is honestly a bit fatiguing after a while.”
    • “The click and drag mechanic feels like it was designed for a touch-screen/phone and can feel a bit finicky in places; I think I would have preferred a more typical point-and-click interface with the click-and-drag used more sparingly for certain sections/puzzles.”
    • “However, the gameplay itself is painful, the puzzles are riddled with minor inconsistencies that render the in-game hints nearly useless at times, and the unique and interesting interface quirk that defines the game frequently turns any timing-dependent puzzle into a herculean effort.”
  • humor

    96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever, witty, and meta style, often delivering consistent laughs through character banter, quirky dialogue, and inventive scenarios. Fans appreciate the blend of British farce, dry wit, and playful fourth-wall breaks, especially in the dynamic between Sherlock and Watson, though some found the humor occasionally repetitive or uneven. Overall, it is regarded as a funny, charming, and entertaining aspect that enhances the puzzle adventure experience.

    • “It's what you've come to expect from Draw Me A Pixel, a blend of puzzles, humor, and a surprisingly engaging story.”
    • “With that out of the way, what you should expect is (as typical from the studio) a genuinely funny and well-told point and click with a slew of meta humor, original mechanics, and one of the most staggering abuses of the Sherlock Holmes IP belonging to the public domain.”
    • “The 4th wall breaks are fun, and most had me laughing throughout the experience!”
  • graphics

    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    42% positive mentions, 48% neutral mentions, 10% negative mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their polished, charming, and evolving art styles that keep the visual experience fresh and engaging across chapters. The blend of cozy, colorful visuals with smooth animations and varied aesthetics creates a uniquely lovely atmosphere reminiscent of classic point-and-click games, enhancing both the storytelling and puzzle-solving experience. Overall, the visuals are considered stunning, original, and integral to the game's appeal.

    • “Its visuals are polished and charming, with a great variety of styles throughout, and its music is surprisingly grand in a way that perfectly sets the tone.”
    • “Every chapter has its own unique ideas and art style, very little repetition overall.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the story is heartfelt, the writing and dialogue is both hilarious and incredibly sweet.”
    • “While the graphics are acceptable and fit decently, the story is really quite subpar, which surprises me coming from draw me a pixel, the creator of There Is No Game, which has a quite decent story with very few major flaws.”
    • “A few graphics aberrations in the first section of the game, otherwise no glitches, bugs or performance issues throughout the playthrough.”
    • “The graphics might look simple, but they make the game feel cozy, and the colors are nice to the eye (I love the palette used throughout the whole game).”
  • music

    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    38% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for being playful, well-crafted, and perfectly fitting the game's whimsical and cartoon-like style. The soundtrack is extensive, energetic, and enhances the overall atmosphere, with standout sections that resonate strongly with players. While some users note it may not match the predecessor's iconic tracks, the music and sound design are consistently considered a top-notch and enjoyable element of the experience.

    • “The music and sound effects are playful and cartoon-esque, perfectly fitting the game.”
    • “Its visuals are polished and charming, with a great variety of styles throughout, and its music is surprisingly grand in a way that perfectly sets the tone.”
    • “The overall presentation is amazing, with a top-notch soundtrack that complements the beautiful visuals and satisfying gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The game seems to have an extensive soundtrack, but it's really hard to remember anything.”
    • “On the more neutral side: if you expected the same from their predecessor "there is no game" you might be a little bit disappointed since there are no jabs at the video game industry and do not expect a masterclass song like the gigi song "my actual code".”
    • “There is only a boring techno song part that is not even part of a puzzle.”
  • grinding

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 6% neutral mentions, 94% negative mentions

    Grinding in this game often feels tedious and repetitive, particularly in later chapters where puzzles rely heavily on trial-and-error, moon logic, and precise timing. While some players find these sections frustrating or overly drawn-out, others still appreciate the overall experience despite occasional pacing issues. The blend of clever ideas with these grind-heavy moments creates a mixed but generally engaging gameplay.

    • “It's a shame, because there's a lot of brilliant ideas here, but the skill-based elements, constantly babbling characters, and try-and-try-again mechanics to solve anything make it tedious and a bit boring.”
    • “The joke in the game is about it not being ready to play, but that feels like the reality in several levels, with moon logic puzzles, timed reaction events, and tedious repetitions of the same actions.”
    • “However, a few chapters in, the game goes from somewhat realistic, fun settings where you have an idea of what you need to do, to tedious, repetitive, abstract puzzles with no connection to reality, consisting of 100% moon logic.”
  • emotional

    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game delivers a heartfelt and emotionally engaging experience, blending humor, quirky characters, and a wholesome story that resonates deeply with players. While some found the emotional impact slightly less intense compared to the developer's previous works, the game still offers genuine, touching moments and a rollercoaster of feelings that keep players invested.

    • “True emotional moments that went further than I originally expected, providing heartfelt experiences unexpectedly.”
    • “A beautifully crafted game with great characters, a wholesome story, fantastic references, and a rollercoaster of emotions.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the story is heartfelt, and the writing and dialogue are both hilarious and incredibly sweet.”
  • stability

    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, -25% neutral mentions, 75% negative mentions

    The game is generally stable and largely free of bugs or performance issues, with only occasional minor glitches and graphical aberrations early on. Some glitches caused brief confusion in progression but were resolved by restarting the game. Overall, stability is strong and reliable.

    • “A few graphics aberrations in the first section of the game, otherwise no glitches, bugs, or performance issues throughout the playthrough.”
    • “The game is also essentially bug-free, which is rare in today's world.”
    • “I ran into some glitches while playing.”
    • “A few graphics aberrations in the first section of the game, otherwise no glitches, bugs or performance issues throughout the playthrough.”
    • “I encountered some glitches in the game that made it confusing on what I needed to do in order to progress, but restarting the game seemed to do the trick.”
  • atmosphere

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    67% positive mentions, 33% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The atmosphere is characterized by a blend of whimsical, absurd fun reminiscent of old Pixar movies, despite occasional puzzle inconsistencies and leaps in logic. Overall, it creates an engaging and playful mood.

    • “Sometimes the puzzle elements don't behave as they are supposed to, and leaps of logic are not rare, but the overall package reminds me of old Pixar in terms of atmosphere.”
    • “An atmosphere of absurd fun.”
  • replayability

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's replayability is limited, as the main enjoyment stems from its story, dialogue, and puzzle-solving, which tend to lose appeal after the first playthrough. However, some value can still be found in revisiting the game.

  • optimization

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game demonstrates smooth and stable performance with minimal graphical glitches limited to the early section, resulting in an overall well-optimized experience.

    • “A few graphics aberrations in the first section of the game, otherwise no glitches, bugs, or performance issues throughout the playthrough.”
    • “This game is worth the full price as well as the discounted price, with phenomenal writing, stellar voice acting, and buttery smooth performance.”
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Play Times

7h Median play time
7h Average play time
7-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Crushed In Time is a puzzle game with romance, mystery and comedy themes. Common tags for Crushed In Time include 3D, indie, linear, detective, emotional and others.

Crushed In Time is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Crushed In Time.

Crushed In Time was released on June 10, 2026.

Crushed In Time was developed by Draw Me A Pixel.

Crushed In Time has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Crushed In Time for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Crushed In Time is a single player game.

Similar games include There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, There Is No Game: WD, Loco Motive, Beyond a Steel Sky, The Plucky Squire and others.