In Stars And Time

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,101 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • gameplay
In Stars And Time Game Cover
At first glance, In Stars and Time seems like a simple turn-based RPG. But through its amazing story, the game becomes so much more.
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"In Stars and Time" is a narrative-driven, space exploration game that follows a team of interstellar archeologists uncovering long-lost civilizations. Players will encounter unique alien species, solve puzzles, and manage their crew's relationships and skills while navigating the vast cosmos. The game features a rich, choice-based storyline with multiple endings.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,101 reviews
story992 positive mentions
grinding183 negative mentions
  • Incredible story with deep emotional impact, making players feel a strong connection to the characters.
  • Well-written characters that are relatable and charming, each with their own unique personalities and development.
  • The time loop mechanic is cleverly integrated into the gameplay, enhancing the narrative experience.
  • Repetitive gameplay can become tedious, especially during the mid-game, leading to frustration.
  • Some players may find the dialogue overly lengthy or childish, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Certain plot points and mysteries remain unresolved, leaving players wanting more closure.
  • story2,539 mentions

    The story of "In Stars and Time" is widely praised for its emotional depth, character development, and intricate world-building, often drawing comparisons to beloved titles like "Undertale" and "Omori." Players appreciate the unique time-loop mechanic that enhances the narrative, allowing for a rich exploration of themes such as mental health, identity, and the importance of communication. While some find the gameplay repetitive, many agree that the compelling story and relatable characters make the experience worthwhile, leaving a lasting impact long after the game is completed.

    • “The story is so compelling that it was difficult to put down.”
    • “In stars and time is an absolutely captivating game, with a delightful cast of characters and an engaging story.”
    • “This game is a story driven experience.”
    • “This game, however, is completely linear when it comes to its story.”
    • “The scene would not be as bad (though still pretty bad) if he says it's from the book or other sources, but alas, I almost closed the game on the spot when the conversation was over because of how baseless the whole thing sounded and the 'this is important plot so listen up' music playing in the background.”
    • “The writing clearly isn't meant to be as painful as it is initially, but as the story progresses, the maddening repetition of reliving the same small period of time over and over becomes a deeply important theme.”
  • emotional1,202 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "In Stars and Time" is overwhelmingly impactful, with players reporting intense feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak. Many describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, often leading to tears and deep personal reflection, as the game's narrative and character development resonate profoundly with their own experiences. The combination of humor, heartwarming moments, and gut-wrenching themes creates a unique and memorable emotional journey that players find both exhausting and cathartic.

    • “I cried harder than I think I ever have at literally anything ever. My god, this is such a beautifully told game and story and experience. 100/10, this is definitely one of those games that you just simply have to play.”
    • “This whole experience was heartwarming, soul crushing, cathartic... I can't recommend it enough.”
    • “The themes of the story really resonated with me and I found it very easy to put myself into Siffrin's shoes emotionally, which made the story all the more impactful for me.”
  • gameplay1,036 mentions

    The gameplay of "In Stars and Time" is characterized by its time loop mechanic, which, while repetitive, is intentionally designed to enhance the narrative experience and immerse players in the protagonist's emotional journey. Many players appreciate the simple yet engaging combat system, likening it to a rock-paper-scissors format, but note that the gameplay can feel tedious and monotonous over time, especially during backtracking and repetitive tasks. Overall, the game is praised for its strong narrative and character development, with gameplay serving primarily as a vehicle for storytelling rather than a standalone highlight.

    • “The gameplay is great, it has a satisfying core loop for an RPG, the battle system made it fun even when going through the same battles I've done before.”
    • “The way that the gameplay operates and the mindset that it instills in you is such a fantastic example of ludonarrative harmony.”
    • “The gameplay loop is just that, a loop; our protagonist Siffrin is stuck repeating the same 2 days every time he dies. It's up to us to guide Siffrin through the loops, solving different puzzles and learning more about the loops, our party members, and Siffrin themselves in hopes of finally breaking the loop, defeating the king, and getting Siffrin his happy ending.”
    • “Gameplay is boring and monotonous.”
    • “Not everyone has the patience or time for the monotonous backtracking and boring gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay itself encourages you to go through the same emotional journey that Siffrin goes through-- I found that while initially would feel bad about zoning out important character conversations, or not repeating unnecessary but sweet side quests, as the story goes on and I wanted to progress, and got used to and bored of any loop dialogue I'd already read, I started skipping more and more.”
  • music415 mentions

    The music in the game has received a wide range of feedback, with many players praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. While some found the soundtrack to be repetitive over time, others described it as beautiful, nostalgic, and perfectly tailored to the game's atmosphere, often listening to it outside of gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the art and narrative, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact.

    • “The OST is absolutely beautiful - I regularly get goosebumps listening to it, or just start crying, or both if I'm actually playing the game.”
    • “The music is amazing and shows the emotions of certain situations so well.”
    • “The music is great and the game feels fresh and nostalgic at the same time.”
    • “If the gameplay was more unique and interesting, if the game didn't run long after conveying themes, if the backtracking was not so much of a chore, if there was more varied enemy types, better music, if just the whole package was better I think this game could be a 10/10.”
    • “The soundtrack is middling, with 50/50 whether the song is memorable.”
    • “There are certain things I wish it tackled more (the depression and insanity of Siffrin, and wish it extrapolated more on the disappeared country he hails from), the only thing I think could've been stronger (and this is just me personally, no hate intended) is the soundtrack; other than the final encounter, nothing stood out as more than passable for me in the music department.”
  • humor312 mentions

    The humor in "In Stars and Time" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it charming and genuinely funny, while others feel it can be forced or juvenile, reminiscent of internet humor from platforms like Tumblr. The dialogue often elicits laughter through clever writing and endearing character interactions, balancing lighthearted moments with deeper emotional themes. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with heartfelt storytelling, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate its unique comedic style.

    • “I loved going through this with friends and laughing and crying with the characters.”
    • “It's funny and heartbreaking and relatable and wholesome and it's so well put together!”
    • “The dialogue reads like real people talking, the characters are well fleshed out and I love all of them, the interactions are insanely realistic, it's funny, it's sad, it's hopeful, it's gut-wrenching and I would play it again a thousand times over.”
    • “I love the writing and characterization and the themes and motifs so much it's not funny!!!”
    • “I love the writing and characterization and the themes and motifs so much it's not funny!!!”
  • graphics308 mentions

    The graphics of "In Stars and Time" are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, which combines black-and-white aesthetics with colorful character designs, creating an emotionally resonant visual experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the artwork and how it complements the game's narrative and themes, although some note that the pixel art can feel basic at times. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and character interactions throughout the game.

    • “The art style is absolutely adorable, which makes both the sweeter moments in the game and the more horrific ones hit that much harder than they already do.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous and the writing is incredible in terms of world building and characterization.”
    • “Incredible visuals.”
    • “Ultimately, the visuals are worthy of a $20-30 price tag, but the minute-to-minute gameplay is $5 RPG Maker game quality.”
    • “Black and white aesthetic is mad boring and is an eyesore to look at, gonna refund this one with the bombardment of cringe dialogue.”
    • “Graphically, it's what you would expect from an RPG Maker game.”
  • grinding183 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the time loop mechanics that require players to revisit the same areas and encounters multiple times. While some players appreciate the intentional tedium as a means to enhance immersion and character empathy, others find it frustrating and overly grindy, especially when it comes to leveling up and completing achievements. Quality-of-life features do help alleviate some of the repetitiveness, but the overall consensus is that the grinding can detract from the experience, making it a polarizing element of the gameplay.

    • “Fights become tedious, to the point where even waiting for the 1 second buff animations feels like a waste of time.”
    • “The grinding may be one of the worst experiences I've had in gaming, but it was still pretty cool overall.”
    • “The only real standout criticism is that going through the game's dungeon and searching for event triggers to progress either side quests or the main story gets kinda tedious.”
  • character development66 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional writing, charming character designs, and intricate world-building. Players appreciate how the narrative weaves complex themes into character arcs, making them relatable and memorable, while some express a desire for more exploration beyond the linear structure. Overall, the game is celebrated as a masterclass in storytelling, with character development being a standout feature that resonates deeply with players.

    • “Everything about this game is nearly perfect, the characters are all so charming, the art and character design is crazy good - even with the artistic choice to keep the game entirely black and white - and the writing and the narrative is outstanding and absolutely captivating.”
    • “Absolutely beautiful story with a lot of very evident thought and love put into the immense amount of world-building and character development and interpersonal relationships.”
    • “Some of the best character development I've ever seen in a game.”
    • “Character designs are admittedly cute and interactions well done, but the overworld is just very bland and basically just a bunch of dark, long corridors that you'll go down on repeat searching for the thing you need to click on to progress the story.”
    • “It was okay overall, but honestly... I didn't like any of the cast (writing or character design-wise), thought the loop aspect was too repetitive (too many forced loop restarts for minor things) and restrictive (felt like my given options in a loop at any one time were heavily limited till I met certain circumstances and how linear some acts were), and wasn't a fan of the story (especially the final couple of acts).”
    • “The amount of care and detail put into the writing, character development, and minute changes throughout each loop was my favorite part, though (and clearly the driving force of the game).”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by numerous minor glitches, including audio issues and incorrect character portraits, particularly noticeable during critical scenes like the final battle. While these glitches do not significantly disrupt gameplay, they contribute to a sense of tedium and can detract from the overall experience. Overall, players report a generally stable experience, albeit with some frustrating visual and audio inconsistencies.

    • “In the true final battle, one of the most important and intense scenes in the game, there are also numerous audio glitches that happen consistently across all recordings of the encounter I can find.”
    • “Nothing game-breaking, but I encountered tons of minor glitches such as wrong character portraits showing up or having an attack just not counting towards a jackpot right after getting a jackpot.”
    • “Static over the screen, creepypasta glitches, slowed down overworld music; these are like Lavender Town-level imagery.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as charming and effective in immersing players in the character's headspace, though it can sometimes feel heavy-handed or aimed at a younger audience. While some players found the atmosphere lacking or monotonous, others praised it for its emotional depth and sincerity, highlighting the beautiful storytelling and well-crafted scenes that enhance the overall experience. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some finding it stunningly beautiful and others feeling it falls short.

    • “If you're nervous about getting into an RPG Maker game, don't be - the strengths of In Stars and Time lie in its amazing writing, pitch-perfect atmosphere, and lovingly crafted emotional scenes that make it one of the best stories to be found in video games.”
    • “The storytelling, the characters, the atmosphere, music -- just everything was so stunningly beautiful and perfect!!”
    • “The characters are also pretty well written with a very sincere heart to all of them. The tone is pretty lighthearted but it has a lot of sincerity in it and doesn't cop out on powerful plot beats just for a gag that one might expect from such a lighthearted atmosphere.”
    • “It has no atmosphere.”
    • “Similar to what other reviews have said, the game's atmosphere is charming when it counts and does a good job of delivering the player into the headspace of Sif, though sometimes the writing and dialogue can feel a little grating or heavy-handed with the messages the devs want to impart, as if the game was really meant to be aimed at a younger audience.”
    • “Nothing I'd jam out to, but it serves the atmosphere very well.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Players consistently highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting that each playthrough offers a unique experience. The combination of captivating music, stunning art, and excellent writing contributes to an engaging atmosphere that encourages repeated play. Overall, the game is praised for its endless replay value, making it a standout in this aspect.

    • “That's a great thing for replayability and for making each playthrough feel a bit unique too.”
    • “I'm editing this review months after I first played it and I just need to say that this replayability is incredible.”
    • “The music is wonderful and very fitting for the game and infinitely replayable, the art is gorgeous and the character portraits in particular are an absolute delight at every turn, and again, the writing is amazing.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is noted to be lacking, with issues such as lag at certain points, delayed sound cues, and visual artifacts from notifications. However, these problems are not considered game-breaking and do not detract significantly from the overall experience.

    • “In all seriousness, while rough around the edges, this game had a great story to tell and it was a fantastic journey for me. There were some issues like Steam notifications smearing across the screen, sound cues being late to change, and occasional lag that suggested further optimization was needed. However, none of these were game-breaking and I didn't really mind them.”
    • “In all seriousness, while rough around the edges, the game was laggy at weird points in a way that implied further optimization was needed. Certainly nothing game-breaking, but it was noticeable.”
    • “The game suffers from performance issues that detract from the overall experience. It feels like it could use a lot more optimization to run smoothly.”
    • “There are frequent frame drops and stuttering that make the gameplay less enjoyable. The optimization clearly needs improvement.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy In Stars And Time

Play time

27hMedian play time
30hAverage play time
14-35hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs

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