In Stars And Time

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.

Starting at $13Buy now

Get on Steam

"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.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,043 reviews

story493 positive mentions

grinding91 negative mentions

Incredible story with emotional depth that resonates with players.
Well-developed characters that players can relate to and grow attached to.
Unique time loop mechanics that enhance the narrative experience.

Repetitive gameplay can become tedious, especially during mid-game.
Some players may find the dialogue overly lengthy or juvenile.
Certain plot points and mysteries remain unresolved, which may frustrate some players.

story
1,266 mentions
39 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
3 % negative 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 engaging story and relatable characters make it a compelling experience that resonates long after completion.
- “The story is a stunning commentary on the dangers of closing yourself off from the ones you love and will grip your heart and not let it go.”
- “In stars and time is an exceptional indie rpg with a compelling, gut-wrenching story and great character writing.”
- “The story is beautifully written, like omg i have never cried this much playing one game.”
- “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 story is heavily reliant on Siffrin being allergic to communication--something made more bearable by this also being the game's central tragedy, but which can nevertheless be frustrating to watch.”
emotional
600 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "In Stars and Time" is overwhelmingly impactful, with players reporting intense feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak throughout their experience. Many reviewers noted that the game's narrative and character development led them to cry multiple times, often feeling deeply connected to the protagonist and their struggles. The blend of humor, heartwarming moments, and profound emotional themes creates a rollercoaster experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “This game is a beautiful and heartwarming game about the connections you form and the families you find.”
- “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.”
- “The emotional roller coaster is worth getting on again and again and again.”
gameplay
515 mentions
33 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "In Stars and Time" is characterized by its integration of a time loop mechanic that enhances the narrative experience, though it often leads to repetitive and tedious gameplay. While the turn-based combat is simple and engaging, many players find that the gameplay serves primarily to support the story rather than stand out on its own. Despite some frustrations with backtracking and the potential for monotony, the game's charming characters, emotional depth, and quality-of-life features help maintain player engagement throughout the loops.
- “The gameplay is simple but satisfying, building up the combos is always fun.”
- “The way 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 two 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.”
- “The gameplay is boring and monotonous.”
- “Not everyone has the patience or time for the monotonous backtracking and boring gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop consists of a literal rock-paper-scissors combat system within a single dungeon with Pokémon-esque style exploration system, so it does get repetitive, but this is by design and it's handled really well, and towards the end I felt just as jaded and frustrated as the main character.”
music
207 mentions
51 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
1 % negative 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 fitting for various game moments, often leading to a strong emotional connection. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive quality.
- “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, the dialogue, the feeling of it all.”
- “I did not like this game at the start; I didn't like the overly extended dialogues, the dialogue boxes, the music, combat, characters, monologues... everything made me so frustrated.”
- “The soundtrack is nothing particularly mind-blowing, but it's still quite good, and makes clever use of numerous different leitmotifs and tricks that help the music add to the narrative in subtle ways.”
- “While the art style is great in cutscenes and pictures, the pixel art itself in the overworld is quite basic, and while the music is quite suspenseful in certain moments, the same old overworld and dungeon tracks will begin to grate.”
humor
156 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it charming and genuinely funny, while others feel it can be forced or juvenile, often reminiscent of internet humor from platforms like Tumblr. Many reviews highlight the delightful character interactions and witty dialogue that balance the game's emotional depth, creating moments that are both hilarious and heart-wrenching. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant aspect that enhances the narrative, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “I loved going through this with friends and laughing and crying with the characters.”
- “The humor was on point, the characters were lovable, and the sheer existential terror inflicted was gut-wrenching.”
- “It's funny, it's heartfelt, and at times, incredibly depressing (the content warnings are not just for show).”
- “The humor falls flat and often feels forced, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate the effort, but the jokes just don't land and come off as cringeworthy.”
- “The attempts at humor are so over-the-top that they detract from the overall experience.”
graphics
153 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, which combines black-and-white aesthetics with adorable character designs and expressive visuals. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of the art with the narrative and music, creating an emotionally engaging experience. While some note minor graphical glitches and basic pixel art in certain areas, the overall presentation is considered beautiful and a significant draw for players.
- “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, the music, and the narrative all blend together so seamlessly; it's clear the developer had a vision and rolled with it.”
- “The graphics are cute and great, the music is perhaps not the most memorable ever but still has plenty of really good tracks, and the writing really steals the show.”
- “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.”
- “The only cons I noticed in the game was that sometimes the graphic elements are not clearly showing what it is (at the first glimpse), which was kinda annoying at first but I quickly got used to it.”
grinding
91 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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 engage in combat 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. Overall, the grinding is seen as a double-edged sword: it serves the narrative purpose but can detract from the enjoyment of gameplay for some players.
- “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 development
33 mentions
52 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Character development in this 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, creating a captivating experience that resonates deeply. However, some critiques mention repetitive gameplay elements that can detract from the overall enjoyment of the character interactions and story progression.
- “The main praise I have is that it has some of the best character designs, writing, art, and world-building I've ever seen for just a 20-hour RPG Maker game.”
- “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.”
- “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).”
- “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.”
- “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).”
stability
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is marked by a range of minor glitches, including audio issues and incorrect character portrayals, which, while not game-breaking, can detract from the experience. Players have reported visual anomalies and static effects that evoke a sense of unease, reminiscent of classic horror elements. Despite these issues, the game remains playable, though some users noted a sense of tedium from repetitive encounters.
- “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.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as charming and effective in immersing players in the protagonist's headspace, though it can sometimes feel heavy-handed or grating. While some players found the atmosphere lacking in certain areas, others praised it for its emotional depth and sincerity, highlighting the beautiful writing and well-crafted scenes that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a mix of lightheartedness and emotional weight, resonating well with many players.
- “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.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting that each playthrough feels unique due to its engaging music, stunning art, and captivating writing. Many reviewers express that the experience remains fresh and enjoyable even after multiple sessions, contributing to its lasting appeal.
- “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.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is noted to be lacking, with issues such as lag at unexpected moments, delayed sound cues, and minor UI problems like steam notifications interfering with gameplay. However, these shortcomings do not significantly detract from the overall experience, which is praised for its compelling story and engaging journey.
- “In all seriousness, while rough around the edges (any Steam notification would smear across the unimportant part of the screen, some sound cues would be late to change, and the game was laggy at weird points in a way that implied further optimization was needed), this game had a great story to tell and it was a fantastic journey for me.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in complex scenarios. I appreciate the developers' efforts to enhance performance without sacrificing the overall experience.”
- “I noticed that the game runs significantly better after the latest patch, which shows the developers are committed to ongoing optimization. It's great to see such responsiveness to player feedback.”
- “In all seriousness, while rough around the edges, the game was laggy at weird points in a way that implied further optimization was needed. Some sound cues were late to change, and any Steam notification would smear across the unimportant part of the screen. While these issues weren't game-breaking, they did detract from the overall experience.”
- “The optimization in this game is lacking; I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering during crucial moments, which really pulled me out of the experience.”
- “Despite the engaging gameplay, the optimization issues were frustrating. I encountered long loading times and occasional crashes that made it hard to fully enjoy the game.”