Loophole

About

Loophole is a single player action game. It was developed by Levi Pinkert and was released on July 14, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Loophole is a single-player, grid-based puzzle game featuring marvelous gameplay that takes about 6 hours to beat. Navigate a crumbling labyrinth, using time machines to rewind and interact with your past selves—who may either aid or hinder you—to escape imminent destruction. Master time travel rules to outsmart the labyrinth and survive.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 81 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features clever and innovative puzzle design that effectively utilizes time travel mechanics, providing satisfying 'aha' moments.
The gradual introduction of new mechanics keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging, making it accessible for beginners while still challenging for experienced players.
The art and sound design contribute to a captivating atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience of solving puzzles.

Some players found the fog of war mechanic frustrating, as it requires exploring levels before being able to solve puzzles, leading to unnecessary trial and error.
The game is relatively short, with some players wishing for more puzzles or additional content to extend gameplay.
There are quality of life issues, such as the lack of an instant restart option for levels and the inability to replay completed puzzles without starting a new save.

gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The gameplay in this puzzle game is highly praised for its innovative mechanics and engaging design, particularly its effective use of time travel and paradoxes. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics, which encourages experimentation and logical thinking, while the puzzles are well-crafted to provide satisfying "ah-ha" moments. Overall, the game is noted for its accessibility and the clever integration of mechanics that build upon each other, making it a standout in the puzzle genre.
- “This game has so many unique ideas and mechanics that nearly perfect a time travel puzzle game.”
- “The way the game slowly introduces new mechanics over time feels really natural, and the levels in each area serve as a great way to get the player comfortable with the ins and outs of each new mechanic.”
- “The puzzles do teach you the mechanics well and you'll get your 'ah-ha' moments as you play the game.”
- “There isn't any explicit tutorial or any sort of symbols to explain mechanics; the game relies entirely on experimentation to learn how it works.”
- “While I thought the premise was fairly intuitive, with slow introductions of game mechanics that gave time to figure out how they worked, I know someone else who did not find it that way.”
- “So many levels don't rely on you remembering all mechanics and techniques learned; they rely on you understanding what you are doing at all times: you make every single move for a reason.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics are praised for their realistic portrayal and clever integration with gameplay mechanics, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted a lack of aesthetic detail in the environments and minimalistic menu design, which detracts from the visual polish. Additionally, performance issues were reported, with some players experiencing lag that affected their gameplay.
- “The system of the logic and the visuals is outstandingly realistic: the grayed out areas being what you remember from the room makes so much sense when taking into account that you are technically playing with your future forms at all times, so stumbling upon your past self making you lose is as sensible as it can be.”
- “You start using the green mushrooms on your past self from the starting sequence in order to progress through the areas and go back to where you started, which makes a lot of sense if we, once again, consider the visuals and the perspective of your character.”
- “The controls are WASD and the graphics are nice.”
- “I think there could be a bit more peripheral polish, such as a little bit of set dressing (the levels feel kind of barren aesthetically), and the menu is very minimal. The game just closes when you win it (I want to see my save file with 100% completion and 118 puzzles!), but these aren't largely significant.”
- “Also, the graphics actually lagged my PC a lot (skill issue, I guess). I had more trouble figuring out a visual setting that doesn't crash my PC than solving that region 1 final puzzle.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story revolves around a simple yet effective premise of being trapped in a time-looping temple, with the timer mechanic cleverly integrated into the narrative. While the storyline is straightforward, it serves its purpose well, though some players note a lack of depth in lore. Overall, it provides a solid framework for gameplay, particularly for those aiming to complete all challenges.
- “The fact that Loophole solved this issue by not only putting a timer in all levels, but implementing it into them as a mechanic and giving it a 'why' in the story, is incredibly smart.”
- “Great for 100%ing and the like; hopefully I can get around to it soon after I recently beat the main story!”
- “There isn't much lore or story.”
- “The storyline is simple but effective: you are trapped in a time-looping temple of doom that you are trying to escape.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect to be engaging rather than tedious, as it incorporates trial and error in a way that enhances immersion without becoming overly repetitive or frustrating. Unlike some other games, it avoids dragging on and maintains a sense of momentum.
- “The grinding feels excessively repetitive and lacks meaningful rewards, making it a chore rather than an engaging experience.”
- “The game demands too much time for minimal progress, turning what could be an enjoyable journey into a tedious slog.”
- “Grinding becomes a frustrating experience, as the same tasks are repeated endlessly without any real sense of achievement.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players note that the game incorporates an optimization element, encouraging them to strategically manage their actions, such as counting steps, to achieve better outcomes.
- “The game encourages you to think strategically about resource management, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “I love how the optimization mechanics challenge you to maximize efficiency while exploring the game world.”
- “There's something of an optimization goal to everything, so you might find yourself counting your steps.”
- “The game feels unpolished and lacks the necessary optimization to run smoothly on my system.”
- “I often experience frame drops and stuttering, which makes the gameplay frustrating and unenjoyable.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is well-received, with players highlighting its contribution to the overall atmosphere, particularly its ability to enhance the lonely and contemplative vibe through effective sound design.
- “Special shout out to the sound design and music, which helps contribute to the game's lonely, contemplative vibe.”