Stranded In Time

About

"Stranded In Time" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game where players are transported through various historical eras. Explore stunning environments, gather clues, and solve intricate puzzles to repair the time machine and return to the present. With a strong emphasis on narrative, players uncover a mysterious plot while navigating different time periods.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

story21 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a casual and relaxing experience with simple puzzles and a cute story.
There is a helpful hint and skip button that makes it easy to progress through the game without frustration.
For its low price, the game provides decent entertainment value, making it a worthwhile purchase for casual gamers.

The story and dialogue are poorly written, often feeling childish and lacking depth.
The game is very short, typically taking less than two hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
Many puzzles are repetitive and tedious, with excessive backtracking required to progress.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
8%
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it simplistic and poorly written, while others appreciate its charm and engaging elements. Many note that the narrative is short and straightforward, often serving as a backdrop to the puzzles, but some find it enjoyable and entertaining despite its brevity. Overall, the story is seen as a casual and lighthearted experience, appealing to those looking for a quick, fun adventure rather than a deep narrative.
- “The story is simple but interesting too and takes a bit over an hour to finish if you're not too slow.”
- “I played this game when I was a child and bought it to remember the memories, but after playing it I am satisfied with the purchase because the story was really interesting and beautiful.”
- “The story was great even though it was short, very enjoyable from start to finish. I would recommend this to those who enjoy puzzle games or short games to pass the time.”
- “The story feels like it was written by a child, and the puzzles are uninteresting and boring.”
- “The dialogue is awkward, and the storyline seems like a large percentage of it is ripped off from The Dig, Futurama, and various other popular references.”
- “The story is very slow, with a fair number of grammatical issues, and is a slog while the puzzles vary from collecting various items to solving checkers to keep dad from being bored.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cute art style and character designs, while others find the character proportions jarring and the visuals basic or unimpressive. Overall, the graphics are described as simple yet appealing, with a few noting that they are adequate for the game's relaxing experience, despite some inconsistencies and a lack of detail.
- “The graphics are cute as well.”
- “Nice presentation and art style.”
- “Audio is repetitive and the visuals are basic.”
- “This game looks like they hired an underpaid graphic designer to draw the environment and a couple of characters with few facial expressions.”
- “The art style is refreshing, though a variation in styles towards the end made a somewhat uncanny valley effect.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
43%
29%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and suitable for puzzle-solving, while others describe it as annoying and forgettable. The soundtrack is noted for its pleasantness in certain contexts, but many users criticize its lack of variety and impact, leading to an overall low rating.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Relaxing music, cute art style, and menu options fully customized to PC make it a fun unwinding experience.”
- “The design is colorful, the soundtrack is small and changes depending on the zone where you are.”
- “Not surprising this game is a nightmare to play, my god the patience it requires with all these annoying dialogues and music.”
- “The music is really bad, pretty annoying actually.”
- “If there is music, it was very bland and did not stand out.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by simple point-and-click mechanics and easy puzzles, making it suitable for relaxation and unwinding. However, it suffers from tedious backtracking and a lack of depth, with some players finding it too short, finishing in under two hours. While there are creative ideas and enjoyable minigames, the overall experience is marred by its repetitive nature and minimal challenge.
- “Even the gameplay wants to make sure that the player can just relax.”
- “The point 'n' click mechanics are kept as simple as possible, and the few puzzles are only intimidating if one has never seen them before.”
- “No time limit and extremely simple gameplay make this a good pickup when unwinding, destressing, or in between your game picks.”
- “There's some nice ideas, it has some creativity and love put into it, but the main gameplay is far too tedious due to the constant backtracking, making you feel like you're in a never-ending ping pong match.”
- “Inventory puzzles are fairly easy but also add nothing to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is too short; I finished it in less than 2 hours.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by witty dialogues and amusing descriptions, contributing to a funny story and engaging gameplay. Players appreciate the lightheartedness, with many finding the minigames to be entertainingly challenging. Overall, the comedic elements enhance the overall experience.
- “The dialogues and descriptions are often quite funny, and the minigames are not too easy.”
- “The game features funny texts that keep the experience lighthearted.”
- “There is some genuinely funny dialogue that adds to the overall enjoyment.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious, often feeling like it unnecessarily prolongs the experience through constant backtracking. While there are creative elements present, the repetitive nature of the gameplay detracts from overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a challenge.
- “Very tedious and drags out the game way more than needed.”
- “There's some nice ideas; it has some creativity and love put into it, but the main gameplay is far too tedious due to the constant backtracking, making you feel like you're in a never-ending ping pong match.”
- “Never hard, just tedious.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Users indicate that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting a strong incentive to play multiple times. However, some note that the inclusion of Steam trading cards may not align well with shorter games that lack replay value.
- “The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
- “I love how every run feels different, making it a game I can come back to time and time again.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “Steam trading cards don't work well for a short game with no replay value.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes it hard to justify replaying the game.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is described as deeply emotional and heartbreaking, with players appreciating its touching narrative and heartfelt letters from the uncle, which enhance the overall experience. Many recommend it for its ability to evoke strong feelings and its engaging thematic variation.
- “Truly a heartbreaking game!”
- “I suggest you buy this game; you'll enjoy and appreciate this great little game with a nice variation of the theme and the heart-touching lines from the letter by the uncle were amazing.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of "Stranded in Time" has been criticized as a lazy and greedy cash grab, particularly due to its origins as a mobile app that was poorly ported to Steam.
- “Stranded in Time is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a lazy, greedy cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great marred by aggressive in-game purchases.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in this game is criticized for being lackluster and unremarkable, failing to stand out or compete with even basic hidden object games that incorporate more engaging lore and character design.
- “This game has nothing to stand out, and it does not really hold up on its own. It is easily outcompeted by any half-decent hidden object game that added lore and maybe some proper character design.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “There is a lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth, leaving the experience feeling flat and unengaging.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its engaging story and unique dialogue, which together create an immersive experience that captivates players.
- “The story is fun, and the diverse dialogue creates an immersive atmosphere that kept me intrigued.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing me into its world with every detail.”
- “The sound design and visuals work together perfectly to create an atmosphere that feels alive and engaging.”