Tick Tock: A Tale for Two

About

"Tick Tock: A Tale for Two" is a co-op puzzle adventure game where players must work together to uncover the secrets of a mysterious clockwork world. Each player has a unique perspective on the game world, and must communicate and coordinate to solve puzzles and progress. With no correct way to solve each puzzle, players are encouraged to think creatively and work together to unravel the story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,892 reviews

story1.1k positive mentions

replayability94 negative mentions

Unique co-op gameplay that requires communication and teamwork.
Challenging puzzles that provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
Beautiful art style and intriguing story that keeps players engaged.

Very short playtime, typically around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Ending feels abrupt and can be perceived as mocking players for their time spent.
Limited replayability as puzzles remain the same in subsequent playthroughs.

story
1,990 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The story of "Tick Tock: A Tale for Two" is generally described as intriguing and engaging, with a unique cooperative narrative that unfolds through puzzle-solving. However, many players found the ending unsatisfying or abrupt, leaving them wanting more depth and resolution. While some appreciated the dark and eerie atmosphere, others felt the story lacked clarity and coherence, making it difficult to fully invest in the narrative. Overall, the game is seen as a charming experience, particularly for couples or friends, but with notable shortcomings in storytelling.
- “The story is intriguing and ominous, and the ending is quite clever (imo).”
- “The story was really cool and creepy at times (...I got chills at the end), the gameplay is very smooth, puzzles are fun, and the art style is gorgeous!”
- “The story was amazing!!”
- “The story was built up really well but disappointed me when it came to the end.”
- “The main one being the lack of clarity with the story.”
- “The game could have been better, and I would recommend looking for another game with a better story to play instead.”
graphics
494 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which effectively creates an eerie atmosphere that complements the storytelling. Many reviewers noted the visuals as charming and immersive, with a blend of simplicity and detail that enhances the overall experience. While some found the graphics to be basic or lacking in complexity, the majority appreciated the aesthetic appeal and how it contributed to the game's mood and engagement.
- “Stunning art style, interesting plot, satisfying riddles – simply perfect.”
- “The artwork is beautiful and haunting, and the music is so soft and gentle that you feel sucked into the game's world.”
- “The graphics are very pleasing and artistic with an interesting story.”
- “Nothing felt very intuitive and the art style and story did not do this game any favors.”
- “Too easy and too short with poor graphics.”
- “Although the visuals are simplistic, it succeeds in creating a dark, eerie atmosphere.”
gameplay
398 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
58%
1%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique cooperative mechanics, requiring two players to communicate effectively to solve puzzles, reminiscent of games like "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes." While the puzzles are engaging and the art style is appealing, many players note that the game is relatively short, typically lasting around 2 to 3 hours, which may not justify the price for some. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, particularly for those who appreciate puzzle-solving in a cooperative setting, though it lacks significant replay value.
- “Completely blew me away with the mechanics and how it works to play two people.”
- “The gameplay reminded me a lot of another game: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, with how much you need to communicate well with each other and basically use conversational tennis with both sides of the pieces in order to solve the puzzles effectively.”
- “The puzzles were engaging enough to keep us interested, but not so complex that they became frustrating; the partner having the information mechanic works brilliantly.”
- “There isn't much of a reason to play the game again as the opposite player, as the areas that you experience are almost entirely the same, and the gameplay/part of the puzzle don't change much between the two.”
- “Game has an interesting 'no online co-op' thing going on, and the artwork is pretty nice, but $12 (you *need* two copies) for under 2 hours of gameplay is pretty steep.”
- “They can become very frustrating as it is just the same type of mechanic but 20 times repeated under countdown.”
atmosphere
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of eerie, spooky, and charming elements, enhanced by beautiful artwork and immersive sound design. Many players appreciate how the atmosphere complements the gameplay, creating a unique and engaging experience that draws them into the story. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a key highlight, making it a memorable and enjoyable puzzle-solving adventure.
- “The atmosphere was such a cool vibe as well and the sounds and music add so much to that vibe.”
- “A gorgeous and atmospheric game that does a good job of slowly unfolding its story.”
- “The atmosphere and story are imaginative and interesting making the 2.5 hour play-through captivating.”
- “For the rest there is no pressure or atmosphere to mess with you.”
- “The atmosphere was creepy and the story that slowly unfolded was engaging.”
- “Although it has fairly small duration and needs some more polishing, it manages to keep you interested with its cute aesthetics, eerie atmosphere and clever puzzles.”
replayability
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
47%
42%
The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to play again. Most players completed the game in under two hours, and the absence of achievements or varying challenges further diminishes its replay value. While it offers a fun experience for a one-time playthrough, many recommend purchasing it only when on sale due to its short duration and minimal replay potential.
- “Add on top of that some really beautiful artwork, interesting gameplay elements with a split narrative, and a complex narrative given one mysterious piece at a time, and I genuinely do think this game has replayability.”
- “I think there is replayability if you invited a different friend to play with you.”
- “It's asynchronous but also discrete for each player, so there's a bit of replayability but it's more akin to leaving a film alone for ten years and coming back to it.”
- “Not so much replayability because once you solved one puzzle on one side you'll know what it is on the other.”
- “The game is short (you will likely beat it in under 2 hours) and replayability is virtually non-existent.”
- “Zero replay value, but for three hours of entertainment for 2 people for only $6, can't really beat it.”
music
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The music in the game is generally described as soft, subtle, and atmospheric, enhancing the overall vibe and complementing the visuals. While there is minimal background music, the environmental sounds and gentle melodies effectively create an immersive experience, though some players noted a lack of a more substantial soundtrack. Overall, the music is appreciated for its calming and haunting qualities, fitting well with the game's aesthetic and story.
- “The music is enveloping and keeps you mystified.”
- “The artwork is beautiful and haunting, and the music is so soft and gentle that you feel sucked into the game's world.”
- “I found myself confounded with the excellent atmosphere, art, challenging puzzles, beautiful music.”
- “There's not much music and sound effects, but what's there is really good.”
- “This game doesn't have a soundtrack.”
- “There is not a lot of real background music, only atmospheric sounds, which did their job quite well.”
grinding
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
19%
79%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding the puzzles increasingly tedious and far-fetched as the game progresses. While some enjoyed the initial challenge and cooperative elements, they noted that the repetitive nature of certain puzzles detracted from the overall experience, leading to frustration rather than satisfaction. Overall, the game is seen as fun at times but often crosses into tedious territory, making it less recommendable for those who dislike grinding.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not at all challenging, just tedious.”
- “This game started out with some nice puzzles you needed to collaborate with your partner to solve, but as the chapters progress the puzzles become increasingly tedious and far-fetched, rather than more challenging.”
- “Puzzles were more grindy than fun.”
humor
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding the ending to be unexpectedly funny and clever, often leading to shared laughter during gameplay. The combination of challenging puzzles and amusing interactions contributes to a lighthearted experience, although some players noted that humor may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its gameplay, making for an enjoyable co-op experience.
- “The twist at the end was funny and unexpected.”
- “The puzzles were enjoyably difficult (not too easy, not too hard) and the end had me and my boyfriend laughing for a good little bit.”
- “Loved the end of chapter 4 surprise, very clever - had both me and my partner chuckling despite the dark story.”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking feelings of nostalgia, connection, and even sadness, particularly through its beautiful art and touching story. While many appreciate the wholesome experience and the emotional synchronization it fosters between players, some critiques highlight that blunt wording can undermine the intended emotional impact. Overall, the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, from joy to confusion, leaving a lasting impression on its audience.
- “Beautiful art and fun puzzles <3 made me feel close to my mom even though we were 10 hours apart.”
- “The atmosphere and the story were chilling and touching.”
- “Good story and emotional ending.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
80%
The game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs. However, some users experienced minor graphical glitches, particularly with 21:9 support, which slightly detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game runs well, allowing players to focus on its engaging puzzles and cooperative gameplay.
- “The game ran smoothly and bug-free.”
- “The game ran smoothly and bug-free.”
- “The game ran smoothly and bug-free.”
- “I ran into glitches throughout my playthrough.”
- “+ support for 21:9 - with minor graphical glitches.”
- “Good game, the puzzles aren't super challenging though, but the shared troubleshooting makes it interesting.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on low-end computers without requiring an internet connection, which enhances the overall gaming experience compared to other similar titles.
- “I also love that it doesn't require an internet connection, so it runs smoothly even on my potato of a computer, unlike certain other co-op communication-focused puzzle games I could name.”
- “The game runs smoothly.”

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2h Median play time

3h Average play time

2-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 76 analyzed playthroughs

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