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 3,946 reviews

story534 positive mentions

replayability47 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 game length, typically completed in under 2 hours.
Ending feels abrupt and can be perceived as mocking players for their time spent.
Limited replayability as puzzles and story are the same in subsequent playthroughs.

story
995 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The story of "Tick Tock: A Tale for Two" is described as intriguing and engaging, often delivered through a cooperative puzzle-solving format that requires players to share information to piece together the narrative. However, many reviewers noted that the story can be confusing, with an abrupt or unsatisfying ending that leaves some plot threads unresolved. Overall, while the story has its charm and potential, it often feels underdeveloped and lacks depth, leading to mixed feelings among players about its execution.
- “The story is intriguing and chilling.”
- “The story was very interesting and unfolded really nicely.”
- “The story is interesting and stays along well with the puzzles the entire time.”
- “The story was built up really well but disappointed me when it came to the end.”
- “The story is completely broken.”
- “The game is too short, the story doesn't go anywhere -- it has an extremely unsatisfying and abrupt ending which makes you feel dumb for ever thinking it was going to be anything deep.”
graphics
247 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 engaging and eerie atmosphere. Many reviewers noted the visuals as charming and well-designed, complementing the game's intriguing story and puzzles. While some found the graphics to be simple or basic, the overall aesthetic was appreciated for its ability to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The visuals and music are lovely, as is the charming story, which like the art is streaked with grey.”
- “The art style is beautiful and the quality of the puzzles is good!”
- “The artwork is beautiful and haunting, and the music is so soft and gentle that you feel sucked into the game's world.”
- “Nothing felt very intuitive and the art style and story did not do this game any favors.”
- “The graphics were simple, though fitting.”
- “Too easy and too short with poor graphics.”
gameplay
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
58%
2%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique cooperative mechanics, requiring players to communicate effectively to solve puzzles, reminiscent of games like "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes." While the puzzles are engaging and the mechanics innovative, many players noted the game is relatively short, typically lasting around 2-3 hours, which may not justify the price for some. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, particularly for those who appreciate puzzle-centric gameplay and cooperative challenges, though replayability is limited.
- “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 to solve the puzzles effectively.”
- “The gameplay experience is really unique! The need to communicate surroundings and clues with one another added a particularly challenging and unique mechanic to the game.”
- “Very cool mechanics, very nice puzzles, and an excellent story.”
- “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.”
- “Paying 10 euros for 80 minutes of gameplay is just way too overpriced.”
- “Not even 2 hours of gameplay and not the hardest puzzles.”
atmosphere
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
28%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of art, sound design, and thematic elements, creating a unique and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the eerie, spooky, or melancholic vibes that enhance the gameplay, making it suitable for casual play or cooperative puzzle-solving. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, engaging, and integral to the storytelling, contributing significantly to its appeal.
- “The atmosphere was such a cool vibe as well and the sounds and music add so much to that vibe.”
- “The art complements the bizarre and sombre atmosphere really well.”
- “A gorgeous and atmospheric game that does a good job of slowly unfolding its story.”
- “The atmosphere was creepy and the story that slowly unfolded was engaging.”
- “Although the visuals are simplistic, it succeeds in creating a dark, eerie atmosphere.”
- “The graphic design was very pretty and the atmosphere was kind of chilling and had a creepy vibe to it, but don't be scared; you do not have to await jumpscares in here.”
replayability
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
47%
42%
Overall, the game has very low to no replayability, as players quickly learn the puzzle solutions after a single playthrough. While it offers a fun and unique experience for a one-time session, many reviewers suggest that the lack of achievements and the short gameplay length diminish its long-term value. Despite this, some players feel the game is worth the price for a brief, enjoyable experience with a friend.
- “The only thing this game is missing is a 'replayability' aspect of it, but perhaps three years from now I'll forget most of the solutions and be able to play it again.”
- “I think there is replayability if you invited a different friend to play with you.”
- “It's short (104 minutes in our case) with minimal replay value, but its unique asymmetrical teamwork gameplay is worth a purchase if you can get it on sale.”
- “Unfortunately, there are no Steam achievements, or the game would have a replay value.”
- “Not so much replayability because once you solve 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.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
The music in the game is generally described as soft, subtle, and atmospheric, enhancing the overall vibe and complementing the visuals. While some players noted the lack of a substantial soundtrack, they appreciated the ambient sounds and the calming, haunting qualities of the music that contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere. Overall, the music is well-received for its ability to immerse players in the game's world, despite being minimalistic.
- “The atmosphere was such a cool vibe as well and the sounds and music add so much to that vibe.”
- “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.”
- “There's not really much 'music' as in big OSTs kind of music, but the environmental and interacting sounds are absolutely fine.”
- “This game doesn't have a soundtrack.”
- “I would say it's too bad it is so short and lacks a soundtrack, but I guess it's fair for the price.”
grinding
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
17%
79%
The reviews highlight that while the game features enjoyable puzzles, many players find the grinding aspect tedious and frustrating, particularly as the game progresses. Several puzzles are described as far-fetched or requiring excessive repetition, detracting from the overall experience and making the gameplay feel more like a chore than a challenge. Despite some fun moments, the consensus suggests that the tedious nature of certain puzzles significantly impacts the game's enjoyment.
- “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
27 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. While some puzzles are challenging, they contribute to a lighthearted experience, and interactions throughout the game elicit chuckles. However, a few players felt the humor was lacking, indicating a mixed reception in that regard.
- “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.”
- “The ending was clever and a little funny/cheeky too.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its beautiful art, touching story, and the ability to evoke strong feelings, such as nostalgia and connection with loved ones. While some players found the blunt wording undermined the emotional impact, many appreciated the game's wholesome nature and the way it fostered emotional synchronization between players. Overall, it successfully elicits a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, making for a memorable experience.
- “Beautiful art and fun puzzles 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
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth and bug-free experience, others encounter minor graphical glitches and issues throughout their playthrough. Despite these inconsistencies, the gameplay remains engaging, particularly in cooperative puzzle-solving scenarios.
- “The game ran smoothly and bug-free.”
- “I experienced no crashes or glitches during my playthrough.”
- “The stability of the game allowed me to fully immerse myself in the experience without interruptions.”
- “I ran into glitches throughout my playthrough.”
- “Support for 21:9 comes with minor graphical glitches.”
- “Good game, the puzzles aren't super challenging though, but the shared troubleshooting makes it interesting.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on low-end hardware without the need for an internet connection, making it accessible for a wider range of players.
- “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.”