Tick Tock: A Tale for Two
- December 11, 2018
- Other Tales Interactive
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"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.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- 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.
- story1,524 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Tick Tock: A Tale for Two" is described as intriguing yet often confusing, with a mix of dark themes and a unique cooperative narrative structure that requires players to piece together their respective halves of the story. While many players appreciated the atmospheric visuals and the clever integration of puzzles with the storyline, some found the plot lacking depth and the ending unsatisfying. Overall, the game offers a compelling experience for those who enjoy collaborative storytelling, though it leaves some players wanting more clarity and resolution.
“The game's story and plot twists are some of the best I've ever experienced in gaming.”
“I highly recommend playing this game with a friend, the storyline was rich and the puzzles were definitely challenging.”
“The story is intriguing and ominous, and the ending is quite clever (in my opinion).”
“The story is terrible.”
“What was an interesting plot line got thrown in the garbage bin by a developer who had no idea where to go after a point and gave up.”
“The storyline is just too simple and boring, just like the game itself.”
- graphics382 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which effectively creates an engaging atmosphere that complements the story. Many reviewers highlight the charming, clean visuals and the eerie yet captivating aesthetic, noting that the graphics enhance the overall experience, even if they are somewhat simplistic. Overall, the visuals are described as stunning, with a blend of cute and dark elements that contribute to the game's immersive quality.
“Stunning art style, interesting plot, satisfying riddles – simply perfect.”
“The visuals and music are lovely, as is the charming story, which like the art is streaked with grey.”
“The art style is amazing, the story is gripping, puzzles are great and the game is done really well, works brilliantly as a co-op.”
“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.”
- gameplay330 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique cooperative mechanics, requiring players to communicate effectively to solve puzzles, reminiscent of titles like "Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes." While the puzzles are engaging and the art style is appealing, many players noted the game is relatively short, typically lasting around 2-3 hours, and lacks significant replay value. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit brief, experience that shines in its innovative approach to asymmetric co-op gameplay.
“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.”
“Extremely reminiscent of a real-world escape room; absolutely loved the mechanics.”
“The need to communicate surroundings and clues with one another added a particularly challenging and unique mechanic to the game, different from when we've played non-co-op escape rooms and puzzle games together.”
“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.”
“But due to the gameplay lacking enjoyment, the overall experience was dry.”
- atmosphere186 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, often described as spooky, eerie, or melancholic, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful artwork, sound design, and engaging storytelling that creates a unique ambiance, making it suitable for casual play or deeper exploration. While some found the puzzles challenging yet satisfying, the atmosphere consistently stands out as a highlight, drawing players into its enchanting and mysterious world.
“The atmosphere was creepy and the story that slowly unfolded was engaging.”
“A gorgeous and atmospheric game that does a good job of slowly unfolding its story.”
“The story and atmosphere created by the imagery and sounds were enchanting and mysterious.”
“For the rest, there is no pressure or atmosphere to mess with you.”
“Although it has a fairly small duration and needs some more polishing, it manages to keep you interested with its cute aesthetics, eerie atmosphere, and clever puzzles.”
“Although the visuals are simplistic, it succeeds in creating a dark, eerie atmosphere.”
- replayability172 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 47 % negative mentions
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. While some players suggest that forgetting the solutions over time might allow for a fresh experience, the consensus is that the game is short and offers minimal replay value, making it more suitable for a one-time playthrough. Despite this, many still find it enjoyable for its price, recommending it primarily for a single session rather than repeated play.
“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 only negatives are that one puzzle was a little too obtuse for us to figure out on our own and it is a fairly short game with little to no replay value.”
“We finished the game in a little over 2 hours and the game has no replay value, so I wouldn't recommend buying at full price.”
- music74 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soft, subtle, and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its haunting quality. While some players noted the limited presence of background music, they appreciated its ability to create a cozy and immersive ambiance that complements the visuals and story. Overall, the soundtrack is well-received, though some felt it could have been more prominent or varied throughout the gameplay.
“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.”
“The music was beautiful and the artwork stunning.”
“Its alright, the puzzles are pretty good though a few can be a bit obtuse (leading to us having to 'cheat' a few times in order to solve them by sending each other screenshots), the soundtrack does its job but is nothing to write home about.”
“There is not a lot of real background music, only atmospheric sounds, which did their job quite well.”
“I would say it's too bad it is so short and lacks a soundtrack, but I guess it's fair for the price.”
- humor48 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding the unexpected twists and clever endings to be particularly funny. The cooperative gameplay adds to the comedic experience, as players navigate challenging puzzles while communicating in amusing ways. However, some reviewers felt the humor was inconsistent, with a few noting a lack of comedic elements compared to other titles.
“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.”
“It was challenging and fun and the way everything wrapped together at the end was extremely funny but also there was a sense of accomplishment.”
- grinding48 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with many puzzles described as far-fetched or overly complicated, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some puzzles provide a satisfying challenge, the majority are seen as lacking in depth and rewarding outcomes, making the experience feel more like a chore than a fun collaboration. The game's pacing and puzzle design may benefit from refinement to enhance player engagement and satisfaction.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“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.”
“The end was...not good enough for me to recommend this game to others - maybe if there were less tedious puzzles.”
“Too short for the price (even on sale) and puzzles were more tedious than challenging.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, highlighting its beautiful art, touching story, and the way it fosters connections, even across distances. The puzzles evoke a range of feelings, from joy to frustration, contributing to a memorable and sometimes chilling experience. Overall, the game successfully creates an emotional bond between players, enhancing their shared journey.
“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.”
“Beautiful graphics and a touching story.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have frequent glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience. Despite these stability issues, players appreciate the engaging puzzles and the need for critical thinking and teamwork, which enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
“I ran into glitches throughout my playthrough.”
“I ran into glitches throughout my playthrough.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on low-end computers without the need for an internet connection, which sets it apart from other co-op communication-focused puzzle games.
“I 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.”
