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Time Loader

78%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, replayability
78% User Score Based on 206 reviews

Platforms

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About

Time Loader is a story-driven, physics-based puzzle platformer that takes you back to the ‘90s. You play as a small, time-traveling robot sent on a mission by its inventor Adam to alter past events and undo a tragic childhood accident. Find the way through the relatively giant surroundings of Adam’s house, using multiple upgrades to help you navigate and interact with familiar objects seen from a …

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Time Loader screenshot
Time Loader screenshot
Time Loader screenshot
Time Loader screenshot
Time Loader screenshot

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 206 reviews
story43 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Charming graphics and sound design that evoke nostalgia for the 90s.
  • Engaging story with multiple endings that encourage exploration and replayability.
  • Simple yet enjoyable gameplay mechanics that are accessible for all ages.
  • Frustrating controls, especially with the grappling hook mechanic, which can lead to difficult gameplay sections.
  • Short playtime with some puzzles being overly simplistic and lacking challenge.
  • Bugs and inconsistent physics can disrupt the flow of the game, leading to moments of frustration.
  • story
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging and intriguing narrative, particularly its time-travel theme and emotional depth. However, some found the story to be short, simplistic, or lacking in meaningful consequences, with a few noting that it could be summarized quickly, diminishing its impact. Overall, while the story is often described as cute and well-integrated with gameplay, there are calls for more depth and clarity, especially regarding the connection between player choices and multiple endings.

    • “The amount of detail that went into this little story was unreal, not to mention the secret stuff that is also in the game.”
    • “The story is engaging and thought-provoking.”
    • “Time Loader features gorgeous graphics, great voice acting, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat!”
    • “Overall, the story felt short and not too engaging.”
    • “I wish the game could have fleshed out the story more instead of making it reliant on multiple endings.”
    • “Unfortunately, I discovered that most of the story before the final act can be summed up in less than 1 minute by watching the second video trailer on the Steam page.”
  • gameplay
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this physics-based platformer has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly simplistic and plagued by frustrating mechanics, particularly the item-throwing and grappling hook systems. While some appreciate the game's visuals and story, they feel that the execution of gameplay mechanics falls short, leading to a repetitive and sometimes tedious experience. Overall, the game offers a creative concept and interesting puzzles, but struggles with precision and pacing, leaving players divided on its overall enjoyment.

    • “The gameplay is also great, puzzles are interesting and the game gets you doing some cool stuff with physics.”
    • “Great gameplay, puzzles, story, and little 90's details.”
    • “Overall the use of the butterfly effect and platformer'esque gameplay perfectly works together and I think this game should appeal to a variety of gamers.”
    • “This is a physics-based platformer that outright struggles with making the physics necessary to gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is unbearably slow, and the item-throwing mechanic is broken (I'm not sure if that's intentional).”
    • “Game is insanely jank; some of the movements are impossible to control, and it's frustrating knowing what you need to do but fighting the throw mechanic to get it done.”
  • graphics
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cartoonish and visually appealing art style, with many reviewers noting the attention to detail and overall aesthetic quality. While some minor graphical glitches were mentioned, they did not detract from the enjoyable experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and immersive atmosphere, making it a standout feature.

    • “The graphics are on point, the music is memorable, and the gameplay is solid.”
    • “Time loader features gorgeous graphics, great voice acting, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat!”
    • “A very distinctive and bright puzzle-platformer with excellent graphics, great soundtrack and story.”
    • “The room design ranges from a pleasing art style to sometimes what looks like untextured polygons.”
    • “Play Time Loader for its toy graphics and relaxed background; otherwise, ignore.”
    • “Due to the time stamp of the action and pastel graphics, even the person watching the gameplay will not be bored.”
  • music
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its memorable and atmospheric qualities that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players find the soundtrack relaxing and fitting for the game's style, others criticize it as slow and droning, lacking the nostalgic appeal it claims to have. Overall, the sound design is often highlighted as a strong point, contributing positively to the game's environment and emotional depth.

    • “I love the colors and soundtrack of the game, as well as the many hidden things that encourage you to go back through time and discover them all, together with its different endings.”
    • “Fabulous sound design and not forgetting the excellent soundtrack by Alexey Nechaev.”
    • “Music and sounds complement this nostalgic atmosphere incomparably.”
    • “The only negative I have is the music.”
    • “They claim 'nostalgic music' but it's nothing but slow droning music.”
    • “Music really climactic, often can lead your emotions properly into the situation currently occurring.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic elements, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of music and sound to enhance the experience. While some found the storyline and overall atmosphere slightly underwhelming, the engaging gameplay and unique settings contribute to a captivating ambiance that resonates with players. Overall, the game successfully creates an enjoyable and immersive environment, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a relaxing puzzle adventure.

    • “In the span of 3 hours, I managed to break a kid's legs 3 times, destroy a majority of his personal belongings, flood his basement, indirectly burn down his house, plus murder his cat, and all while enjoying an amazing sidescroller puzzle adventure game with a great atmosphere and a depressing piano soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere of the 80's and the gimmick-like Rube Goldberg are wonderful.”
    • “Atmosphere and story are slightly underwhelming, but gameplay is absolutely solid.”
    • “As for the plot, graphics, atmosphere, mechanics, and duration, I'll keep it short: all the aspects here are decent even for a picky player, but for me, all of them are brilliant.”
    • “Music and sounds complement this nostalgic atmosphere incomparably.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed, with reports of significant bugs affecting progression, particularly with saving/loading mechanics and joystick controls. While it runs well on certain platforms, players have experienced frustrating glitches that can disrupt gameplay, especially when using a controller. Overall, the game requires further refinement to enhance its stability.

    • “Runs great on the deck, too.”
    • “Saving/loading seemed buggy; there were times that I quit right after the auto-save icon went away, then I returned to a previous room.”
    • “The game can be buggy and sometimes breaks your progression.”
    • “The problem is the buggy joystick implementation (still in version 1.04), which leads to the grabber not working - or even worse - stopping to work during the game.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability, particularly for players aiming to achieve 100% completion and explore better endings. While the initial playthrough may not require many hours, the potential for revisiting the game enhances its overall value.

    • “The replayability value comes from not managing to achieve 100% on the first run, allowing you to go back and pursue better endings.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new experiences and choices that make you want to dive back in.”
    • “The replayability value comes if you did not manage to 100% the first run and later go back to achieve better endings.”
    • “Not many hours are needed for completion, but the replay value is immense.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its heartfelt storytelling and emotional depth, surprising players with its ability to evoke profound feelings and reflections on destruction and trauma. Its soothing yet stirring gameplay mechanics contribute to a powerful emotional experience that resonates deeply with players.

    • “This is an incredibly heartfelt and wonderful game. I was not expecting it to be the masterpiece it was, despite it being recommended to me.”
    • “It was both soothing and emotionally stirring - phenomenal development and gameplay mechanics!”
    • “It made me feel things that I never thought I could feel from a game. I caused so much destruction that is irreparable and traumatizing.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its fun and lighthearted tone. Minor graphical bugs add a touch of unintentional humor without detracting from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, it offers an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

    • “Fun and with a good sense of humor, Time Loader is a great way to spend a couple of hours.”
    • “I also saw minor funny bugs with graphics, but they were short-term and didn't spoil the gameplay.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is criticized, as it only achieves smooth performance when frame rates are capped at 50 fps, indicating potential issues with stability and efficiency at higher settings.

    • “The game runs smoothly when you lock the frame rate at 50 fps.”
    • “The optimization allows for a seamless experience, enhancing gameplay significantly.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers focused on performance, making the game run efficiently on lower-end systems.”

Buy Time Loader

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
4-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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