Timelie

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 928 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Timelie Game Cover
A few frustrating puzzles aren’t enough to drag down a fantastic puzzler buoyed by lovely graphics and near flawless gameplay.
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"Timelie is a single-player stealth puzzle adventure game with a unique time-controlling mechanic, where you guide a girl and a cat with precognitive abilities through a vibrant world, solving puzzles and avoiding enemies by manipulating the timeline to plan your escape strategy."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 928 reviews
gameplay137 positive mentions
grinding11 negative mentions
  • Unique time manipulation mechanics that enhance puzzle-solving.
  • Beautiful art style and soothing soundtrack that create an engaging atmosphere.
  • Challenging puzzles that require strategic thinking and planning.
  • The story is vague and open to interpretation, which may leave some players unsatisfied.
  • Some puzzles require extremely precise timing, leading to potential frustration.
  • Unskippable cutscenes and replays after completing levels can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • gameplay340 mentions

    The gameplay of "Timelie" is characterized by its innovative time manipulation mechanics, which allow players to rewind and fast forward actions to solve puzzles and navigate stealth challenges. Players appreciate the game's polished mechanics, diverse puzzles, and the gradual introduction of new gameplay elements that keep the experience fresh and engaging. While some find the gameplay intuitive and rewarding, others note occasional frustrations with controls and pacing, but overall, it is highly recommended for fans of puzzle and stealth genres.

    • “Timelie is pure stealth + puzzle gameplay not diluted with story, dialogue, or cutscenes.”
    • “The gameplay is polished enough, and I only found one issue where the enemy detection is pretty inconsistent on one or two chapters.”
    • “The time manipulation mechanic feels like using a simple media player within the game, allowing the player to watch past and future events to understand the solution for each puzzle.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay and puzzles were, as far as I got, terrible.”
    • “The gameplay is simple: press buttons and stand on pressure plates to open doors, avoid enemies, use some limited abilities to influence the way you play, and move back and forth in time to try and retry approaches in an attempt to reach the exit of each level.”
    • “The central mechanic, which is to rewind time (or see into the future), is not really that interesting; it basically just prevents you from having to start over.”
  • story299 mentions

    The game's story is often described as minimalistic and vague, relying heavily on visual storytelling without dialogue, which leaves much open to interpretation. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and subtlety of the narrative, others find it confusing and lacking in clarity, with many expressing a preference for more concrete storytelling. Overall, the focus remains on the gameplay and puzzles, with the story serving as a backdrop that enhances the experience rather than being the main attraction.

    • “Incredibly charming adventure with a great story to boot.”
    • “A beautiful game, very creative puzzle especially in the endgame, have to make very precise decisions, storywise it was beautiful.”
    • “The story unfolds in the mind of a distressed young girl and is one of those open to interpretation types of narratives; it's supported by a clean and colourful art style, and a beautiful, melancholic soundtrack.”
    • “The story is very much bare-bones and the ending got me like nooooo!!”
    • “I have no clue what the developers aimed at here; it just seems like tacked-on nonsense that makes it appear as if the game had a broader point to make or an actual story to tell when it doesn’t.”
    • “The story is vague to say the least; there are no words spoken and I'm not sure what the environment and what happens in the end is supposed to represent.”
  • music160 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful, atmospheric, and well-composed soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. Many players noted the soothing and immersive qualities of the music, which complements the game's visuals and gameplay mechanics effectively. While some found the music repetitive during challenging moments, the majority appreciated its ability to create a captivating ambiance throughout the game.

    • “The music is quite excellent, and the sound design also serves its purpose.”
    • “The soundtrack provides effective atmospheric tunes that enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The beautiful visuals and relaxing music also help to make you focused on the game.”
    • “It doesn't help that the game reeks of mobile, has bland music, no enemy variety, and dull environments.”
    • “I had seen a new character team up with the player, but the almost non-existent music, the boring levels, and the missing story just made me question why I would choose this over all the other games out there.”
    • “Repetitive music, no story, clunky animations, re-enacting scenes make no sense, boring puzzles that are not about logic but about trying to match the perfect timing for hours; there is nothing overwhelmingly positive here.”
  • graphics156 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the beautiful, simplistic, and charming art style that enhances the overall experience. The visuals are described as polished and well-crafted, effectively conveying the game's themes and emotions without the need for dialogue. While some users noted minor graphical issues or a preference for more detailed graphics, the consensus is that the aesthetic complements the gameplay, making it a visually appealing puzzle game.

    • “The game's polish is evident throughout, from its gameplay to its visuals and sound design; the music is a wonderful metronomic melody.”
    • “Just a very beautiful puzzle game with rewind aspect and with great graphics, music/atmosphere, and gameplay!”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the animations are adorable!”
    • “Graphically this game is very simple; it reminds me of Pokémon games in the way that it is styled (specifically the main character).”
    • “But the graphics definitely won't 'blow you away'.”
    • “Graphically it is minimalist almost to a fault.”
  • emotional29 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching narrative and impactful ending, which elicits a range of feelings, including sadness and heartbreak. Players appreciate the clever design and atmospheric visuals that enhance the emotional experience, although some critiques mention moments that feel manipulative or lacking in payoff. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a quick yet profound emotional journey through its story and gameplay.

    • “Timelie conveys a touching narrative, relying on visual cues and gameplay to unfold its story.”
    • “It's an experience that stands out for its clever design and emotional impact, making it a top recommendation for puzzle enthusiasts.”
    • “Incredibly atmospheric, beautiful, and even a bit emotional in all its simplicity.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and emotional qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the visuals and gameplay. Reviewers note the unique sci-fi feel, calming and contemplative ambiance, and the effective use of sound design, all contributing to a relaxing experience despite the minimal storytelling. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautiful, melancholic, and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The atmosphere the game has is really good; it is just dark enough, it has a unique sci-fi feel, and it feels strong emotionally.”
    • “Incredibly atmospheric, beautiful, and even a bit emotional in all its simplicity.”
    • “There is no dialogue, but there is never any need; the audio design is wonderful and there is a quiet and mysterious atmosphere.”
    • “The game oozes atmosphere and charm, and the lighter gameplay makes it perfect for those tired evenings when you want to relax.”
    • “I love the graphics and atmosphere.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is described as somewhat tedious but manageable, with players noting that while there are opportunities for backtracking and collecting relics, the game’s relatively short length (around 4 hours) prevents it from becoming overly grindy. The unique time-manipulation mechanic adds an interesting layer, though it can occasionally feel cumbersome. Collecting all items may require specific objectives that are not clearly communicated, contributing to a sense of frustration for completionists.

    • “Overall, while it can be a little grindy for those who want the secret ending, it was a well-designed game that was very pretty.”
    • “As it currently stands, it's unnecessarily tedious.”
    • “Fairly short though (4-ish hours for a playthrough), and while there are collectibles scattered throughout the levels it's unclear how to collect them (you have to finish the level with a specific optional, unlisted objective) which makes it a bit tedious to do.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the character design, noting its simplicity and cuteness as positive attributes. The art style is well-received, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience, though specific comments on character development beyond design are limited.

    • “The visuals and character design are simplistic in a good way.”
    • “Character design is cute; I like the art style too.”
    • “Great character design, nice polish, songs are great.”
    • “Not only the cute character design, which was my first impression.”
    • “I really like the character design and gameplay of this indie game.”
    • “I like the protagonist's character design as it is.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized for both Mac and PC, delivering solid performance and polished graphics. However, some users with lower-spec systems have reported occasional stuttering, indicating that while the optimization is generally good, it may not fully accommodate all hardware configurations.

    • “Performance-wise, the game performs well on both Mac and PC.”
    • “The quality is polished and provides solid performance in my playthrough.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and well optimized.”
    • “Performance: I have to play on medium settings because my computer isn't very powerful, but it still stutters.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge of collecting all relics and the unique mechanics that encourage meta puzzle thinking, others find the overall experience too short and lacking in replay value. The potential for replaying exists, particularly for those who forget the puzzles, but the disappointing ending and limited content may deter some players from returning.

    • “Some replayability to collect all relic challenges.”
    • “A decent time-based puzzle game with a unique mechanic of using previously completed levels to set up a new level, making some replayability and meta puzzle thinking required for later levels.”
    • “It's a fun game with unique mechanics, but 7 hours to get 100% completion feels a bit short, and there is not much in terms of replayability.”
    • “Could have, were it not for one major flaw (other than the total lack of replayability): the ending is excruciatingly disappointing.”
    • “Since it is a puzzle game, there might not be too much replayability, but once I forget the puzzles, I'm definitely replaying it.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, user experiences with stability vary; while some report significant issues like second screen glitches, others have not encountered any bugs, crashes, or freezes, indicating a mixed performance.

    • “2nd screen glitches without the ability to see anything.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is viewed positively, with users noting that the DLC offers a fair amount of additional content (approximately 10 hours) and that the overall experience does not feel rushed or exploitative.

    • “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “I feel like the game is designed to push players towards microtransactions rather than providing a complete experience.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players find the humor in the juxtaposition of a stealth strategy game being described as both relaxing and a comfort game, highlighting its unique charm and appeal.

    • “It sounds kind of funny to say that a stealth strategy game is relaxing and a comfort game for me, but I think that’s why it’s great.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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