Timemelters

About

"Timemelters: Tome I - Witches and Pyres" is a real-time strategy game that offers a single-player story mode for 2-players, as well as a 10-hour challenge mode. The game, designed by a co-creator of Sang-froid, stands out with its unique storyline, intriguing mechanics, and the option to play with a friend. A German translation and a new 2-hour demo are now available for the Steam Summer Sale.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

story18 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Timemelters offers a unique blend of strategy, action, and puzzle mechanics, particularly with its innovative time-rewinding feature that allows players to coordinate multiple versions of themselves to solve challenges.
The game has a compelling story and engaging lore, with a dark fantasy setting that enhances the overall experience, making it enjoyable both solo and in co-op mode.
Players appreciate the variety of challenges and the replayability offered through different difficulty settings and additional challenge missions, making it a satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts.

The game has a steep learning curve, with some players finding the mechanics overwhelming and the need for trial and error frustrating, especially in later levels where specific solutions are often required.
Graphics and presentation are considered basic, with some players noting that the visuals and character models lack polish compared to AAA titles, which may detract from the overall immersion.
The game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players wanting more and feeling that it is not a complete experience, raising concerns about the future of the series and whether a sequel will be released.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The story of Timemelters, featuring witches and time travel, is generally well-received, with many players finding it engaging and better than typical AAA titles. While some feel the narrative is linear and secondary to the gameplay, others appreciate its depth and the unique mechanics that enhance the experience. Overall, the combination of a captivating storyline and innovative puzzle-solving elements keeps players invested, with many expressing a desire for further expansions and lore.
- “Not only does it have a novel concept, it executes it well, with a good story that's better than a lot of AAA games and ties in perfectly with the gameplay.”
- “The setting is interesting (dark medieval Scottish high fantasy), the characters are interesting, the lore/backstory is engaging, the story is enthralling, the graphics are good, and the star of the show, the mechanics, are simply superb.”
- “The story is linear, but it's really just a series of increasingly difficult puzzles.”
- “There is some story to try and tie it together, but the core strategy part is what keeps me coming back.”
- “The lore they created, while not explored too deeply, is fascinating, and the story they chose to tell with it had me hooked from beginning to end.”
gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
43%
6%
The gameplay of Timemelters is highly praised for its innovative time-rewinding mechanics that blend strategy, action, and puzzle-solving elements, creating a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate the diverse objectives and the ability to tackle missions in multiple ways, which keeps the gameplay fresh and challenging. While the story and graphics may not be the strongest aspects, the core mechanics and their execution are considered superb, making it a compelling title worth trying.
- “Timemelters is an innovative blend of strategy, action, and puzzle genres that offers a unique and satisfying gameplay experience.”
- “One thing that stands out about the game is that every mission in the campaign has many unique ways to tackle it, and the constant addition of new gameplay mechanics keeps the game feeling fresh.”
- “The developers clearly put in a lot of love towards the game mechanics.”
- “Nothing detrimental to the gameplay per se, but it's a little rough around the edges.”
- “I know this is a petty thing, but for an indie game, some facial animation is an expensive addition for little gameplay value, and it's still jarring to me.”
- “One or two gameplay mechanics that slow down the pace a bit.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics in the game are generally considered functional but not exceptional, with some reviewers noting that they lack the polish of AAA titles. However, the charming art style in cutscenes and the immersive atmosphere created by the soundtrack help to enhance the overall experience, making the graphics less of a concern for players focused on gameplay mechanics and story.
- “The setting is interesting (dark medieval Scottish high fantasy), the characters are interesting, the lore/backstory is engaging, the story is enthralling, the graphics are good, and the star of the show, the mechanics, are simply superb.”
- “Additionally, the game is as well-polished as most AAA titles, making it very immersive, with wonderful graphics and music.”
- “The art style inside some cutscenes is incredibly nice, as you can see in one of the pictures in this review!”
- “The presentation and visuals of the game are probably the most lacking part of this experience.”
- “The game definitely lags in quality in graphics, controls, physics, and plot.”
- “The graphics in the game are admittedly (by the devs themselves) not the best, but that’s really not an issue at all.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay, with many users describing the soundtrack as fantastic and immersive. The art style and cutscenes are also noted for their charm, further enriching the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack stands out as a highlight, with some players expressing a desire to purchase it.
- “While the graphics and character models may not be top-notch, the art style in the cutscenes is charming, and the soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere well.”
- “The soundtrack also perfectly complements the mood the game is going for at any given moment.”
- “Additionally, the game is as well-polished as most AAA titles, making it very immersive, with wonderful graphics and music.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability through its design that encourages experimentation with various solutions and features diverse challenge modes. Players can engage with the game repeatedly without the need to revisit the story, as replayability is primarily driven by completing different challenges.
- “Replayability is achieved via challenges rather than by compelling you to replay the story and check out all alternative choices.”
- “Very replayable, with lots of variety in challenge modes.”
- “The game's design encourages experimentation with multiple solutions to each level, enhancing replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about the nostalgia of their youth when gaming felt fresh and exciting. Despite minor performance issues, the overall experience is described as wholesome, leaving players hopeful for future expansions from the developers.
- “This game made me feel like I did when I was younger, with more time and less money for video games, where every game felt fresh and exciting.”
- “Aside from minor performance issues on very rare occasions and a couple of glitchy textures here and there, I'm happy to say it's a wholesome experience that I hope the developers continue to expand upon.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be challenging yet engaging, as it requires some trial and error to master new maps without feeling tedious or overwhelming, especially on medium difficulty.
- “The game is challenging while not being tedious or overwhelming (played on medium difficulty).”
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each level up brings a real sense of achievement.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it keeps me engaged without feeling like a chore.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its charming art style in cutscenes and a well-suited soundtrack, despite the graphics and character models not being top-tier.
- “While the graphics and character models may not be top-notch, the art style in the cutscenes is charming, and the soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere well.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with only occasional minor performance issues and some glitchy textures reported. Players express satisfaction with the experience and hope for continued improvements from the developers.
- “Aside from minor performance issues on very rare occasions and a couple of glitchy textures here and there, I'm happy to say it's a wholesome experience that I hope the developers continue to expand upon.”
- “The game suffers from frequent frame drops, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “Optimization is lacking; I often encounter long loading times and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite the interesting gameplay, the poor optimization leads to a frustrating experience with constant lag.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting a smooth gameplay experience free from the glitches often associated with multiplayer titles.