Timespinner

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,939 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Timespinner Game Cover
The pixel-art is faultless and the gameplay is pleasingly reminiscent of the classics, but Timespinner doesn't offer much that feels new.
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"Timespinner is a fantasy platformer game with time-control mechanics, offering both single-player and local 2-player co-op. Traverse through the detailed pixel art environments, battle intense bosses, and befriend creatures to aid you in your quest for revenge against the Lachiem Empire. With stunning gameplay, gorgeous graphics, and phenomenal replayability, Timespinner delivers a unique and emotional atmosphere."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,939 reviews
story721 positive mentions
grinding129 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and animations that evoke nostalgia for classic 16-bit games.
  • Engaging gameplay with a variety of weapons (orbs) and abilities that allow for different playstyles.
  • Interesting time travel mechanics that add depth to exploration and puzzle-solving.
  • The story and writing can feel forced and heavy-handed, particularly with LGBTQ+ themes that may come off as preachy.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 10 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • Combat can become too easy, especially on normal difficulty, leading to a lack of challenge in boss fights.
  • story2,618 mentions

    The story of *Timespinner* is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging yet flawed. While the premise of time travel and the exploration of themes like revenge and identity are intriguing, the execution often feels rushed or overly simplistic, with some criticizing the dialogue as cringeworthy and the character development as shallow. Additionally, the heavy emphasis on LGBTQ+ themes and social commentary has polarized opinions, with some appreciating the representation while others feel it detracts from the main narrative. Overall, the game offers a decent story that may resonate with some players but leaves others wanting more depth and coherence.

    • “Its story revolves around a small nation that is being attacked by a powerful empire from outer space, and their only ace card is to use a mysterious timespinner device that allows one of their townspeople to travel back in time and warn the others.”
    • “The story is interesting, with the extra documents providing great world building.”
    • “The story is very engaging and easy to follow.”
    • “The story is actually so amateur I started skipping the dialogue; it feels like a child wrote it.”
    • “Instead of a story that builds relationships gradually and allows the player to become invested, it hurries you through the phases of interpersonal relationships like a speed date and doesn't earn any of the payoff.”
    • “The story itself is a good concept but is ruined by schoolchild level, dreck writing.”
  • gameplay1,547 mentions

    The gameplay of "Timespinner" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its smooth controls, engaging combat, and nostalgic metroidvania mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night." However, the time-stopping mechanic, which is central to the game's premise, is often criticized for being underutilized and not significantly impacting combat or exploration, leading to a sense of missed potential. While the game offers enjoyable gameplay and a solid experience, it is noted for being relatively easy and short, with some players wishing for more depth and challenge.

    • “I found the gameplay to feel good, my character moved how I wanted them to, which made combat and exploration fun.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, and the combat continues to evolve and allow for different playstyles, the game itself is short, and sweet -- but just enough that it gives you a satisfying experience without going too long.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, the challenge level is pretty consistent, and even the tough boss fights were not so nuanced it took too long to learn.”
    • “The time stop mechanic feels severely underused throughout the entire game.”
    • “The time-stopping mechanic is laughably shallow.”
    • “For a game with mechanics based around time, time in the title, and a time travel theme, time seems irrelevant to the story.”
  • music859 mentions

    The music in "Timespinner" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its high quality and nostalgic resemblance to classic titles like "Castlevania: Symphony of the Night." The soundtrack is noted for its variety, effectively complementing different gameplay moments and environments, although some tracks are criticized for being too derivative. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features of the game, enhancing the overall experience and atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is colossal, a fantastic collection of tunes that are diverse in styles and instrumentation and capture the style of Michiru Yamane closely, with more or less personal quirks in the compositions.”
    • “The music is gorgeous, the sprite work and tile sets are fantastic, the gameplay is tight and responsive, and the story kept me fully immersed and interested to keep going and learn more.”
    • “The music is absolutely fantastic and had me hearkening back to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on more than a few occasions.”
    • “The gameplay is serviceable, but ultimately boring, and the music and visuals aren't very memorable either.”
    • “Music is mostly ambient or forgettable outside of the couple areas where it’s great.”
    • “The worst offender of this, I would say is the track titled 'Masquerade of Hedonists' which mimics SOTN's own 'Wood Carving Partita' (the library music) so closely, that the parallels can be heard within the first five seconds and throughout the rest of the song.”
  • graphics560 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful, high-quality pixel art that evokes nostalgia for the 16-bit and 32-bit eras, reminiscent of classics like *Chrono Trigger* and *Castlevania: Symphony of the Night*. Reviewers noted the impressive variety in environments, blending futuristic and medieval aesthetics, along with smooth animations and a cohesive art style that enhances the overall experience. While some critiques mention minor graphical issues, the visuals are generally considered the standout feature of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.

    • “The visuals are old-school and beautiful, the environments are pretty interesting and varied, with futuristic tech-looking areas in the present time and the more nature-themed and medieval style in the past.”
    • “Graphically the game is beautiful and has stunning pixel artwork done with their sprites, reminiscent of the Game Boy Advance and DS era.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, and in spite of there being a decent amount of backtracking, it rarely feels tedious, repetitive, or monotonous.”
    • “The gameplay is serviceable, but ultimately boring, and the music and visuals aren't very memorable either.”
    • “In the end the good story was enough to keep me interested but the gameplay and visuals were a bit too basic for me.”
    • “There was so much invested in the artwork that everything else suffered, and eventually so did the art.”
  • grinding129 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding the side quests and leveling systems excessively tedious and often pointless. While some appreciate the option to grind for power and completion, others feel that it detracts from the overall experience, making the game feel repetitive and easy once over-leveled. Overall, grinding is seen as a double-edged sword: it can enhance character progression but often leads to a lack of challenge and engagement.

    • “The side quests are insanely grindy and feel pointless in what is essentially a linear map.”
    • “Quests are grindy and meaningless.”
    • “Overall this made playing the game extremely tedious, which is why I can't recommend it to anyone.”
  • replayability84 mentions

    Time Spinner offers high replayability through its multiple endings, unlockable game modes like New Game+, and a variety of weapons and challenges, making it appealing for both casual players and speedrunners. While some players find the game short, the inclusion of randomizers and different difficulty levels enhances its longevity. However, a few reviewers noted that the gameplay experience can feel repetitive upon replay, potentially limiting its appeal for some.

    • “Replayability 5/5; despite its short playtime, the game has alternate endings and is made for speedruns.”
    • “The game also offers a good level of replayability, with multiple endings and a wealth of secrets to discover.”
    • “A lot of replay value with multiple endings, new game+, and nightmare difficulty.”
    • “Not much replay value since it's exactly the same each time around.”
    • “Fairly short and with extremely questionable replay value; I don't think this stood up to the expectations I had when I initially jumped into this blatant homage to one of my favorite games ever made (Symphony of the Night).”
    • “There is a hard mode but you have to finish the game first, but the replayability is too low to play it a second time.”
  • atmosphere64 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its moody and immersive qualities, enhanced by detailed pixel-art and a compelling soundtrack that ranges from atmospheric to energetic. Many reviewers note its effective world-building, reminiscent of classic titles like "Symphony of the Night," despite some criticisms regarding character writing and story depth. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and engagement.

    • “The backgrounds and environments are incredibly detailed, distinct, and create their own unique atmosphere for each area with nothing feeling samey or repetitive in the slightest.”
    • “The atmosphere is often wonderfully moody or mysterious, thanks to the fantastic artwork and music.”
    • “What a phenomenal throwback to classic metroidvanias of old, while also introducing new gameplay ideas told through engaging storytelling, atmospheric art direction, and haunting music.”
    • “I generally enjoyed the game's atmosphere and premises, but it gets terrible when you get into details.”
    • “Especially the massive LGBTQ elements feel forced, unnatural, and unrealistic, not fitting to the atmosphere the art style tries to create.”
    • “They don't play any role, don't fit the atmosphere and just look kind of dumb.”
  • character development44 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking or poorly executed. While some appreciated the inclusion of diverse sexual orientations and found certain romantic elements wholesome, others criticized the character arcs as predictable and superficial, often overshadowed by fetch quests. Overall, the main character and many NPCs were described as underdeveloped, leading to a disconnect between the narrative and character engagement.

    • “Very fun game; great story, gameplay, and character development system.”
    • “The story was really good and there was a fair amount of character development from both your character as well as NPCs.”
    • “You get quests, a bit of character development for quest-givers, some lore... it makes the world of Timespinner more interesting to explore and more enjoyable.”
    • “The main character is unlikable; in the opening cutscene she's using her power to be a prick to someone who's being a prick to her, and she has no character development over the course of the game.”
    • “The plot points were buried in character development that went nowhere and meant nothing, so pretty quickly you just start mashing buttons to get through the dialog.”
    • “There’s almost no character development to speak of, and Lunais herself is a rather flat and underdeveloped character.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story and character development, particularly through its LGBTQ+ representation and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic games. While some players found the lore overwhelming and the mechanics uninteresting, many were moved to tears by the epilogue and appreciated the depth of the protagonist's backstory. Overall, the game successfully blends emotional weight with a wholesome narrative, despite some heavy-handed moments.

    • “Game is queer and wholesome as fuck, I absolutely loved the LGBTQ+ representation because it was presented as just a normal thing.”
    • “I cried during the epilogue.”
    • “Add to that an appealing, driven lead and a truly intriguing concept of time travel (the traveler is erased from the timeline, losing their connections to those important to them), and you've got a stimulating but touching story.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of crude and inelegant, often relying on predictable innuendos and tokenistic representation, which some players found cringeworthy. However, there are moments of genuine wit that elicited laughter, particularly from character interactions, and the respectful portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes was appreciated. Overall, while the humor may not resonate with everyone, it adds a layer of fun to the experience for those who enjoy its style.

    • “I also found it hilarious when the supposedly beautiful and seductive demons look like two average randos.”
    • “But I thought some lines from the protagonist and some other characters were funny and made me laugh out loud, which added fun to the game.”
    • “It's hilariously broken.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, featuring quick load times and smooth performance without any frame rate drops. Players appreciate the effective implementation of mechanics that enhance gameplay, alongside beautifully crafted pixel graphics and immersive storytelling. Overall, the optimization contributes significantly to a compelling and enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “Performance was to be expected very good with quick load times and no fps drops.”
    • “Theft of mechanics and good implementation means it plays fine, and it's well optimized to boot.”
    • “Familiars were a godsend instead of being next to useless, orb swapping became necessary to take advantage of weaknesses, and getting monster drops and chest farming to eek out every ounce of optimization was compelling.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, players report a mixed experience with stability; while some have not encountered significant bugs or glitches, others have noted issues such as a dungeon not appearing and occasional graphical glitches. The game's mechanics, particularly the time-stopping feature, can also lead to challenges that may exacerbate these stability concerns.

    • “But still buggy since my playthrough last dungeon did not pop up.”
    • “Then a few graphical glitches.”
    • “But still buggy since my playthrough last dungeon did not pop up.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
7-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 29 analyzed playthroughs

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