Breaking the Cycle: Reviewing the Best Time Loop Games of 2021
- Time loop video games captured widespread critical and player attention throughout 2021, according to data and reviews from platforms like Glitchwave and Game Rant.
- Released on September 14, 2021, Deathloop is a first-person immersive sim developed by Arkane Studios, known for their previous work on the Dishonored franchise.
- Originally launched on July 28, 2021, and highlighted on Glitchwave with a 3.73 rating from 403 user ratings, The Forgotten City adapts a narrative-driven approach to the time...
Time loop video games captured widespread critical and player attention throughout 2021, according to data and reviews from platforms like Glitchwave and Game Rant. According to coverage from Game Rant, titles utilizing temporal anomalies earned positive reviews and financial success, drawing inspiration from films like the 1993 movie Groundhog Day.
Deathloop and Arkane Studios’ Approach
Released on September 14, 2021, Deathloop is a first-person immersive sim developed by Arkane Studios, known for their previous work on the Dishonored franchise. Game Rant notes that players can spend Residuum to retain weapons and helpful items across loops, making the game more forgiving than traditional roguelikes.
The Forgotten City and Historical Fiction
Originally launched on July 28, 2021, and highlighted on Glitchwave with a 3.73 rating from 403 user ratings, The Forgotten City adapts a narrative-driven approach to the time loop genre. According to TechRadar Gaming, the title places players in an underground ancient Roman city where a single sin by any denizen turns everyone to gold. Players exploit the time loop to gather information, prevent crimes, and uncover the mystery behind the Golden Rule, though TechRadar Gaming notes that the game’s finale struggles with a cheesy conclusion.
Twelve Minutes and Intimate Puzzles
Alternative Takes in the 2021 Time Loop Lineup
Beyond single-player mysteries, the year’s time loop catalog included Housemarque’s challenging third-person sci-fi shooter Returnal, which secured the top spot on Glitchwave’s 2021 time loop chart with a 3.81 rating across 460 ratings. Glitchwave charts also list titles like Lemnis Gate, a tactical first-person shooter released on September 28, 2021, which Game Rant describes as chess with guns due to its strategic multiplayer time-shifting mechanics.