In Stars And Time

I have not come anywhere close to finishing this game yet (I hope), but it is astoundingly well-made. The developer clearly likes: - Undertale - Steven Universe - Fanfics - Tumblr - Re:Zero ANYWAY! I'll update more later, but hey devs!! If you're reading this, this game holds your hand WAY too much. It doesn't even give you half a second to figure out what to do. (Even thought there's nothing to figure out, the "answer" if you can call it one is obvious.) Why rob people of the satisfaction of thinking of something for themselves? Example: Hey, see these tears? They can send you back in time. - Cool This icon lets you know when you're trapped! - I figured I would already know tha- Oh no!! You're trapped! How can you POSSIBLY get in this room!! - Clearly by using the- Hey!! Didn't you see some TEARS on the way here???? Maybe you could use those to go back in time!! - ... thanks

An extremely well done RPGMaker game with excellent writing. Great character design and really enjoyed how genuine a lot of the conversations felt. I have no idea how this game isn't up there in the top indie RPGMaker style games like Undertale, Omori, and Oneshot because it is equally on the same level. Really enjoyed the battle system and paying attention to enemy designs. Just an all around great time.

This game is about living through the same two days, over and over. And STARS it makes you feel it. I've never been more connected to a narrative in my life. (except niko oneshot) (i miss you niko) i would die for everyone here

Go play this right now. It is about 30 hours but it is so unbelievably worth it. Do not look up spoilers unless you are stuck. If you do get stuck, go to the wiki and look up the act you are on and ONLY read what you have already done and what you need to do.

MASSIVE ASTERISK REQUIRED. Okay, so I don't recommend this game in the BROADEST of contexts. If you stumbled onto this store page you've probably heard enough about it and are in the right friend circles for you to be within the game's target audience. It's not the kind of game you can recommend to just anyone. This game has a point to make, and it will twist your arm to get it through, and while that message may be the EXACT thing you need to see/hear, if it isn't... you're likely going to be frustrated. It's hard to discuss what I don't like about S&T without getting into massive spoilers, so I'll simplify this as best I can. If you, as a person, struggle with your relationship with others, have trouble asking for help, or struggle with interpersonal issues and try not to make those problems anyone else's? This game is for you, and you should absolutely experience the story any way you can. If, however, you're fairly well-adjusted, able to ask for help and have an honest relationship with other humans... maybe skip this or find a YouTube Video on it. Because the messages meant for the first group of people will fall flat to people who aren't, and what's left for everyone else is a tedious, simply but charming RPG that long overstays it's welcome for not nearly enough pay off.

pretty okay game lowkey (cried at the end i love my isabeau) ((i love my isabeau so much omg i need more))

deserves all the hype it's gotten, truly lovely writing great designs, great music, amazing storytelling. I laughed and cried so much playing this game it's so fun. act 5 can be summarized as that tumblr post "Anyone else feel the dread? Clap if you feel the dread"

This game is one of the most amazingly well written games i have ever played. Please play this blind from beginning to end you it does not disappoint. MASTERPIECE.

Hilarious like Undertale, gameplay and story is pretty rad

when i was playing this game it was all i could think about at all waking and also sleeping moments. it truly takes over your heart, brain, and soul. whenever i started feeling crazy about the neverending repetition of the loops, i reminded myself that siffrin had to experience them for DAYS, and then i feel better AND worse :D every single character is my favourite, so unique and torturable in their own ways! there were many loops where i just continued with the loop until the end, just because the characters had had nice interactions with each other that i didn't want to erase the memory of. and the ending that left us on a high note for the present, with the understanding and acceptence of the FUTURE? impeccable.

Bro got oppressed then depressed, 10/10 (The gameplay and story are really good too)

The overall tone, setting and style was really great. I loved every single character throughout, and will very likely play through it one more time to grab some things I may have missed the first time through. It was a bit draggy in the middle, but still easily 5 stars for me.

This is currently my favorite game, If you have seen some of my other reviews you'll know that I value story and characters over everything. -Disclaimer: This game isn't for everyone!! If you hate tedious "the player goes insane with the character" time loop stuff YOU WILL NOT LIKE THIS! I saw a review say that ISAT has a message and will twist your arm to get that message across and I couldn't agree more!! At times this game is tedious but I think it more than makes up for the tedium in many ways. Also, a lot of the darkest themes are VERY optional, this can be a pro or con depending on who you are!- The good: First of all, the best part of this entire game: the characters and relationships within the party. I primarily love this game for the characters, they really feel like living, breathing beings. Every single character has a deep and unique story that, upon uncovering, leads to revaluations of how you've viewed them from the start. I seriously cannot praise this element of the game enough. The banter is hilarious, the chemistry is genuine, and when the game gets serious it pulls on your heart like no other. I would do anything to experience these characters for the first time again. If you enjoy seeing *characters* in a story, not just a story, this is your game. Though, the story is just as amazing as the characters. The twists are unexpected but definitely justified. If you really pay attention and keep guessing, you might be able to guess some of the twists. There are a few events that require you to do pretty specific things, but a naturally curious player will uncover most of them, and one who isn't should still experience the game in a rewarding way. In general though, the story is rewarding and satisfying (with an great ending!!). It remains original and interesting while taking advantage of the time loop mechanic to it's fullest. Personally I'm a fan of the art. The pixel art is simple yet also holds quite a bit of detail where it matters. The sprites are extremely expressive and endear you to the characters immediately. The art keeps the environment interesting and lively, even when in black and white. The mid: The music is entirely middle of the road, not grating and nothing truly amazing. You're simply not going to get Undertale or Celeste level sound tracks from this game. There are a few bops, and in context quite a few of the soundtracks are pretty good, but in general the music is just okay. The 'bad': I don't like combat that much so for me this game was a perfect fit. I wouldn't say that the combat is extremely-super-no-try-no-hit easy, but it's definitely not that challenging. Most people I know who've played In Stars and Time maybe died once or twice at most from combat, including mini bosses. Plus, since this is a time loop game, grinding to become strong enough that most enemies aren't really problems is really easy and often just happens naturally. If you like difficult combat, and grinding EXP into oblivion, this might be a downside for you. One thing to get straight: This. Is. A. Time. Loop. Game. It will get repetitive at points. Because it is a time loop. I've seen reviews that say the game is boring because of the time loop. For me, In Stars and Time balances it nicely (the new content and the repetitiveness of a time loop) and uses these element to it's benefit. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that it isn't a TIME LOOP GAME. You will do the same things over and over again (even if some small things change!!). If this will annoy you, this game probably isn't a good fit. Just know that the repetitiveness of the time loop is a big factor in the game and is explored really well (in my opinion). I love this game (even with some of it's faults), it's very charming and still has me hooked even after several play throughs. I love the characters, story (side stories too!!), art, dialogue, and just so much more. I could sing this game's praise for about four more paragraphs (what I've said so far barely scratches the surface) but I'll leave it here: I cannot recommend this game enough, I would give anything to have amnesia so that I could play it for the first time again, and I can promise that you will love it if anything in this review caught your eye. Don't let this sit in a wishlist, it's worth it!!

I absolutely ADORE this game, This games ability to make you laugh from its unique humor one moment, then go into a depression spiral the next moment is incredible, and as an avid lover of time loop games, this has become one of my favorites

i stayed up at 5am for like a week straight to finish this game. I thought time loop mechanics would make the game really frustrating to play but its handled so well i just get to feel really.. really bad for Siffrin instead. Each character is written like an actual human being and i got attached to everyone immediately. the story is so good, the gameplay is really fun, the art is fantastic PLEAASE PLAY IT

so pretty so fun so engaging fun mechanics and super cool story, if you like jrpgs and time loop shenanigans this'll be great for you. Top tier world-building too !!

There's so much love and consistent piles of happy brain mushing content in this game that there's no way I can't recommend it. A lil repetitive at some points but like what do you expect from a time loop rpg. Everything in this game feels intentional from the pacing to every little thing that changes while you loop through poor boy siffrins torture labyrinth and it makes it really easy to become invested and care about these characters. Speaking of the characters they all feel so alive!! I literally love all of them and there's so much care put into all of their interactions and reactions to each other and the world they live in. tldr: very good writing along with fun angst and cute happy moments so I think it's definitely worth a buy

Incredible! Love the characters and the artwork. Haven't finished it yet but I love everything about this game! <3

This game is absolutely amazing. I love all of the main characters and felt that all of the interactions and flavour text scattered throughout the game were rewarding to read. I may be a little biased in this regard since there are multiple instances of queer representation in the game that I personally relate to, but I love far more about the game than just the characters. The world and lore are both super fleshed out, making learning about it part of the fun. The story itself had beautiful highs and heart-wrenching lows. The battle mechanics are easy to learn and difficult to master, making it easy for new players to learn while also rewarding those who utilise more complex strategy. I should also note that the soundtrack is very well done; I've even added every battle theme in the game to various playlists of mine. While I will say that the story, characters, and gameplay are all incredibly engaging and quite the fun experience, the game will start to feel repetitive after a while due to the nature of how the game operates. Still, the premise is beyond unique and does exactly what it intended to do. 10/10

Rpg that acts like a roguelite also. Took a 4-5 month break after my first 2 hours of game and still remembered these fuckers, the character story in this game nails you in with them it's so good

It's fucking incredible. I hated every second. 11/5 game. You will have a god awful time if you play it. I can not recommend this experience enough. This is fine. You're fine. You're fine. You're fine.

Honestly, one of the best games I've ever played. Such a wonderful, heartbreaking story; I can't say much more. I recommend to everyone who likes a good story to play this game.

"In Stars And Time" has become one of my favourite story games of all time. Not going to claim "best game" since gameplay wise it is limited. Since the entire story is build around a timeloop, the combat is simple and quick so it can be repeated often without losing to much time, but it is quite basic. But that story though... And just the worldbuilding and character writing in general. Top notch. Took me ~24 hours to reach the end. I did have to read up on the stuff i missed, there are some important scenes I missed :/ Bonnie is my favourite child character in any game. They are a treasure. Actually, This might just be my favourite party in any game. The chemistry between them is on point. It helps that the main character Siffrin in autism-coded (I am autistic), combined with the themes of depression and anxiety, it was a character I could relate painfully well to. I love it. I actually enjoyed it more (story wise) than Undertale. In Stars And Time is just deeply personal and gripping.

A fantastic game with a lot of story, a bit grindy at times but definitely worth a play-through!!!

am i near finishing the game? probably not. there's so much to it, some things are easily missed if you don't check them in a loop and some things get overwritten if you loop forward, but that's the fun of it. and god, the dialogue goes hits close. overall, if you love found family hurry up and play this game already.

The game-play was very repetitive, and a little boring, but the story is really well done, and the payoff at the end is worth it.

10/10 One of the best experiences I've had playing a video game In my life. id want more but perhaps That's not a good idea. things need endings anyways.

10/10, one of the best games I have played. Not a lot of games make me feel what the character is feeling, but this one did it perfectly. Probably one of the best use of Time Loop, and pretty accurate. ONLY problem, is that it gets a little tedious near the end. BUT that also adds to the game, making you feel exactly what the character feels. Ending was amazing, you really like EVERY single one of your companions by the end of the game, making the ending more impactful. And honestly I wish the game didn't end. This game is 20 USD, and it's worth way more then that. So get the game, it will be an amazing journey.

An Incredible video game with an amazing and gripping storyline. I would recommend this game to everyone in the world if I could, but alas, that's not possible. The story gets a bit sad at points, but in my opinion it's worth it for the grand experience. The gameplay is reminiscent of standard rpgs but it is made unique with the turn order/speed mechanic and everything adjacent to it, allowing for an intersting experience from a gameplay and storyline standpoint. This game is definitely in my top 5 games of all time!

The best time loop story I've ever experienced. And I know a lot of time loop stories. It does take a bunch of patience to get the most out of the game, but it gets easier a couple hours in as you learn what's worth re-checking and what you can skip.

This is my new favorite game. I haven't wanted to go read fanfiction or cosplay again this bad in a literal decade. Definitely hyperfixation material.

In sum; Tumblr Fanfic, inspired by RPGmaker-styled games, with a little bit of stars and time sprinkled over it, and a whole lot more depression and insanity thrown into it. Now for the actual review; For something I randomly found while scrolling through the steam store, this has become a MUST-play. The story alone sold it for me, however the worldbuilding, characters, gameplay, and all the little extra details make this game something that should stand as popular as games like OMORI. I would be doing a review of this game injustice if I didn't talk about the characters. All of them are, or become, incredibly likeable; I even found myself quite enjoying the main villain! This little group of adventurers have so much chemistry and charm that it became hard to let go at this game's ending. Seriously, I would die for all of them, it might be a problem... I would love to see more from this world and characters again, I know a prequel exists, as well as an artbook as of writing this. However I would love to see a sequel where the consequences of THIS game are really talked about and brought to life (as well as to explore how the rest of the world is; would honestly love to see more varying locations) But atlas, if this is what I have to live with, I will. This game far surpassed my expectations and I highly recommend a pick-up and play; even if it doesn't catch your eye right away, its 100% worth sticking through till the end. So, Take away? I spent too much thought and time writing this. But that should mean its worth a try! So pick-it-up and give it a go! Its 100% worth your time! (Pun Intended)

The story is amazing. This is one of those games I wish I could erase my brain for so I could keep playing it forever, but don't worry, that's part of the experience. :) :) :) I know some people who would be disappointed (at first) that the monsters aren't harder, but the characters make up for it 10 fold.

I've only had this game 2 weeks and have been playing it every night since i bought it... 10/10 I do recommend

If you like timeloop stories, I can't recommend ISAT enough. There are a few places where the dialogue is a tad stilted, but it's vastly outweighed by how good the rest of the interactions are. Really good worldbuilding, especially around what queer communities look like in their cultures. Excellent religious systems. It's also very nice to see a story where the platonic relationships are just as relevant as the romance. Made me cry a few times. Overall just a really good game and any complaints I have are outweighed by how much I enjoy it. Play isat. But read the tws first. But seriously, play isat.

Probably my favourite game ever! I love the story and the characters and the lore. The music is amazing and the gameplay manages to be interesting consistently despite the concept of the game being to do the same things over and over. I absolutely recommend this game if you like story-oriented games. Took me about 24 hours for a first play through and I'm now going back for second one. Love this game so much.

This was a really great game. All the characters were great in their own way, had their own distinct personalities, I loved them all. It did a good job of portraying the thought process of the player character and what leads them to the decisions they take, even when they're not the best ones, lol. This game is great for the story, the characters and the emotions. Combat was fun, but not very challenging, especially further into the game, but it fit with the narrative as your character has done this numerous times before. The game is all about backtracking and repetition, so it's not for everyone. If you want to get hit in your feelings, then perfect. Absolutely loved it.

incredible fantastic game that will stay with me forever. i didnt know i could cry this much. definitely makes it into the list of my favorite games ever because wow.

one of the best stories in any game ever. super funny. super angsty. play it please.

In Stars and Time has very solid turn-based RPG mechanics, a great soundtrack, and nice artwork (including incredibly expressive portraits that add a LOT to dialogue). It's also really well-written. Of course, it's also a time loop game, and while it does a fantastic job leaning into the repetitiveness with new dialogue and subtle (and not-subtle) changes, it's not for everyone. If you really, REALLY hate doing things over and over again, you probably won't like this game. What really makes this game stand out, above all else, is the writing. The characters interact in realistic ways, and the party's overall chemistry is just fantastic. Reading the dialogue was fun, REALLY fun. So fun that I spent way, WAY longer than I needed to beating this game just because I wanted to interact with every object, in almost every loop, JUST so I could read more dialogue. I can't stress how well-written this game is. The main character Siffrin deserves a special shoutout. One of the most compelling protagonists I've ever seen in a video game. If anything I've said sounds interesting to you, then please give this game a shot. It's really, really good.

Thank you for ruining my life actually that was one of the worst (best) experience I ever had in a game

Such an interesting experience, with a concept that would I would be eager to see more of, despite the inherent difficulty of pulling it off well.

One of the best games I have ever played. The story is brilliantly written, the characters are immensely loveable, the humour is spot-on, the battles are fun and never too difficult. It's just an absolute masterpiece in storytelling. Cannot recommend this enough.

I love the story so far, it's intriguing and funny. The introduction to the true story was INCREDIBLE! I'm excited to complete the game and see what other endings there could be. The mechanics of the game are easy to understand and remember too.

this game is so so so good! highly recommend to anyone who likes time loops, great art, or charicters being bulled by the narritive

the most emotionally devastating game of rock, paper, scissors i've ever witnessed

I Picked this game on a whim and had no Ideal how much I would love it. The game characters are amazing and adorable. It has one of the best time looping systems I ever played in any game. I also felt like the game did a really good job making you connect with the main character's struggle to escape their time loop.

This game is very good and the art is great (I love Siffrin) But when I was 6.8 hours in it reset my entire game, but it's still good

repetive but very story rich love the game play and battles would reccomend

A full on emotional rollercoaster that gets better and better the further in you get, in just a few hours it became my favorite game ever and after beating it i don't think anything else will ever compare.