90
In Stars and Time is probably my dark horse for one of the best games of the year. It's a distinct, fun and interesting experience that makes masterful use of the time loop concept to create something that's deeply heartfelt. At times, it borders more on an RPG-themed visual novel than a full-on RPG, but it uses the RPG trappings more than well enough to justify it. Aside from some dullness when it comes to repeating events, In Stars and Time hits all the marks dead-on and should be a must-play for fans of plot-heavy RPGs.
tbd
Ultimately, the stars haven't aligned with this RPG, and I don't have the time or patience any more to put up with its tedious nonsense. It's a shame, really, as its turn-based battles can be very enjoyable every now and again, and its cast of cute weirdos are often quite endearing when they're not bleating on too long. Younger folks in their mid-20s may well argue that its characters are enough to carry them through the rest of the boring bits, but a halfway decent story does not a good game make for me. I need more sustenance in my old age, and for its time-loop to be more than just gristly, unsatisfying filler.
80
If you’re a person who maybe saw an antagonistic meme once about “quirky indie rpg about depression” and decided to make hating those your entire personality, move on — there’s nothing for you here. But if you’re willing to engage with content about mental health seriously, and explore the concepts of life, death, what what it would actually feel like to be trapped in a loop, forcing your friends and family to do certain tasks repeatedly — then you’ll find a thought-provoking and well-written story within In Stars and Time.
10
It was one of the most well written bittersweet stories I experienced. Although at some parts of the loops I got extremely bored to the point I dropped this off for a while but later I finally resolved myself to complete this game and it was all worth it. As the story progressed I started to see these repetitive loops differently, the characters, the ending, all of it was worth every moment of my 30+ hours of gameplay
9
oh boy do i love getting depressed about pixels on my screen! in all seriousness this game is fantastic. if you like story-focused games where distinctive characters are put into Situations, this is one for you. usually it takes me some time to get invested in characters in a way that makes me want to binge something, but this one got me pretty much immediately from my first session. right off the bat, the characters are all so charming, and the writing has such a distinctive style and voice that has so much personality. that sets the foundation for the absolute whirlwind of emotion that the rest of the game sends you on. for the story; it handles multiple themes and hard-to-discuss topics so gracefully. the game weaves them all together in a way that feels so authentic and really fleshes out every character and how they relate to the world and cultures they live in. found family, mental health, diaspora, and diversity are some of the most notable. the way these themes are explored are thoughtful, candid, and so engaging. so many recurring jokes and seemingly small bits of characterization established early on are recontextualized by story beats and reveals later in the game! it shows how well thought out the story and characters are. really makes you go back and see a joke you laughed at initially and be like oh :( for the gameplay; i'm sure i'm not the first to say that this game's quality of life is fantastic. my main critique is that there is not always enough guidance; even with the refreshers and pointers you can get during the game, i found several moments in the middle of the game where i was unsure of how exactly to continue forward or progress to the game's next act. some requirements for progression, notably with some of act 3's side quests, were not super clear. very possible i just missed something though. and at the end of the day, progression mainly requires following the plot lines you're given as far as you can. which is very reasonable and makes sense. i always appreciate a game that takes advantage of its medium to further communicate or emphasize its themes. this game's use of medium specificity to make you really feel like you're right there with siffrin in these time loops, reflecting the player's experience in his reactions... so smart and well done. so the game really strikes a balance of emulating that frustration siffrin experiences with the time loops while giving you enough options to still make it not be an absolutely unplayable slog. it's so good!!!
9
genuinely my favourite story oat and siffrin is easily my favourite protagonist oat. the art, music and presentation in general are perfection however i must say that the gameplay holds it back quite a bit(the combat is decently boring) and seeing the same scenery early game makes the art pretty sterilised(wrong term?? idk) 9.5/10
In Stars And Time
Released On:
Nov 20, 2023
Metascore
Generally Favorable
85
User score
Generally Favorable
8.3
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
85
100% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 20, 2023
100
For some, the repetition of In Stars And Time might not resonate in the same way as it did for me, and I completely understand that. I feel as if the latter half of the game will lose some people, but regardless, I say it is worth having some patience for this one. From the charming characters, the excellent execution of the time-looping story, and the lovingly crafted visuals, In Stars And Time is a unique experience I never want to forget, and I do believe it to be an indie masterpiece.
Jan 5, 2024
90
In Stars and Time is probably my dark horse for one of the best games of the year. It's a distinct, fun and interesting experience that makes masterful use of the time loop concept to create something that's deeply heartfelt. At times, it borders more on an RPG-themed visual novel than a full-on RPG, but it uses the RPG trappings more than well enough to justify it. Aside from some dullness when it comes to repeating events, In Stars and Time hits all the marks dead-on and should be a must-play for fans of plot-heavy RPGs.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.3
81% Positive
70 Ratings
70 Ratings
6% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
13% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
May 30, 2026
10
It was one of the most well written bittersweet stories I experienced. Although at some parts of the loops I got extremely bored to the point I dropped this off for a while but later I finally resolved myself to complete this game and it was all worth it. As the story progressed I started to see these repetitive loops differently, the characters, the ending, all of it was worth every moment of my 30+ hours of gameplay
Aug 24, 2025
10
One of the most powerful and heartfelt stories I've ever experienced, wrapped in a cute RPG package Also the main character is hot
Nov 20, 2023
85
In Stars and Time is an intriguing game with a crazy time loop system. If you are willing to put in the time needed, you will be rewarded with a great story with fun characters.
Nov 21, 2023
80
If you’re a person who maybe saw an antagonistic meme once about “quirky indie rpg about depression” and decided to make hating those your entire personality, move on — there’s nothing for you here. But if you’re willing to engage with content about mental health seriously, and explore the concepts of life, death, what what it would actually feel like to be trapped in a loop, forcing your friends and family to do certain tasks repeatedly — then you’ll find a thought-provoking and well-written story within In Stars and Time.
Nov 20, 2023
80
In Stars and Time might drag on a little longer and get repetitive more often than I would like, but its ambition and adherence to its themes are commendable, and are made even more impressive by the fact that the game was developed in RPG Maker. This game is a must-play for fans of quirky indie games, but even if you are tired of that style, there is loads here to love.
Nov 20, 2023
80
In Stars and Time is the type of game that is excellent to discuss theories and nitty gritty details with a friend, an element which adds to an already thought provoking experience. With a cast of exceptionally loveable characters to tether you to its remarkable world, it will stick in your mind long after you’ve put it down.
Nov 20, 2023
80
Come for the time-loop mechanics and Undertale inspirations, stay for the beautiful, heartfelt and guttural story. In Stars and Time is an artful indie RPG that explores a found family’s battle with time. With this, it explores complex topics with grace and utmost reverence. Though it’s a little long in the teeth and could have been a bit tidier in how you unravel some of its mysteries, within is a magical world much worth exploring, backed by fantastic chip-tune music, a sense of place and some real good vibes. Unlike protagonist Sifrin and his problems with memory in the time labyrinth, your foray into In Stars and Time won’t soon be forgotten.
Dec 19, 2024
10
Really strong story and characters which I loved. Intruiging plot and worldbuilding which kept me excited to play despite the slightly repetivite gameplay (which actually nicely mirrored the journey of the poor main character ).
Sep 8, 2024
10
The best narrrative game I've ever played.
You don't play this for the gameplay, you play it for the characters, the world and the story. Genuinely recommended for everyone
May 4, 2024
10
ISAT is a wonderful game that uses the repetition of RPGs and grinding to tell a great story about time loops and spending time with people you care about. The art style is very charming, and lends itself perfectly to the game themes. Normally in games like this, I have a few characters I like, but only one or two Big Favourites - and I really dislike at least one main character. However. I adore each and every party member in this. All of them have such unique personalities and every pair you can think of in the group has interactions that really flesh out their relationships and characters as a whole. (Vague, minor spoilers for the themes of act 3 onward)
Very good representation of depression too - excellently captured both the feelings of hopelessness + emptiness and the desperation to find humour in anything you possibly can. Sometimes it felt a little too real, but it still managed to toe the line enough that it never actually upset me - it just made me think "wow, this character is me", or "this is so relatable", and "I feel so seen". Part of the reason I love this game so much is because Siffrin suffers from a lot of the exact same issues that I do.
Apr 8, 2024
10
Great art, writing, and quality of life features especially for only 20 dollars. Also has fun combat system that's simple but feels great to master. As well as excellent representation for different body types and gender orientations.
Feb 26, 2024
4
Although I liked the overall story and the characters, I cannot suggest this game at all. The idea for battles is interesting, but it is merely something superficial that completely loses usefulness in the second half of the game. Moreover, the game does not shine in any aspect of gameplay: the combat gets repetitive (and neglected) very fast, the puzzle element of the story is not puzzle at all since all you have to do is go from one point to another to find the interaction you need to continue the plot. Even the loops are really a pain because you are forced to redo entire parts of the game almost identically with really minimal dialogue change. Dialogues that in the end are well written, but become boring very quickly as the characters talk about objects and matters that are not at all necessary, this for EVERY SINGLE INTERACTION. The player should be incentivized to check around at every loop, if it weren't for these endless dialogues for every interacting item that you can trigger every loop (and for many of these you can't skip them, even though there is a feature for skipping specific dialogue). On the plus side, the narrative has many "cool" moments with incredible scenography design, but they convey a message that is way too simple and the "cool" moments seem put in on purpose just to impress. In fact, many of these "cool" moments are not explained at all at the end, and the author of the game expects players to come up with an explanation.
I would have enjoyed the game much more if the story had been more compact, but unfortunately this game has too many fillers.
SummaryWhat would you do if you were forced to relive your failures over and over again? In Stars and Time tells the story of Siffrin and their adventurer friends - a found family bound together by fate in order to end the tyrannical reign of an evil king. But as victory is just within the party's grasp, a tragedy occurs, the clock resets, and... Read More
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
Initial Release Date:Nov 20, 2023
Developer:
- insertdisc5
Publisher:
