Timemelters

Part of the team behind Sang-Froid are back with a spiritual sequel powered by some truly dazzling thinking.

TimeMelters has an ambitious premise that could very easily have gotten out of hand for a small, three-person development team, but the experience is an incredibly enjoyable one through and through. However, the small team and modest budget do come through in the form of quite dated graphics and uninspired enemy design. Fortunately, that’s a minor gripe in an otherwise excellent package, and strong gameplay and unique mechanics make TimeMelters an easy recommendation for anyone to whom the premise sounds even vaguely appealing.

TimeMelters is a unique mix of Tower Defense and third-person action-adventure, offering a time-traveling experience like no other.

TimeMelters has a very good core idea and uses it expertly, finding cool new ways to challenge players while also offering them the tools to come up with interesting solutions. Rewinding when close to death isn’t a bad idea but it’s much more interesting to create a dull loop for a past self and only then move on to another timeline. The game’s fictional universe is decent if not exciting and the presentation doesn’t shine. There are moments when trial-and-error challenge design can generate some frustration. But TimeMelters is mechanically unique and I hope the team at Autoexec Games finds ways to refine it for future projects.

TimeMelters is a very intriguing game, one which takes an unusual gameplay self-cooperation mechanic (which I have actually seen before) and takes it in a totally new direction. It has been a lot of fun to play, and while there was some frustration, it was mostly the good kind that makes you determined to succeed. There is a good amount of game here too, between the solo campaign and the extra modes available, which could keep you busy for many hours. While the visuals are somewhat lacking and a few quality-of-life improvements might be needed, overall I had a lot of fun, and I highly recommend TimeMelters to anyone who loves having their brain melted by action-oriented puzzles.

Simultaneously being a battlefield strategist and a spell-slinging sorceress on the frontline makes Timemelters feel distinctive. Sure, it’s not perfect and the occasional difficulty spike is poised to put a transitory hex on your enjoyment. But the concept of layering multiple versions of your actions helps make up for any blemishes.