A Hat in Time

 PC
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 530 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 464 out of 530
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 530
  3. Negative: 33 out of 530

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  1. Did-
    Mar 23, 2018
    6
    This game is incredible, it’s awesome to see how much such a small team managed to do! There’s so much content, the levels are quite big and filled with details, there are a lot of different voice actors, and pretty good musics.

    The main inspiration of this game is without any doubt Super Mario Sunshine. The level opening is basically copied and pasted from this game, and the Time Rifts    This game is incredible, it’s awesome to see how much such a small team managed to do! There’s so much content, the levels are quite big and filled with details, there are a lot of different voice actors, and pretty good musics.

    The main inspiration of this game is without any doubt Super Mario Sunshine. The level opening is basically copied and pasted from this game, and the Time Rifts are directly referencing the schemes of Sunshine secret levels. Another inspiration is Banjo-Kazooie, and it’s amazing to see that the main theme has been composed by its original composer, Grant Kirkhope himself.

    But… I don’t recommend this game. Even though there has been a lot of effort put into it, it’s missing an element which is essential to 3D platformers: the character controls and the ability to traverse the world. In both its main inspirations, the characters were enjoyable to control, especially the master of all: Mario. Take any 3D Mario game, even Mario 64 back in 1996, and just move him around, make him jump, triple-jump, backward somersault, ground-pound, fly… Even without any objective, it’s still fun to play around with this character and explore the worlds.

    Then remove all objectives from A Hat in Time. Would Hat Kid still be fun to control? Well… No. First, the moveset is too small. You don’t have many choices on how to control the character, basically move, jump, air-jump and dive.
    The “Bonk” when hitting a wall by diving into it is really punitive, and because some platforming phases are not clear enough whether it can be reached by jumping, it can get frustrative really fast when you have to redo a platforming phase just because it wasn’t clear this platform wasn’t reachable.
    Also, the homing attack à la Sonic is quite odd to use. It only activates when you’re near enough an enemy, and won’t do anything at all if you’re a bit too far. But while Sonic has a clear visual cue to show when you can attack, Hat Kid is just too slow, so you often can’t afford to wait for this cue to show, so you must guess, and sometimes is doesn’t work and your character just does nothing.
    And finally, the different powers of Hat Kid are not available at all times, you have to switch hat to switch powers and get other abilities, either by using a menu, or using a quick-switch button. This is tedious and breaks the flow. It’s too bad they didn’t copy Banjo-Kazooie for this issue, because this game has a lot of different moves, but every move is accessible with 1 or 2 buttons (e.g. Z+C-right).

    It’s a really important thing to be able to enjoy a game even if you remove all the objectives, especially in a platform game. Jesse Schell in his book “The Art of Game Design”, says: “A game has to be a toy before being a game.”. Unfortunately, this game lacks the enjoyment of controlling the character in the world.
    Add to that some odd camera controls, which you cannot move up and down, and some really too long boss fights, and you have a game that’s not engaging enough to play through.

    Everything’s not bad though. I’m not a big fan of the overall humour, but I must admit there were some funny scenes, like the “Murder on Owl Express”, or the interactions with Mustache Girl.
    I must also point out that the config screen is marvelous, with a great user interface, and great options for colorblind people and speedrunners. More games should be configurable like this one.

    But the game developer saw too big, and wants to give too much content, not polishing enough what has already been made. And it seems to continue on this path, with a new multiplayer mode coming. I really wanted to give a thumb up to such a great project, but I just can’t enjoy it without seeing flaws in what should be the core of the game. I’m still happy though that this game found its public and has a lot of fans, they still deserve it for the hard work they have put into this. But for me, A Hat In Time is not A HIT.    … Expand
  2. Superscifi
    Sep 13, 2018
    7
    Solid game, although much more could have been done.

    Gamepley (3.5/5)

    Story (4/5)

    Style (5/5)

    I like this game. Also, Mithaldu IS an idiot.
  3. chesaro
    Mar 18, 2018
    7
    I just got this from a sale on steam, and boy, it is boring as hell, i think what i pay for this was the right price for it, not a discounted one, the voice acting and the music are the worst of it, i really like the overall world, but the gameplay mechanics and collectibles are not that good yet the game got a lot of praise for it.

    I just want to make it clear, that i don't think is a    I just got this from a sale on steam, and boy, it is boring as hell, i think what i pay for this was the right price for it, not a discounted one, the voice acting and the music are the worst of it, i really like the overall world, but the gameplay mechanics and collectibles are not that good yet the game got a lot of praise for it.

    I just want to make it clear, that i don't think is a bad game, but it really doesn't fell like an excellent one, it had a lot of hype on it, and it didn't deserve so much.

    To finish, i think the developers should keep working, and i will be checking their next work, this one was a good start, but not an excellent start.    … Expand
  4. Zajonc
    Nov 11, 2017
    7
    This game is a big seven, everything above that is a paid review/hype.

    Art style and level design is good, however the controller lag is enormous (at least on PC). The camera works as it should but most of the time the character will be all over the place because of the laggy and twitchy input.

    Story okay tough, a bit boring and childish.
  5. thaesino
    Oct 29, 2017
    7
    I came to know of this game through a reviewer on YouTube claiming that "Hat in Time" was more Mario Odyssey than Mario Odyssey itself. Something I've since realized is completely erroneous.

    After spending 6 hours playing it, this game seems more like a fun little college project than a polished video game. If you want to see what a polished, indie platformer looks like, look at Ori and    I came to know of this game through a reviewer on YouTube claiming that "Hat in Time" was more Mario Odyssey than Mario Odyssey itself. Something I've since realized is completely erroneous.

    After spending 6 hours playing it, this game seems more like a fun little college project than a polished video game. If you want to see what a polished, indie platformer looks like, look at Ori and the Blind Forest. Sure, it isn't a 3D platformer, but then, no one said a platformer needed to be 3D... and if you can't make an excellent product in one style, why not try a different route?

    I give this game a 7 because in the last month I have made sure to play various platformers (as Mario Odyssey loomed in the horizon) in order to get back into a genre that seems almost lost in a world drowning in MMOs, mobile freemiums, and Halo-styled or zombie shooters. No doubt this game is somewhere at the top of the list of current 3D platformers; I can attest to that. However, is it really an 8/10 or more? Nah.

    If you review any working game after only a few minutes of playing it, you are adding to the problem of why we don't have better games. It's that simple. Imagine recommending a Netflix show to a friend after only seeing one episode.... or suggesting a restaurant after only using the bathroom there... same thing.

    So let's quickly go down the list:

    Inviting? Yes.
    Colorful? Yes.
    Great music? Yes... although it steals a whole melody from Ghibli Studio's "Kiki's Delivery Service" (I'm sure if Joe Hisaishi cared, they could be sued)
    Fun? YES.
    Fun-ny?... eh, sometimes. Definitely not Banjo-Kazooie or Crash Bandicoot kind of funny.
    Simple to control? Yes.
    Headache to control? Yes. Unfortunately, yes. Sometimes, you run up a wall and Hat Kid STANDS on the flat surface of the wall......... makes no sense, but shows you how unpolished the game is. Sometimes, you jump and the command to bop an enemy appears, sometimes it doesn't... :shrugs:

    In short, this is a game that thankfully was released in the shadow of a better platformer, Mario Odyssey, because I personally think it will benefit from such a release, as more people will want to suddenly play it after playing Odyssey, when their nostalgia for the 3D platformer is rekindled. And perhaps some will even tread through the mess that are the controls, and rage onward into everything this game has to offer, which is actually quite a lot.    … Expand
  6. nitorita
    Feb 5, 2022
    7
    As an adult who genuinely loves and plays a wide variety of adventure games, my opinion of A Hat in Time is mixed, although it leans more to the positive side.

    The first two acts of the game are underwhelming, with their low difficulty and cheesy storylines providing an unappealing and dry introduction to the game that fails to keep your attention and lowers your expectations as a    As an adult who genuinely loves and plays a wide variety of adventure games, my opinion of A Hat in Time is mixed, although it leans more to the positive side.

    The first two acts of the game are underwhelming, with their low difficulty and cheesy storylines providing an unappealing and dry introduction to the game that fails to keep your attention and lowers your expectations as a whole. However, as you progress into the later acts, the quality of the levels will improve and convince you enough to keep revisiting them to try to find all of their secrets.

    The gameplay is simplistic and there are not really any complex objectives. It is a true blue platformer that does not try to be overly ambitious. The collectables in the game are purely cosmetic and do not influence the gameplay in any advantageous manner, but they can convince you to explore every nook and cranny and climb to places you'd never think of just to retrieve them. Sadly, it doesn't take long for the collectables and currency to become pointless to acquire.

    A Hat in Time is short and does not look fully fleshed out. Although the game is beautiful and offers a decent amount to explore, it does not scratch the same itch as other adventure games designed in the same light such as Super Mario Sunshine. However, it can still be fun when played with a friend. A good lengthy cooperative night can make the experience enjoyable and hard to set aside.    … Expand
  7. IndieCrit
    May 20, 2018
    7
    Now, this game is fantastic. The charm is there, the gameplay is solid, graphics are fine.. but wait. Why did I give it a 7? Mostly because on PC, the framerate drops constantly and you have to lower the graphics quality. This game was poorly made on the PC, but it's still a great game.
  8. michaelb1928
    May 11, 2019
    6
    Enjoyable , but there wasnt much drive for me to keep playing, the levels are creative, some more than others but the controls can be a bit off at times and thee camera does its best to **** you over, still a fun enough time just didnt have any drive to finish it through, the collectibles werent that great either, there wasnt much satisfaction for me collecting all the green orbs and theEnjoyable , but there wasnt much drive for me to keep playing, the levels are creative, some more than others but the controls can be a bit off at times and thee camera does its best to **** you over, still a fun enough time just didnt have any drive to finish it through, the collectibles werent that great either, there wasnt much satisfaction for me collecting all the green orbs and the badges for the most part dont really add much to the experiance, a bigger budget maybe for a sequel which can iron out these issues and more impactful collectibles and abilities and im down for it… Expand
  9. ALemonBug
    May 2, 2019
    6
    A Hat in time is a charming game to start but then the smaller problems start to wear on you. Luckily its a shorter game so it doesn't drag on for too long overall i recommend it on a sale.
  10. BDGames
    Jun 2, 2019
    6
    A Hat in Time is overall a good game. The controls are fluent and it has a HEK load of charm, but the world designs are amateurish and only one goes beyond passable. At it's best it's a quirky and fast-paced joy ride of platforming, but at it's worst (especially at the last world) it's a clunky mess of game design that takes style over substance to a whole new level. You'll get most of theA Hat in Time is overall a good game. The controls are fluent and it has a HEK load of charm, but the world designs are amateurish and only one goes beyond passable. At it's best it's a quirky and fast-paced joy ride of platforming, but at it's worst (especially at the last world) it's a clunky mess of game design that takes style over substance to a whole new level. You'll get most of the enjoyment out of the style, but going past surface level characters and charm you'll find a slightly above average platformer. The amazing praise it's received is because of it's amazing character, but without it A Hat in Time would be ultimately forgettable.… Expand
  11. Denvers
    Apr 5, 2020
    5
    I REALLY wanted to like A Hat in Time - I've gone back and played it again just to make sure I wasn't missing anything, and I wasn't. A hat in time is a 3D platformer with collectathon elements funded entirely by a Kickstarter campaign. The camera acts oddly, the controls feel really bad, and there really isn't anything particularly delightful about this game. If I have to say one niceI REALLY wanted to like A Hat in Time - I've gone back and played it again just to make sure I wasn't missing anything, and I wasn't. A hat in time is a 3D platformer with collectathon elements funded entirely by a Kickstarter campaign. The camera acts oddly, the controls feel really bad, and there really isn't anything particularly delightful about this game. If I have to say one nice thing about this game it would be its humour. A Hat in Time is REALLY funny and had me laughing out loud at some moments. The story is also above average and has you actually invested. I love 3D platformers, but I can't recommend this game in its current state.… Expand
  12. piglordofallham
    Aug 21, 2022
    6
    I actually played "A hat in time" years ago, shortly after it released and to this day do not understand the reverence for it. Quite simply, even without being much of a Nintendo fan, other 3D platformers (of the Mario variety) totally blow "Some brat in time" out of the water and are far more replay-able and enjoyable. So once again, even after coming back to it years later forI actually played "A hat in time" years ago, shortly after it released and to this day do not understand the reverence for it. Quite simply, even without being much of a Nintendo fan, other 3D platformers (of the Mario variety) totally blow "Some brat in time" out of the water and are far more replay-able and enjoyable. So once again, even after coming back to it years later for affirmation, its is extremely befuddling to try and understand what people saw about it that I didn't. Note that I'm quite aware of other platformers going back as far as the Rayman series- namely "Rayman 2: The Great Escape" being a particularly good comparison since it does more than "A hat in time," ever will do and it did it better 18 years before this modern platformer saw the light of day.

    I could pretty much just cite multiple examples of how it rips off actually "good" titles like the Paper Mario series, or pretty much combines all the cutesy-wootsy things that companies have been selling forever to grown men in both Japan as well as North America, but all of that won't mean much to people who's tastes haven't really matured as they've gotten older. "Some little girl time," isn't particularly original, it has some pretty slippery collision detection going on and a lot of the platforming doesn't feel precise. This is a huge problem. It also looks kind of terrible from a visual standpoint. The in-game graphics option refers to its "depth-of-field" setting as "how the game was intended to be played," which is utterly ridiculous as it looks terrible and hides loads of LOD range texture pop-in on the Unreal engine... which can handle everything they throw at it when it comes to this game. Theirs also something about the strange and overly bright lighting that makes the whole screen distracting to look at since it pulls your attention away from the center of the screen.

    I guess its fine, its an average 3D platformer collect-a-thon, even though those died out a full decade ago. I guess what really ticks me off is that its so mediocre and people praised it so hard, but what has "Gears for breakfast" done since? Have they released anything besides a few DLC packs for the game that barely add anything? Exactly. If they were the next big name in the genre, then maybe they would've outdone themselves by now, since the implication from fans is that they "already had all the right ingredients." Sure they did. I bet it had nothing to do with a stagnant year in Videogames back in 2017 either.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best PC Game of 2017
27
#27 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
19
#19 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 39
  3. Negative: 1 out of 39
  1. Worth Playing
    Jan 24, 2018
    85
    In the end, A Hat In Time features enough charm to overcome its shortcomings. If you can live with the unreliable camera, then you'll find a game that offers a pleasant platforming experience, tons of secrets to uncover, and a good amount of abilities to experiment with. The variety of environments and activities is appreciated, as are some of the breaks from platforming norms. The characters may be the main reason for playing the gamefrom beginning to end, just to see what they'll say or do next. For fans of platformers, A Hat In Time is well worth your time.
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  2. GameOver.gr
    Jan 19, 2018
    80
    A Hat in Time proudly doesn’t shy from showing its inspirations from the 3D platform classics while radiating its own unique personality thanks to charmingly designed worlds (although we could do with a bit more of them!). It is unfortunate then that precise jumping is never as… precise as it should be. Even though it may not hinder the enjoyment by much it is nevertheless a shortcoming in an otherwise especially enjoyable experience.
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  3. CD-Action
    Jan 10, 2018
    80
    A great game from a genre that we see so rarely on PC. It’s not too demanding, but it’s pure joy to play, as it’s charming, cheerful, full of stuff to gather and uncover and does a lot to keep you engaged all the time. Not all levels were designed to the same high standard, but even in its weaker moments A Hat in Time is still good. At its best it really shines. [13/2017, p.60]
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