Twelve Minutes

12 Minutes is a game about escaping a time loop, which is ironic given that it's so good that I wish I could see it all again for the first time myself.

I would not call Twelve Minutes just an experiment, because the result is convincing in every aspect and the perfectible parts are absolutely minor. The experience packaged by Luis Antonio and Annapurna is another excellent example of the possibilities that videogames can offer, both in narrative and interactive terms.

Warren Spector, director of Deus Ex, has said that he would like to make a game focused entirely on one city block because the small space would allow for unmatched mechanical depth. 12 Minutes reduces Spector's scope further, and finds a rich vein for interaction and storytelling. This game may limit its loop to 12 minutes, but I found myself wishing I could stay for much, much longer.

Twelve Minutes creates an immersive experience that will glue you to the screen until the mystery of its story is revealed. A heavy-hitter for this Summer on Xbox Game Pass.

Twelve Minutes is an essential game for fans of good stories and also for those nostalgic for point-and-click adventures. Its voice cast is magnificent and helps elevate its excellent story.

Twelve Minutes is a production that stands out for its originality and what it wants to do, but the dialogue should have been more diverse.

Twelve Minutes is a truly phenomenal experience hindered only by forgivable a few gameplay bumps and the immense patience it takes to succeed.

12 Minutes is deliberately obtuse and requires us to use our imagination to the fullest. In the end we are going to take an extremely cloudy, but memorable story, worthy of a Black Mirror chapter, with delicious aesthetic and a handful of decisions that will keep us pondering.

Twelve Minutes is a game that allows the player to experience what life is like for a protagonist caught in a time loop. While spending the same 12 minutes in a small apartment over and over might not sound too epic, the loop cycle is well done and has something new for the player to discover each time. That being said, the game’s story and theme aren’t as well executed. In many ways, Twelve Minutes is a game with a truth you might be better off not knowing.

Twelve Minutes is one of the best indie experiences of the year. History and freedom for the player are its strengths. Still, there are a number of decisions that affect the bottom line.

You can't just not enjoy being stuck in a time-loop with some interesting puzzles, with 12 Minutes you'll find yourself in a mysterious thriller that will just keep you asking for more.

12 Minutes is a special game. The time loop game design is put together very eloquently, even if there are slight hiccups that can get frustrating. The voice actors do an excellent job of pulling together the tense narrative, and there is always the feeling that the next clue will be what unearths this unimaginable mystery. While the game's visuals leave some room to be desired, the art style and vibe make up for it. There is always an underlying eerie tone in 12 Minutes that goes even beyond the horrors within the apartment walls and those 720 seconds. And that rings forever true in the chilling ending to 12 Minutes.

Ultimately, I had a good time with Twelve Minutes. It's a game that is able to usher forth a great narrative experience and a refreshing change of pace. It's one to give a whirl through Game Pass as while it won't be for everyone, it will connect with a lot of people.

Although the main mechanic of the gameplay loop can become a little frustrating and repetitive nearer the end of the game, and the story can begin to feel a little muddled, Twelve Minutes unravels its mysteries so well as to leave you pondering long after you finish the game — I’m still trying to wrap my head around the ending, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come.

All in all, then, Twelve Minutes is definitely worth a download with Xbox Game Pass if you're even the least bit interested in the premise, as both its story and gameplay combine to create a memorable thriller. There are a couple of downsides if you look for them, and the replayability factor will be pretty low after you've discovered everything, but we think you'll really enjoy your main playthrough regardless, even if you're not the biggest fan of point-and-click games.

Twelve Minutes can't fully satisfy the great expectations the game causes on its reveal. But beside some disturbing technical issues and minor gameplay weaknesses, the game delivers a suspenseful thriller experience that clever combines classical adventure elements with time loop mechanic.