12 Minutes Reviews
Some devilishly clever puzzles shine in a unique take on the point-and click genre, but the game waits to the end to make its story truly interesting, which might be a little late if you're looking for an emotional investment to get you through some of the more tedious moments.
In the end, I enjoyed some of my time with Twelve Minutes. Its story is genuinely gripping, and the cast’s performances are excellent, solidifying the game as a believable world. In many ways, developer Luis Antonio has created something truly remarkable here. But so much of Twelve Minutes is an exercise in frustration and repetition.
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.
Twelve Minutes is an essential game for lovers of film. Developer Luis António translates his understanding of cinema to create something genuinely deserving of being called an “interactive thriller.” Although it can be frustrating being stuck on what to do next, this is an adventure game drenched in atmosphere and mystery, and you’ll have a hell of a time with it.
I'm certainly happy to have played through it, but with its late arrival on Switch I also feel like I expected more from it, in terms of both quality and shock value. The fact remains, though, Twelve Minutes is a strong mystery game that fans of story-focused experiences will likely enjoy. It doesn't hurt that Willem Dafoe is a national treasure, either.
Definitely one of the most interesting, intriguing, fresh detective games in recent years, but I can't shake the feeling that all the possibilities of a well-thought-out formula are not being used.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Not the stuff of legend but still an original story that will stay with you after the credits roll.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Twelve minutes has an interesting gameplay concept. However its story is built on one shocking unraveling that lacks any depth and makes us go through pointless violence to cure a different trauma.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Twelve Minutes starts off strong and pulls you in with an intriguing premise and interesting gameplay loop but is let down by a poorly executed shock twist, finicky controls, and occasionally obtuse puzzle design.
Twelve Minutes show us why video games are a powerful medium to tell stories that cinema cannot. With great voice acting, outstanding creative decisions and original mechanics, Twelve Minutes is everything mystery games enthusiasts could ask for.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An overall fun experience with a distinct atmosphere, If you turn a blind eye to its bad gameplay. You can play it on Xbox Game Pass, or for a more practical option.. watch a full walkthrough on "YouTube"!
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Twelve Minutes begins with a pure idea, and in the first minutes, it depicts everything it takes to shock the audience. Over time and into the player's own hands, game maker Louis Antonio unraveling the knot of the mystery of his game's tortuous storyline and immersing us in an interesting narrative with shocking twists.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Twelve Minutes should be considered as one of the most creative and special titles whose vacancy is strongly felt in today's game world.
Review in Persian | Read full review
12 Minutes is a very unique experience with one of a kind art design, solid story and innovative gameplay, and while the time loop mechanism makes some parts of the gameplay repetitive, the final package still feels new, fresh and entertaining.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Twelve Minutes is slow-burning, despite being about such a short time loop, but it will seep into your mind and refuse to leave. I actually dreamed in a time loop last night, which has literally never happened to me before. The concept is solid enough to stand on its own among dozens of other popular time loop media (television, film, games... it is everywhere). The intrigue and deeply flawed characters are enough to keep one invested for hours, and even worth putting up with irritating console controls.
After few tries you'll not quit, you'll ask for more, we can't imagine someone not enjoying this thrilling experience between being stuck in a time-loop and challenging puzzles. The name is 12 Minutes but you could spend hours to get to the bottom of this.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Twelve Minutes is a must-have game for lovers of good stories and also for those nostalgic for point-and-click adventures. Its voice cast is magnificent and helps to elevate the already excellent story of Luis Antonio and Annapurna.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Twelve Minutes is a videogame that is fantastic in every area, except being a videogame. There's a lot to love, and I think people will overlook its faults. Sadly those faults are there, almost completely tanking an otherwise excellent piece of fiction.
All in all, 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 had me on a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. I started being let down by the game seeming too simple in premise. Then I got frustrated because I got stuck uncovering its hidden complexities. Finally, I can't and don't want to put it down until I'd turned everything over thrice. It executes the time loop mechanic meticulously, its story is twisting and turning constantly, and the excellent voice cast, environmental art, and music work together to create a new type of adventure game. It is not perfect, and you see some cut corners, but what it sacrifices, it makes up for with a satisfying payoff as you delve deeper into its time loop to unravel the mystery at the core.