12 Minutes Reviews
This game demands your patience and undivided attention. In return, it will reward you with an intriguing story showered in mystery, suspense, heart, and passion. To bring up a passage from Roger Ebert’s essay once again, “No video gamer now living will survive long enough to experience the medium as an art form.” That essay was published 11 years ago. I’ve played a lot of video games since then I can argue are pieces of art. I experienced art form when I played Journey, Abzu, Red Dead Redemption 2, Shadow of the Colossus, among so many others. This year, I experienced art form when I played Twelve Minutes.
Twelve Minutes plays like an escape room on extra hard difficulty and with higher stakes. As an intriguing albeit small-scale thriller with many twists and turns that can sometimes be frustrating, ending the time loop is ultimately somewhat worth the effort.
Twelve Minutes delivers a captivating experience with excellent voice acting and shocking twists.
When Twelve Minutes was first announced along with incredible star power, several gamers took interest. Besides, we often gravitate toward new ideas in a world full of rehashes. It is too bad that creativity doesn’t ooze into the gameplay. This results in a head-banging experience that hardly ever feels satisfying.
Twelve Minutes is an exemplary example of how a beautiful idea gradually tramples itself into the ground. And you can see it all with your own eyes. An initially intriguing concept of a time loop turns into repetitive gameplay that often uses trial-and-error techniques and a story that, while enjoyable, doesn't make sense. Telling a story in the space of a tiny apartment is an ambitious idea, as is the concept of a time loop. But instead of telling a solid and straightforward story, the creator tries to create an ending that will wipe your eyes. And it does. But not in a positive way. Twelve Minutes is thus a mediocre game that can hardly claim to be worth your time.
Review in Czech | Read full review
I really wanted to like 12 Minutes. It's a compelling concept, but the game's rigid structure and lack of options make it feel less like a game about a time loop and more like a narrative adventure where I kept having to sit through "Game Over" screens because I didn't make the specific choice necessary. As a result, it feels like the most irksome elements of Capcom's Ace Attorney series, without the rewarding aspects. At times, I was genuinely surprised by the options made available to me, but far more often, I found myself feeling like the game's concept was basically just window dressing. 12 Minutes feels far too limited for its concept, and that makes the game feel like a chore far more often than not.
Twelve Minutes desperately wants to be seen as an edgy, adult thriller. But it mistakes shock value for substance and ultimately has nothing of value to say.
Twelve Minutes is a bold adventure, one with shocking revelations, tense moments, and some very human interactions. It’s a point-and-click title that doesn’t do much to add to the genre, but there are enough encounters to make it worth playing. It’s a visually distinct game, with an excellent cast that truly makes up for an unforgettable experience.
Sadly, 12 Minutes’ sudden fall into the absurd during the final act leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
Script had all it needs to turn into something memorable, but due to the ending it gets so confusing that soon will be forgotten
Review in Greek | Read full review
Despite not being a natural fit on console, Twelve Minutes provides a consistently engaging story that kept me tied to my controller until the very end. A strong voice cast and interesting central conceit make it worth checking out, especially if you can play it for no additional cost via Game Pass. I’m still not sure the story fully comes together, but it provided enough to think about that I know I won’t stop thinking about it anytime soon.
Twelve minutes of creative gameplay and fascinating story, but it soon becomes boring.
Review in Persian | Read full review
When Twelve Minutes is firing on all cylinders it will pull you along with its dark and twisted story. The performances from the cast are memorable, varied, and hold weight. It’s an easy recommendation for fans of strong narrative, point-and-click adventure games, or people who just love indies.
Twelve Minutes is a thought-provoking, intriguing puzzler. There’s a reliance on trial-and-error, even in purposeful repetition that felt painful to deal with. This resulted in reaching points of frustration often, which made the four or so hours feel that much longer. That said, I was compelled to see it through as each new discovery was made. As bizarre as it was, the ending has a swerve I didn’t see coming that I came to enjoy. The game is at its best when either the things you make a guess about or deduce, just work out, and your loop pushes things forward. If you can endure the obtuse design of its puzzles for the unraveling narrative, Twelve Minutes might just be worth playing.
Twelve Minutes is clearly not made for the general public. The experience it offers is very unique, exciting and extremely immersive, but not very fun. For those interested in fully immersing themselves in a unique time-loop story, Twelve Minutes is sure to be a treat. However, the game will hardly please those who are simply looking for a good game to pass the time.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
"12 Minutes is the car crash you wince at, but can’t help but crane your neck to stare at. The game’s premise was brilliant, the concept trailer was masterful, and the cast couldn’t have been better. But none of those components make up for what is, ultimately, a game founded on contrived mechanics and underwhelming storytelling."
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.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Twelve Minutes is an engrossing adventure that is more about the journey than the destination. It’s not the most thrilling or thought-provoking story out there, but it still satiates that mystery craving. The star-studded casting elevates the atmosphere, and the involvement of the player is a unique way to take on the classic point-and-click genre. Though you’ll have to suffer through lengthy moments of tedium and irritation, there’s a lot to unpack and discover in this intriguing tale.
The time loop implied a nonlinear gameplay, but Luis Antonio wanted the player to get the right answer. Therefore, the game flows in the direction that the developer himself wants to say.
Review in Korean | Read full review
A simple and unique game as a proposal. Loops that subtract more than they add to both the game and the plot.
Review in Spanish | Read full review