Info about Crushed In Time:

Official game description:
**Panic at the development studio!**
Just as the new Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson video game hit the market, one of its characters mysteriously went missing.
After their **memorable appearance** in the non-game **There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension**, our extravagant investigators are back in their own adventure.
Armed with their iconic ineptitude, they must solve a mystery that transcends the space-time boundaries of their world…
But they won’t succeed without your help!
**Travel to the very heart of the game's creation** and explore the various stages of its development to unravel the threads of this strange case.
**Welcome to a wildly elastic and infinitely meta experience!**
• Rediscover Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, joined by a cast of new, endearing characters.
• Dialogue recorded by real humans. All natural. Non-GMO and additive-free.
• A completely meta story of time travel that will take you through the design stages of the game.
• Chock-full of humor and surprises (and bugs, probably).
• An offbeat point and click adventure offering fun and elastic gameplay.
• Loads of puzzles that will require up to three neurons (we couldn’t keep up beyond that).
• Beautiful 2D graphics. Sorry, I meant 3D… Hold on. Which one was it again?

Release date: Jun 10, 2026

Categories: Point-and-click Adventure, Puzzle Solving, Meta-Narrative Gameplay, Time Travel Mechanics, Humor-driven Gameplay, Comedy Adventure


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 6.5h
  - Story completion: 6.5h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews report first-playthrough completion times between 5 and 8 hours, with a cluster around 5-7 hours. One review mentions '5h+', another 'a bit more than 5 hours', another '7 hours', and another 'about 8 hours'. This indicates a typical game completion time of approximately 5-8 hours for a first playthrough. No separate story/campaign length was reported; the game appears to be a linear story-driven adventure where completion equals finishing the story. Session length is not clearly reported beyond one player beating it in one sitting, but that describes total time rather than a typical session. Endgame content is not mentioned.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes:
  - Comedy Meta Adventurer (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying clever meta humor and comedic narrative in a puzzle context.
    - Playstyle: Solves puzzles using lateral thinking, appreciates breaking the fourth wall, and engages with characters for their humor.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fan of comedic point and click puzzles; adventure game lover
    - Reference games: There is No Game: Wrong Dimension; Crushed in Time
  - Mechanics-Focused Puzzle Solver (buy)
    - Motivation: Experiencing unique, physically engaging puzzle interactions and creative use of mouse controls.
    - Playstyle: Drag-and-drop oriented, appreciates technical polish and novel interactions, and enjoys solving puzzles that feel distinct from typical point-and-click.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: puzzle enthusiast; mechanics appreciator
    - Reference games: There is No Game: Wrong Dimension
  - Disappointed Purist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Expecting a faithful continuation of series mechanics, respectful character adaptation, and polished localization.
    - Playstyle: Prefers consistent controls, narrative coherence, and dislikes punishing timing elements or perceived narrative missteps.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Holmes fan; fan of the first game; purist
    - Reference games: There is No Game: Wrong Dimension


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Puzzles are excellent and creative (weight 0.73): Players consistently praise the puzzles for being well-balanced, creative, and engaging. The puzzles are described as challenging but not frustrating, with fresh and novel elements that surprise players.
- Game is highly praised (weight 0.54): The game is frequently described as amazing, excellent, and a phenomenal experience. Reviewers express strong overall satisfaction and enjoyment.
- Visuals and art direction are stunning (weight 0.43): The art direction, visual effects, and graphics are consistently praised as gorgeous, stunning, and well-done. The visual presentation is a key strength.
- Story is engaging and well-written (weight 0.34): The story is engaging, well-written, and captivating, with multiple reviewers highlighting it as a strong point. It contributes significantly to the overall positive experience.
- Voice acting and soundtrack are excellent (weight 0.22): Voice acting and soundtrack are highlighted as stellar and excellent, adding to the game's quality.
- Hint system is helpful and balanced (weight 0.22): The hint system is appreciated for being helpful without giving away solutions, using progressive tips that are specific yet vague enough to maintain challenge.
- Humor is well-received (weight 0.16): The humor is noted as very present and on point, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- Characters are charming and interactions great (weight 0.16): Character interactions are described as great, and characters are charming, enhancing the narrative experience.

Common complaints:
- Unhelpful hints and unclear puzzles (weight 0.97): Many players report that the hint system is misleading or useless, and puzzles are often unclear, illogical, or require specific thinking that is not explained. This leads to frustration and confusion, especially when hints fail to mention key mechanics like hat usage.
- Frustrating timing and action sections (weight 0.72): Timing-based events, quick time events, and sections requiring precise actions (like shaking or rapid clicking) are widely criticized as frustrating and out of place in a puzzle game. Some segments, like the train chase and wormhole, are described as agility tests that ruin the experience.
- Game-breaking bugs and crashes (weight 0.46): Multiple game-breaking bugs are reported, including crashes, corrupted save files, and soft-locks in Chapter 7 (e.g., bathtub and gear puzzle). Skipping cutscenes too fast can also trigger bugs that break rhythm sections, making the game unplayable for some.
- High price for short length (weight 0.43): The game is considered too expensive for its short length (around 5 hours), with many players recommending waiting for a discount. Lack of regional pricing further exacerbates the value concern.
- Missing chapter select feature (weight 0.4): The lack of a chapter select feature forces players to restart the entire game to hunt for achievements or collectibles, which is seen as a major oversight for a game that encourages replayability.
- Disconnected from prequel and simpler (weight 0.29): The game has little linkage with its prequel, with fewer meta elements and minigames. The latter half is simpler, and some prefer the prequel's multiple small dungeons.
- Weak story and puzzle integration (weight 0.27): Puzzles feel disconnected from the story, and the plot lacks a real villain or high stakes, reducing emotional engagement. The overall story is considered not great.
- Poor controls and lack of accessibility (weight 0.25): Controls feel like an afterthought, especially on controller, with a stretching mechanic that carries over to UI and no accessibility options like toggle hold. Players prefer the controls from the first game.
- Poor pacing in some chapters (weight 0.2): Certain chapters, especially Chapter 5, have poor pacing with boring or pedantic non-puzzle parts, making the game feel uneven.
- Low quality compared to expectations (weight 0.2): The overall quality is compared unfavorably to online web puzzles, with graphics described as not drawn enough and too angular. Some find it reminiscent of older point-and-click games but not in a good way.
- Poor character portrayal (weight 0.16): The portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and Watson is criticized as dumbed-down and mocking, which disappoints fans of the characters and the franchise.
- Tedious forced sections and repetitive dialogue (weight 0.16): Forced memory sections for Watson are tedious and unskippable, breaking immersion. Characters also repeat comments during puzzles, which becomes annoying.
- Unskippable cutscenes and sections (weight 0.15): Some cutscenes are unskippable, which frustrates players who want to replay or skip story segments, especially when combined with forced memory sections.
- Poor translation quality (weight 0.09): The Chinese translation loses the original English jokes and flavor, which diminishes the game's charm for non-English players.
- Unmemorable soundtrack (weight 0.08): The soundtrack is not memorable, failing to enhance the game's atmosphere or leave a lasting impression.
- Tedious endgame collection (weight 0.08): Collecting 30 items at the end of the game is described as too tiring and feels like unnecessary padding.
- Hidden language options (weight 0.07): Korean language support was not noticed until the end of the game, indicating poor visibility of localization options.
- Fast dialogue delivery (weight 0.06): A minor nitpick: Emmet's explanation for his action was delivered too quickly, making it hard to follow.

Gameplay feedback:
- Point-and-click adventure with humor (weight 0.94): The game is a classic point-and-click adventure with comedic elements and lateral thinking puzzles, often compared to 'There is No Game' for its meta-humor and unique mechanics.
- Drag and pull mechanics (weight 0.58): Several reviews highlight drag-and-release, pulling, and flicking mechanics, similar to Angry Birds, suggesting a physics-based interaction style beyond traditional point-and-click.
- Lateral thinking with hints (weight 0.42): The puzzles are described as lateral thinking challenges with a helpful hint system, ensuring they are challenging but not too obtuse, guiding player logic.
- Meta and nonsensical elements (weight 0.34): Reviews note meta aspects, metafiction, and nonsensical meta experiences, including humor with characters from the 1800s and absurd staging, enhancing the game's quirky tone.
- Unique puzzle interactions (weight 0.31): Creative puzzles feature stretch mechanics, squash-and-stretch style, and device switching, offering varied interactions beyond standard point-and-click.
- Timing-based and quick puzzles (weight 0.28): The game includes timing-based events, quick time events, and timed sequence puzzles, especially in later sections focusing on agility over cerebral challenges.
- Varied chapters and mini-games (weight 0.2): Chapters are varied with different art styles, puzzles, and mini-games, including a 4-bit dimension mini-game, keeping gameplay fresh.
- Simple yet creative puzzles (weight 0.19): Puzzles are described as relatively simple but creative, with specific examples like a gear-and-bathtub puzzle, making them accessible and enjoyable.
- Mouse-centered controls (weight 0.19): Controls are mouse-focused, with pixel drawing and drag-release mechanics, ensuring intuitive interaction.
- Time travel theme (weight 0.15): The game features a time travel theme, with time-traveling through different development stages, adding narrative depth to the puzzles.
- Story-driven experience (weight 0.14): The game is story-driven with story-focused dungeons, emphasizing narrative progression alongside puzzle solving.
- Electronic music and jiggle physics (weight 0.12): The soundtrack features electronic music, and the game includes jiggle physics, adding to the overall experience.
- Bug or minor features noted (weight 0.06): Some reviews mention specific minor features like opening cinematic language settings or the requirement to pull something, which may indicate small issues or unique interactions.

Performance notes:
- Mixed performance feedback (weight 0.21): While some users face crashes and lag, others experience smooth, buttery performance. This suggests the issues may be hardware or configuration-specific.
- Critical crash and performance issues (weight 0.17): Players report frequent crashes and performance problems that require workarounds like windowed mode. These issues severely impact the gaming experience for some users.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for adventure fans. (weight 0.51): Many reviewers recommend the game to fans of point-and-click adventures, highlighting its clever puzzles, comedic writing, and charming design. The game is praised for its humor, meta moments, and lateral thinking puzzles.
- Strong buy recommendation. (weight 0.4): Many users enthusiastically recommend buying the game, calling it a must-have with phrases like 'buy it,' 'trust me,' and 'TAKE MY MONEY.' This reflects high satisfaction and confidence in the purchase.
- Worth waiting for a sale. (weight 0.34): Several reviewers advise waiting for a discount before purchasing, suggesting the game is not worth the full price. A fair price point of $25 is noted by some, but discounts are recommended to maximize value.
- Play without spoilers. (weight 0.21): Players strongly recommend experiencing the game blind to maximize enjoyment, as spoilers can diminish the impact of puzzles and story reveals. Playing in English for those with basic skills is also advised.
- Need accessibility and chapter select. (weight 0.2): Some users request a chapter selection feature and accessibility modes for less skilled players. A note suggests starting with simpler games like hidden object games for those struggling.
- Game-breaking bugs reported. (weight 0.16): Some feedback warns of a game-breaking bug that may ruin the experience, advising players to wait for a fix. Additionally, backing up savegames is recommended due to potential bugs.
- Frustrating segments reduce enjoyment. (weight 0.08): One review highlights frustration with chase and wormhole segments, leading to a negative recommendation. This indicates that specific gameplay elements may be divisive.
- Appeals to anime fans. (weight 0.07): The game is noted as great for anime fans who enjoy jiggle physics, suggesting a niche appeal with anime-inspired art or humor.

Other player notes:
- Language support awareness issue (weight 0.09): Players are unaware of Korean language support until after finishing the game, indicating poor communication or visibility of language options. This suggests the UI or settings menu could better highlight available localizations.
- Cinematic subtitle language fix (weight 0.09): Players discovered that restarting the game after changing language settings allows the opening cinematic to display Japanese subtitles. This workaround may confuse users who expect subtitles to update immediately.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Players encountered game-breaking bugs, crashes, and performance issues that corrupted saves or blocked progress. Puzzles were often unintuitive with unhelpful hints, while strict timing sections, quick time events, and convoluted segments like the train chase forced repetition. Missing quality-of-life features such as chapter select and poor controller support further aggravated the experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.14): Players were thrilled by the game's engaging puzzles, humor, and meta elements, with many eager to replay or continue. The demo convinced day-one purchases, and anticipation built from announcements was met with satisfaction. Creative mechanics, improved storytelling, and character expansions fueled positive expectations for future content.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players found the game met or exceeded expectations, with quality matching beloved predecessors and value justifying the price. Fun puzzles, a great story, and humorous character interactions provided a well-balanced challenge. Helpful hints and diverse mechanics maintained engagement from start to finish.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players praised the game's captivating story, electronic music, and addictive gameplay. Charming characters and unique mechanics consistently delivered satisfying puzzles, making the overall experience both fun and absurd. The masterful execution across all elements contributed to high enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): The Chinese translation lost its original flavor, and some segments felt poorly paced or simplistic. Controls differed from the first game, while a lack of accessibility options and missing fonts compared to the English version disappointed players. Overall, the game felt shorter than expected and failed to match initial hopes.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experienced knowing smiles from homages and meme content, while comedic puzzles and hilarious writing delivered genuine laughter. The sweet story and satisfaction from purchasing and playing the game enhanced the joyful experience, especially during memorable chapters.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Timed sequence operations and unskippable cutscenes broke immersion, while the UI stretching mechanic frustrated PC users. Absence of a level select for achievement hunting added to the annoyance, requiring unnecessary replays.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players valued the art direction and graphics for a budget PC, alongside the uniqueness and creativity of the mechanics. Good puzzles, story presentation, and a generous, inventive design were praised. The lovely worldbuilding, dialogue, and characters earned widespread appreciation.
- Displeasure (weight 0.02): The price was deemed too expensive for the content offered, and non-puzzle pacing in chapter 5 undermined enjoyment. Some players disliked the mocking portrayal of Holmes and Watson, feeling it disrespected the source material.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Critical bugs that blocked progress and a hint system that gave misleading information infuriated players. The portrayal of Holmes as incompetent or dumb in some narratives sparked strong negative reactions.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admired the developer for pioneering the squash and stretch genre with innovative techniques. Creativity and effort were recognized, with many tipping their hats to the unique design choices.
- Fun (weight 0.02): Players found humor in their own mistakes while working through puzzles, which added to the fun. The inventive and humorous puzzles kept the experience light and engaging.
- Affection (weight 0.02): The jumping sheep character and overall cartoony vibe won players over with cuteness and humor. The art style and lighthearted tone fostered a sense of affection for the game.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Tedious forced memory sections caused boredom, particularly in one chapter that felt overly pedantic and slow. The lack of engaging content in these parts led to disinterest.
- Delight (weight 0.02): The game's humor and art direction were exemplary, delivering a consistently fun experience. Characters, jokes, and visual style combined to create delight throughout the playthrough.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players expressed hope for the addition of a chapter select feature to ease achievement hunting and replaying specific sections. This desire stemmed from a need for better game navigation and completion assistance.
- Amazement (weight 0.02): Creative ideas across every cosmos explored amazed players, with puzzles and mechanics standing out as innovative. The depth of design left a strong impression of wonder.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Unclear interactions and occasional confusing game mechanics left players unsure of how to proceed. The lack of intuitive feedback contributed to moments of bewilderment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): The game reminded players of classic titles from the past, evoking warm memories. For those who loved the first game, nostalgia was a key emotional driver.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.02): Some puzzles were opaque even with unhelpful hints, and a less inspired chapter reduced enjoyment. The lack of chapter select for achievement hunting caused mild frustration.}