10 Most Disappointing Video Games Of 2021
5. Twelve Minutes
Announced over six years ago, it's safe to say that Twelve Minutes was one of the most anticipated indie games of the last generation. A top-down time-loop story where players had to replay a period of time between ten and fifteen minutes, I can't remember exactly (thank you Jacob Gellar for that joke) before a cop breaks down their apartment door and kills them, there was a huge amount of intrigue going into this mysterious release.
The title had major awards buzz in the run up to launch, not least because the developers had courted Hollywood A-listers like Willem Dafoe, James McAvoy and Daisy Ridley to play the three lead characters. This performance pedigree, the sensational art style (check out the posters!) and a great marketing campaign had expectations through the roof.
The actual game though - while still a lot of fun - wasn't quite the oscar winner many were expecting. The central time loop mystery was well written in spots, but ultimately went off the rails with jaw-dropping twists towards the end that made it feel more like a silly B-movie than a proper, serious affair.
The central gameplay loop similarly had its moments, but the puzzles were so obtuse that, along with the inherent repetition of this sub-genre, made some players feel like they were wasting their time.
After all that hype, Twelve Minutes was only ok.