10 Most Disappointing Video Games Of 2021

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.