7 Ups & 6 Downs From E3 2019

4. Time Loop Games Are In

12 Minutes
Annapurna Interactive

While there were plenty of new, original games announced at E3, there was one recurring theme: time loops. From the excellent looking 12 Minutes to Death Loop, the idea of repeating sections of a game, making new decisions and learning from your mistakes in a reset zone, is pretty much the kind of concept video games are built to tackle, which makes it surprising that we're only just getting releases based around the concept now.

12 minutes is more of an interactive thriller than a full-on game, but its trailer was still one of the most captivating of the entire event. Still, it was Arkane Studio's Death Loop that looked the most fully formed. Taking cues from the similarly time-bending Prey: Mooncrash, the title looked genuinely innovative, and if the studio's previous releases are anything to go by, should be nothing short of a bloody great time.

All of these original games look great, and even titles that aren't entirely built around the concept, like Blair Witch (which looks absolutely terrifying, by the way), are getting in on the time loop craze.

Advertisement
Contributor

Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.