Super Time Force is a puzzle wrapped in a platformer wrapped in a joke. The 2014 game from developer Capybara Games asks you to stop a robbery in progress by rewinding time, then jumping back into that rewind to save the day. It sounds simple. It is not.
Trailer, via IGN.
The Rewind Mechanic
The core trick is that you can rewind time to any point in the level you have reached. That means you can jump back to the moment before a guard spots you, or the moment before a hazard triggers. The catch is that your enemies also rewind, meaning you are constantly playing a game of temporal chess with the cops chasing you.
It is a clever mechanic, but it takes a while to click. The first few levels feel like a mess of confusion. By the time you get the hang of it, the game opens up into something genuinely inventive.
Levels Built for Rewind
Each level is a self-contained puzzle box. You might need to hit a switch at the top of a tower to open a door at the bottom. To do that, you rewind to the bottom, walk through the now-open door, then rewind again to reach the switch. The game trusts you to think about time in non-linear ways, and that trust pays off.
| Level | Structure | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Early stages | Simple paths, few hazards | Easy |
| Mid-game | Branching paths, multiple rewind points | Moderate |
| Late-game | Tight, layered puzzles | Hard |
The difficulty curve is generous early on, then sharpens dramatically in the final stretch. Some levels require precise timing and several rewinds to get right, and a single mistake can send you back to the start.
Humor and Pace
The game is not serious. Its cast of characters includes a talking cat, a robot, and a guy who just happens to be a time-traveling cop. The dialogue is snappy and often absurd, and the game leans into its absurdist premise without taking itself too seriously.
That lightness carries the game through its rough patches. When the mechanics are frustrating, the humor keeps you engaged.
Where It Falls Short
Not everything lands. Some levels repeat the same rewind trick without adding new ideas on top of it. The game also relies heavily on visual cues to signal where you can rewind to, which can be confusing in busy levels.
The game’s difficulty spikes can also feel punishing. A single missed jump or a misjudged rewind can cost you minutes of progress, and there is no way to skip a level once you have started it.
Final Word
Super Time Force is a bold experiment that mostly pays off. Its rewind mechanic is genuinely fresh, and its level design rewards careful thinking. The humor keeps it from feeling cold, even when the puzzles get tough.
It is not perfect. Some levels feel like filler, and the difficulty can be harsh. But the ideas behind it are strong enough to carry the game through its rough patches.
If you enjoy games that reward thinking over reflexes, Super Time Force is worth your time. It is a game that asks you to rethink how you play, and that is a rare thing to ask of a platformer.
