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Play Overview
Time Bandit (2023) is a puzzle adventure where you spend your real-world time to earn money. Play is a mix of exploring the world, moving boxes and making decisions about your resources - all of which come at the cost of your time. It combines classic box-pushing puzzles and stealth action to create an experience that questions the wisdom of playing by the rules of capitalism.
You have been hired by a corporation to efficiently use your money and fuel to solve box-pushing puzzles in return for time crystals. Unusually, moving the boxes in the game uses up real-time (and often a lot of it). This not only slows the puzzle-solving but also means that every move matters. On top of this, the game continues while you aren't playing. So, sometimes the best tactic is to set a task going and then come back tomorrow.
As you progress you uncover a dark secret behind the company's activities. Having spent your time solving the puzzles, you have to decide whether to give the time crystals to the company for more money or sneak them out of your workplace to sell them for more on the black market. The company's security guards and cameras are watching, but it's easier to get away with sneaking around at certain times of day.
It's a game that unfolds over the days and weeks you play as your work is accompanied by a real-time day-and-night cycle, location-based weather, and music that changes dynamically with the time of day.
The result is a fascinating game that not only makes you solve puzzles really slowly but highlights how we exchange our time for money. This, inevitably, questions who this transactional labour really serves. "Find out how your time is being stolen from you--and how you can work to take it back."
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Time Bandit 6 months ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 7 days ago.
You have been hired by a corporation to efficiently use your money and fuel to solve box-pushing puzzles in return for time crystals. Unusually, moving the boxes in the game uses up real-time (and often a lot of it). This not only slows the puzzle-solving but also means that every move matters. On top of this, the game continues while you aren't playing. So, sometimes the best tactic is to set a task going and then come back tomorrow.
As you progress you uncover a dark secret behind the company's activities. Having spent your time solving the puzzles, you have to decide whether to give the time crystals to the company for more money or sneak them out of your workplace to sell them for more on the black market. The company's security guards and cameras are watching, but it's easier to get away with sneaking around at certain times of day.
It's a game that unfolds over the days and weeks you play as your work is accompanied by a real-time day-and-night cycle, location-based weather, and music that changes dynamically with the time of day.
The result is a fascinating game that not only makes you solve puzzles really slowly but highlights how we exchange our time for money. This, inevitably, questions who this transactional labour really serves. "Find out how your time is being stolen from you--and how you can work to take it back."
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Time Bandit 6 months ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 7 days ago.
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Play Style
This is an Adventure, Puzzle, Sequencing and Simulation game with Communication and Strategy elements. This is a single-player game.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Benefits
Age Ratings
Skill Level
10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. Because of the way the game ties to real-world clock you need to be able to interpret what this means and have the patience to wait for your tasks to be completed.
Costs
Game Details
Release Date: 24/07/2023
Out Now: PC
Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Adventure, Puzzle, Sequencing, Simulation (Communication and Strategy)
Accessibility: 0 features documented
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Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships. |
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