A time machine that would allow us to go back in time or dash into the future has always been humanity’s most ambitious dream. More of an inspiration from Science Fiction than a real Scientific foundation, time travel can only be achieved in video games and movies, for now. And because it is such a fascinating theme among many people, we thought a list of the most unique 10 games that let you travel through time would be in order. So let us see what titles that fit this amazing category are on the market right now.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, Link is able to travel between two points in time with the help of the Master Sword that seals him in the Temple of Time for seven years, until he becomes an adult and strong enough to wield it. Young Link and Adult Link have different abilities that can be interchanged when needed, for example only the Younger version of himself is able to fit through some tight spaces. By replacing or taking the Sword, Link is able to travel freely between the two time periods. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time together with Majora’s Mask are two linked gaming titles whose plotline and gameplay concentrate heavily on the idea of time travel.
Chrono Trigger (SNES/PS)
Chrono Trigger is a nostalgic role-playing title initially developed for the SNES in 1995 and it is frequently cited as one of the best video games of all time. The player controls the protagonist and his companions as they travel through time to gather allies, resources and information that will help them stop an imminent global catastrophe that will shatter the Earth. Eras such as the prehistoric age inhabited by primitive humans and dinosaurs, the Middle Ages and the post-apocalyptic future are possible destinations of the valiant group that tries to save the world from destruction.
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
The third installment of the TimeSplitters series follows the story of Sergeant Cortez, a time-traveling marine from the 25th century in his quest of going back in time in order to save the future. Using the Temporal Uplink, the player character is able to travel to various years in the past where he must complete multiple tasks with the final goal being that of finding a way of stopping the TimeSplitter from being created.
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Braid
Tim, the protagonist of the game, is on the quest of rescuing a princess captured by a ruthless monster. To accomplish his goal he possesses the very unique and unlimited ability of reversing time and travelling back at the exact moment he wishes to, this aptitude being available even after dying. Braid is played in the puzzle platformer classic style and thanks to the main character’s skills, the player is able to rewind time and retake the failed trials. The game is divided into six worlds, each with its own original time-based mechanic, offering a great degree of replayability and hours of entertainment.
Sonic the Hedgehog CD
The main gameplay element that differentiates Sonic CD from other titles of the Sonic franchise is the ability to use time travel as an in-game mechanic. The players are free to travel between different time periods within every level, by simply hitting posts labeled “past” or “future” and keeping a constant high speed for a couple of seconds. In this way they are able to travel between the past, present and future variants of the level. Initially developed for the Sega CD in 1993, Sonic The Hedgehog CD was later ported to all of the other platforms.
Back to the Future: The Game
A five episode graphic adventure, “Back to the Future: The Game” puts the player into the role of Marty McFly, who must go back in time in the year of 1931 to help Doc Brown escape from jail. Taking place during the prohibition, this movie-inspired video game recreates the environment, characters and atmosphere of that specific time period in a very authentic way. The dialogue line exchange between Marty and the Doc is very well written and the whole time travelling adventure is extremely immersive and fun to play.
Day of the Tentacle Remastered
In Day of the Tentacle the player takes control of Bernard Bernoulli and his friends Hoagie and Laverne as they try to save the world from the menace of the sentient disembodied Purple Tentacle. Time travel is used extensively in this graphic adventure game, the three characters being separated across time at the beginning of the story and the player needing to reunite them to be able to switch between them during the gameplay. Puzzles solved in the past can affect how things will happen in the future, the travel through different time periods becoming indispensable when it comes to completing certain tasks.
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
With more complex combat skills and gorier finishing moves that take care of your enemies, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within features a series of new ways of controlling time with the help of the iconic Dagger the Prince possesses. Having a non-linear gameplay, this sequel to the main Prince of Persia title allows the players to use portals to travel through time and visit the same places both in the present and in the past. This trick is the only possible method to go around the obstacles that are completely impassable in a certain time period. Besides this, the Prince is also able to rewind time if he screwed up.
Singularity
Following a helicopter crash due to an electromagnetic surge, captain Nathaniel Renko starts to phase between the present and 1955 when he arrived just in time to save a scientist named Nikolai Demichev from dying in a fire. Back in the present, Renko is captured by Demichev’s forces and after being saved by a resistance group he will need to travel through time, back and forth, in order to change past events and find a way to stop Demichev from taking over the world. A Time Manipulation Device lets the player restore objects that were destroyed in the past and also travel back in time.
Life is Strange
Max is a photography student who discovers she has the very peculiar ability of rewinding time and enacting a butterfly effect once doing so. All of the player’s actions will alter the storyline as it unfolds, the ability to reshape it once deciding to travel back in time becoming an inevitable occurrence. Life is Strange is renowned for its powerful narrative and well-rounded characters, the ability of going back in time and altering the future events adding even more depth to the already immersive gameplay it features.