As I was taking a break from playing my usual go-to games like Genshin Impact and Cookie Run: Kingdom, I discovered an RPG game that came out back in November 2023. In Stars & Time is a game created by insertdisc5, and follows a band of travelers: Siffrin, Mirabelle, Isabeau, Odile, and Bonnie. Together, you prepare to save the country of Vaugarde and the House of Change.
It is SUCH a good game. I realize that it’s only been out for almost two months, but I’m genuinely surprised that I haven’t heard more people talk about it. So, without delving into too many spoilers, I must ramble about why I love In Stars & Time so much and why I think everyone should play it.
things i love about in Stars & Time
its use of a strangely common trope (Minor Spoilers)
Minor spoiler out of the way: Siffrin is trapped in a time loop.
I’m not usually a fan of stories that use dimension/time travel as a framing device. I find that they overcomplicate the story and often takes attention away from the main cast of characters.
But In Stars & Time manages to use time travel in a way that is interesting and a bit self-aware of its medium (when you die in a video game, you can respawn at an earlier checkpoint). It’s definitely not an original concept, but it’s one of the better examples that I’ve come across.
A nice bonus? You can skip through dialogue and conversations that you’ve already seen, and teleport to different points in time. This design shows that the developers truly respect their audience and their time, and also adds another layer to the overall story.
I mainly like what this does for the characters, especially for Siffrin.
He’s initially relatively confused but hopeful, and sees this newfound ability as a boon that’ll help them defeat the King. But that changes in many ways as the story progresses, as we see Siffrin learn more about himself and his friends. It provides an interesting look into the mindset of the typical RPG protagonist, one that I haven’t really seen before.
ThemeS & Representation
While it’s not the main focus of the story, the representation found in this game is so wonderfully and naturally done. There are beautiful and poignant conversations revolving around:
- LGBTQ+ Themes (in terms of relationships and identity)
- Mental Health
- Finding One’s Identity (cultural, religious, etc.)
Without giving away too many details, the main focus of In Stars & Time is all about change. It can be scary to venture into unknown territory, it’s also essential to one’s personal growth. That trying to keep everything the same and unchanging is not only detrimental to you, but to those around you. How it proves that no one can be entirely defined by their past selves/lives, since we’re all forever changing.
Everything Else That I can’t Delve Into Because spoilers
- The characters and their dynamic
- Visuals
- Music
- The balance between drama and comedy
Extra Notes
Long story short? In Stars & Time is criminally underrated, and you should play it whenever you have the chance. It’s about $20, and is available on the following platforms:
- Windows
- Nintendo Switch
- Playstation 4
- Playstation 5
Games Like In Stars & Time
If you’re interested in playing this game, here are some games within the same genre that have similar mechanics or quality of writing:
- Omori
- Undertale
- Grimm’s Hollow
- Earthbound
- OneShot
Special Thanks
I wouldn’t have been made aware of this game if it weren’t for the amazing fanart made by minbitt or JelloApocalypse’s livestreams.