Parents' Guide to

Twelve Minutes

By David Chapman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Repetition is key to this strong but deeply disturbing plot.

Twelve Minutes Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 18+

Domestic Abuse Simulator

Yeah, not for anyone under 18. This is a game where you are trapped in the same cycle of domestic abuse. I don’t want to say much else out of spoilers but this game is very heavy and very sad. Not for kids.
age 18+

Qaint but flawed experiment

A bite-sized time-sensitive point and click adventure where its fun to find what new interactions with each loop, notice the immersive ques the game uses to give hints and experiment to find new endings. Even if alot of the logic and character morality is very questionable. The final twist is kinda silly and soap opera-ish and a bit confusing given the chronology the game presents. There are numerous occasions where its clear the writers didnt think of certain choices and they come off as awkward. Such as a (non explicit) love scene that continues unaffected even when done after a certain twist. Violence and language are the prominent cautions. While not comstant of wanton the it can be very bloody and sometimes agonizingly brutal especially the suicide scenes and the several ways a pregnant woman can be murdered. A character can also be tortured in way that will make you feel bad even though they are a terrible person. The language is very frequent but not overly offensive in nature. Some disturbing sex references at the end.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

There are games out there that cater to just about every type, from light-hearted fun to dramatic suspense to terrifying horror, but not every game is suited to every audience. Twelve Minutes is a prime example of a well-crafted and superbly performed story that's still likely to sit poorly on people's palate. From a gameplay perspective, there's almost too much freedom. It does little to nothing to guide the player's actions in each successive time loop. While the game accounts for most ideas the player might have, it never points out if it's even close to the correct course of action. Making matters more frustrating, it's easy to misuse, misinterpret, or simply overlook some key item or snippet of dialogue, forcing players to repeat themselves over and over and over again to the point of frustration. And then there's the story, the driving force behind why players are even invested in the experience.

There are a lot of different reasons to classify certain "Mature" entertainment as not suitable for kids. While Twelve Minutes might not show viscerally detailed depictions of violence, nor does it have graphic nudity or explicit sex, the game's already grim plot quickly spirals into much darker and disturbing subject matter that definitely isn't meant for younger audiences. Given the player's wide range of options in each time loop, it's possible to (and even likely) to participate in scenes that include violence against a pregnant woman, torture, murder, and suicide. And all of that is before the game's final twist that, while trying to avoid spoilers, paints the main character in a completely different and extremely uncomfortable light, with no "happy ending" in sight. While most games tend to leave you feeling fulfilled and entertained, Twelve Minutes leaves you feeling mentally spent, emotionally empty, and quite possibly in need of a long shower.

Game Details

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