The Time Machine (2025)

Developer: Lionel Marsden
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Adventure, Indie
Rating: 4.9 of 5, 37 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 1.2 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

a tense, confined exploration where you can only peek out at unpredictable, potentially unsettling places

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What players say

Players describe The Time Machine as a short, confusing VR experience that blends historical tragedy with surreal horror and comedy. It compares to the developer's previous game The Utility Room, and some players note the emotional impact depends on knowing the referenced real-world events. A few report performance problems on the Meta Quest 3.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.