"Island, north of Vaugarde, name unknown, name unknown, name unknown"

Why I Think This Game is a Genuine Masterpiece

In Stars and Time is one of the best indie games I've ever played - probably one of the best games, period. It's a story-focused RPG with some of the best worldbuilding you'll ever find in a video games, a wonderful cast of characters that I've grown very attached to, and one of my favorite stories in all of media. The whole idea of the game stems from a really clever twist on time-looping mechanics in video games, too! This game is so underrated, and I'm not just saying that. Of all the millions of sites on Neocities, there's only four under the tag "instarsandtime" - including my own! And considering the fact that it only costs $20, I definitely think that more people should play it! There will be spoilers on this webpage though, so don't keep scrolling if you haven't played the game yet and intend to! This is really the type of story you want to experience first-hand.

Astounding Characters

What can't I say about these characters? They are everything. This game really only has six characters (not counting the Head Housemaiden or the King), and they are so well-written and have such interesting dynamics between them! For one, each of the characters are so different from each other. Isabeau grew up as a nerdy, quiet kid and Changed into someone he wanted to be when he realized that he didn't love himself. Odile grew up with an absent mother and is on this journey because she wanted to discover who she was. Bonnie is a child struggling with growing up and understanding how to interact with others. Siffrin had his life ripped out of his hands and torn to shreds when he lost all his memories of his childhood, his home. Mirabelle is struggling with a religion that she loves but also forces her into a box she doesn't want to be in. These characters and their stories all take place in a fictional world, but their struggles are realistic and relatable. Not to mention the relationships they have with each other, which are so realistic and special and just phenomenally written.

Stellar Worldbuilding

This, personally, is my favorite thing about ISAT. I think that worldbuilding is one of the most important things in storytelling, and also the hardest one to get right. In Stars and Time gets it right. From the different religions, countries, background information - there are explanations for everything, even why the game is in black-and-white! And it never info-dumps, either - all of this information is subtly given to you through gameplay. You have to seek it out. What you get out of ISAT is the same as what you put into it. Now, my personal favorite things are the Change belief and the whole mystery with the Island North of Vaugarde. I love going through the game and learning about these things as Siffrin learns about them, too. It's so interesting and unique to the game and it makes the world of ISAT feel that much more real and immersive.

Other Things that are Amazing about ISAT

• The story
• Themes
• The soundtrack
• The story
• The Art
• Isabeau
• Odile
• Crab
• The story
• Everything

In Stars and Time Art and Fanart

A small gallery of some of my favorite ISAT in-game art and fanart. Sadly, I do not have sources for the majority of these images. Oh, and spoilers for all of In Stars and Time, of course.