The Timeless Child - Prologue
Our verdict
7/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 2
- Playtime: 2–3 h
The Timeless Child - Prologue is a free, two-player online co-op puzzle game in first person. One player is Chris Hunt in the present, the other is Emily Wells, a child trapped in the past of the same 16th-century manor. What Emily does in her time changes Chris's world, so the pair have to describe what they see and coordinate across the two eras. It suits friends who want a free co-op puzzle evening.
About 72% of nearly 2,000 Steam reviews are positive. Players call the past-and-present split the highlight and say most of the five puzzle areas feel intuitive, with a school puzzle singled out as a favourite. The paintings puzzle at the end stumped at least one pair, and most teams finish in two to three hours.
The downsides are rough edges and an unfinished story. Players report lag on weak machines, long waits for servers, being kicked mid-session and the last level breaking. It is only a prologue, and reviewers are still waiting for the full game. Since it costs nothing, it is worth trying with a friend; just expect a teaser rather than a complete adventure.
Pros
- Past-and-present split where one player's actions change the other's world
- Five varied co-op puzzle areas in a 16th-century manor
- Free to play
Cons
- Reports of server waits, disconnects and a broken final level
- Only a prologue, with no full game released
- Final paintings puzzle feels unclear to some pairs
About
The Timeless Child is a 2-player puzzle-adventure coop game with first-person view.
Start an exciting and engaging adventure, a tale about family, bonds and secrets. You will explore Wells Manor, an ancient 16th century villa full of history and secrets, living the experience from two different temporal perspectives. Whether you decide to take on the role of Chris Hunt, a skilled hunter on call, or Emily Wells, a child trapped in the past, you'll need to collaborate with your partner to solve puzzles that require cooperation and logic to be completed.
Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey to the borders of time and space to save Emily from her time captivity?
