The Dark Cave
The Dark Cave
Game
Game2023
Orten Was The Case
Developer Woodhill Interactive
Orten Was The Case - A free movement puzzle/adventure game where you play as a youngster stuck in a time loop with the simple task of saving the world from literal destruction. From the Steam store page
111 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Sep 17, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
93
LovedLoved
92 positive · 7 negative
95% range 86–97%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 92 | 7 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
111 of 118 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
At a glance
Orten Was The Case is a 2023 adventure indie video game, from Woodhill Interactive.
- 105 people have posted about this game on Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon
- posts span Sep 9, 2023 to Sep 17, 2026
- 93% of 99 Steam reviewers recommend it (their own thumbs)
- Steam reviewers had played a median of 7 h when they wrote
Assembled from TMDB, Wikidata and Steam fields and our own counts, nothing written by a model. Method
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Orten Was The Case sits at 93% positive across 99 opinionated reactions from 3 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
60 of 111 · most liked firstI was fortunate enough to try this game throughout development and I couldn't be more excited with the end result. Hat off to the developer for delivering a truly great experience. This is a must-buy if you are at all into timeloops, mysteries and/or a fan of fictional Swedish suburbs. Now I'm off to FINALLY see how the story ends!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An initially intriguing time loop mystery which suffers from atrocious movement and general feel of play, compounded by a fatal case of "Wouldn't it be cool if we added..."-syndrome. The so-called "free movement" is brutal; the worst I think I've ever experienced. The hand-drawn backgrounds aren't too bad to look at, but the pathing isn't exactly clear most of the time and is absolutely awful in its worst sections. As you struggle with the perspective and try to align yourself with the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Reminds me a lot of home
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. The amount of thought & effort that must have gone into the creation of this game is incredible. And the art style too I mean MUUMMMA MIAAAAAA F*****G congrats to the single developer that created this masterpiece. If you're on the fence about if you should buy this game or not. I'm hear to tell you that you should.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →DO YOU ENJOY GOOD THINGS? MAJORAS MASK? OUTER WILDS? KNOWLEDGE BASED PROGRESSION?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Orten Was The Case is one of the best games of 2023. The best comparison I can think of is Majora's Mask meets Psychonauts...meets Dark Souls. It's a time-loop-Adventure game! You have at most 12 minutes per loop before the world ends. You start the game remembering nothing and have to piece together what happened to you, what is causing the apocalypse, who is involved, and how you can stop it. Progress is demarcated by "Topics". Some milestones count as checkpoints you can come back to later,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Full Walkthrough: https://youtu.be/SZK2mJ4uCoY ★★★★★ Gameplay: Good Graphics: Good Music: Good Story: Very Good Loop: Yes PC Requirements: Potato Game Time: 2 - 4 hrs
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →With just 2,5 hours of gameplay 'Orten Was The Cause' captured my interests quickly, without the need for any tutorial (which is good). The storyline is engaging enough to make me want to see the game thorugh to the end. The level design is a smart utilization of time loops, feeling fresh and innovative. The puzzles strike a perfect balance of difficulty, while the combat mechanics are surprisingly well-tuned for a puzzle game. This game not only draws me in but also keeps me eager to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you enjoyed Outer Wilds, this game is for you. Don't look up anything. Just play it. 10/10.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of those niche games that's far better than it has any right to be.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Orten Was The Case is an excellent time loop game. The majority of puzzles works as such that they require player knowledge, knowledge they gain throughout multiple loops to piece together how to stop the literal destruction which occurs in 12 minutes. These 12 minutes are in real time, giving you a bit of time but still a race against clock to fix things. In addition, the main character retains some information from previous time loops, giving you access to some options based on knowledge…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I cant stress how much i love the artstyle of this game, its so cool. That and finding the small hints scattered across the world is amazing. Everything has its own purpose in this game, in some shape or form. The one thing i dislike is the somewhat janky combat mechanics. I feel as if the game would be better without it, but thats just my opinion. Vällingby centrum simulator 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I play a lot of indie games and I'm always happy to find something that feels unique and fresh. This game has an amazing artstyle, interesting and funny characters and a lot of weird stuff to discover. I'd definitely recommend playing it (for me it is most enjoyable with controller). It's one of the games I will 100% :3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love it! Makes you think outside the bag in box! <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Time loops are TRIPPY and so is ORTEN!!! Blockhead APPROVED!!! [url=https://youtu.be/i32SHF2sNLo] Gameplay Video [url=https://youtu.be/4d9oeJbNf1s] Gameplay Video [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28820007] Recommendations [url=https://www.youtube.com/@kreatorb] YouTube [url=https://twitter.com/iPlayKreatorB] Twitter [url=https://www.tiktok.com/@iplaykreatorb] TikTok [url=https://www.twitch.tv/iplaykreatorb] Twitch [url=https://kick.com/kreatorb] Kick
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been obsessed trying to speedrun the game to get the best possible outcome in the end. Thus far, I've only managed to get one ending. This game have a lot of ingredients which attracts me: Time travel (groundhog day style), mysterious cults, dance off battles, Cave spelunking and are based of the suburbs in my home country Sweden. The conversations and characters are hilarious, they're a mixture between a ton of different stereotypical people/dialects/accents. I thoroughly enjoyed…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fantastic Game! Great Storyteller adventure puzzle game with unique mechanick, this game gives me vibes from my childhood time "Oddworld!" also have different endings and its interesting for speedrunners.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is such a beautiful game. I don't even know where to start. I almost tear up just writing this. It is so beautiful...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Initially, it will have the vibe of being a beginner Unity programmer’s first game, which it is, and starts off seeming very very cheap, but… It’s incredibly complex and well-layered as a curiosity-driven mystery with several characters’ schedules all interplaying with one another that is interesting enough to keep me hooked despite the cons. Very reminiscent of Majora’s Mask, complete with a timeline for each character that you fill out as you witness what each character is doing when,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I loved this game. Even though i have not explored everything you can do, the simple music and characters (that only speaks swedish jibberish) makes this game one of my favorite games i have played. Each cycle made me more curious and excited to explore different parts of the town. Every character was mysterious and made me eager to know them more. The best part is, I was always rewarded for exploring and taking notes of what ive learnt. I believe this is a game where everyone will have their…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Swedish-lore Simulator
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is without a doubt the best puzzle game I have ever played, the voice acting, the artwork, the puzzles, everything is just amazing, would play again 10/10! // Kevin x2 & Jakob <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game! Reminds me a lot of Machinarium but more in-depth.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am not good at playing timed games. This is one of them. I am confused at where to go. When I restart the game the next evening, I am required to re-do the time loop. Whcih means I have to do achunk of the game anew. And I already forgot where to go from the previous day. I am stuck. Obviously, the game has its own followers who are good at playing it, but I am not one of them. As such, I cannot recommend the game to the people like me. Although, I must confess I was attracted by the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I went into this knowing only that it involved time travel. What a delightful little surprise this was! This game checked all my boxes: time loops, knowledge gates for progression, a compelling mystery, and puzzles that are challenging but fair. The art style very quickly won me over; it's surprisingly detailed, with a unique charm. And--I just found out this was made by a solo dev! Really impressive work, I had a lot of fun with it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very fun execution of a time loop game. There's a couple poorly clued bits but for the most part it's very well designed. My biggest critique is the jankiness of movement on flat backgrounds, but the art style is kind of required for the types of secrets the game hides. Very clever game on the whole!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is more of a neutral than a dislike but its closer to not recommend than recommend If you are looking at reviews for this you probably already have played Outer Wilds and are looking for similar games. This is very similar to outer wilds from a gameplay framework but worse in pretty much every way. The game uses quests to tell you what to do in loops, and initially I liked this but the longer it went on the more I realized it was killing the agency of a timeloop game which is kind of the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This time-loop mystery is an artwork of a Swedish suburb come alive. 10/10 would loop again—gladly lost (in) time within Orten! Best free-movement Point-And-Click game ever.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I thought Sweden = IKEA and I obviously did not expect this. The execution on the timeloop is simply amazing.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was expecting to play this for a couple hours and I'm 40 hours deep. This game is awesome, a true work of art from a dedicated developer. The story is fresh, the art is really neat, and the world has a ton of unexpected depth. Also the game launched with far less bugs than the typical AAA title these days. If you like puzzle/adventure games this one is a gem. Pick it up, it's well worth the price.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game strategy, idea, and mission type game plays are very good, and the best part is the time loop in this. Reminding my old favorite games (POP). Thanks to Wood Hill Interactive for a such unique game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really wonderful game. I thought; If Terkel i knibe tried remaking the Neverhood whilst thinking of Roal Dahl. Great pricing, I love that there's finally a GREAT game, and it is about spooky dreary swedishness in Swedish :') Underbart! Wonderful.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Original content, original game mechanics and idea. Original all the way through!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fantastic indie game with fun puzzles, amazing artstyle and funny storytelling. Recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The time loop mechanic and artistic style is bending my mind. For a long time I haven't found a game that actually feels familiar but makes me escape mundane life at the same time. 10/10 would recommend this gem.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A time loop game with a unique art style and mysteries for you to uncover and reveal the secrets of the town. If you like Majora's Mask and similar games, this is for you. Haven't finished it yet, but liking it so far. A bit frustrating controls/collisions sometimes, but overall nice :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you liked Outer Wilds, you're gonna enjoy this. It also has a fishing mini-game so it has to be a great game. Them's the rules ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Brimming with charm and style! Filled with secrets and details. The concept of a time loop in a game has always been fascinating to me since Majora's Mask, and you can tell that it is one inspiration for this game, but taken further and in weird directions. A lot of the game feels so specific in tone and detail that it becomes clear that it is earnest and close to the heart of the single developer.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love the time-loop mechanic! Visually, the game is a treat. The developer has crafted a rich and detailed world which is exciting to explore
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a very cool game, the art style, animation and graphics are so nice and unique. The Swedish suburb setting is very nostalgic and so fun to explore. If you want an game experience that is different from whats out there, buy this game. Did I mention that the animation quality is great. Worth mentioning again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Time loop and knowledge based progression game, similar to Outer Wilds or the lesser known The Sexy Brutale. It's probably closer to Sexy Brutale than Outer Wilds, as it is less about exploration and more about uncovering what each person is up to and how to resolve their situations. While it is very guided since you always have a clear objective to work on, you're still free to find stuff out of order or ahead of time, although in my case that led to some situations where i had to redo parts i…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Almost a masterpiece. If you've heard of this game, then you're probably well acquainted with the metroidbrainia genre and you've probably played some it's biggest hits like Outer Wilds and Return of the Obra Dinn. This game is a metroidbrainia is it's purest form. You'll learn to traverse every nook and cranny of a quaint town discovering secrets and mysteries that are quite unique. Your knowledge builds as you play the game, figuring out secret passages, locations of key items, and the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Orten Was The Case, developed and published by Woodhill Interactive, is a narrative-driven puzzle adventure built around a tightly designed time-loop structure. Set in a rough, urban neighborhood facing an imminent disaster, the game places players in the role of a young protagonist caught in a repeating cycle, where each loop offers another opportunity to uncover the truth and alter the outcome. What begins as a simple mystery gradually evolves into a layered and demanding experience that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎉 Huge congrats to Orten Was The Case for his nomination in the "Best Debut Professional" category at the Swedish Game Awards! 🏆 If you haven't checked out this incredible game yet, now's the perfect time to dive in! 🎮 ✨ #SGA2024 store.steampowered.com/app/1785420/...
neutral · AI labelView post →if you love puzzles you'll love it. Entirely handdrawn and thus a bit skewed when it comes to controls but worth it. Since it is not the usual kind of game. So if you want smth. fresh give it a shot
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the most charming games i've played in YEARS. The art direction is so nostalgic, and has a real fun way of combining both 3d and 2d elements while not compromising the original vision. I've played my fair amount of story-led indie games where there's a change/some sort of twist midway through (choosing my words carefully cause i don't wanna spoil anything ;]), and most of the time only the first half ends up being good. Usually it feels thrown in at the last minute because the writer is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →PROS: Awesome dark, mysterious story. (Sally sad face vibes) Creepy art style. Nice time manipulation game play. Good puzzles. The game does an incredible job at setting the pacing and explaining how to progress. Multiple endings. CONS: Clunky controls. You fall a lot/miss doors/passages etc. Weird camera angles sometimes. The save resets your loop. The normal combat is terrible. OVERALL: Not the best movements, but overall the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ziggy wakes up in orten and has to save the world from but gets shanked a hundred thousand million billion times by ortenväktare also Big Corporation HATE orten so now Ziggy has to take down Big Corpo ---- also GIANT HUGE MAN WHO GIANT WHAT IS HE DOING HERE!?!!?!?!? everyone talk so funny i lauigh 5/7
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is impressive good , i randomly found the game on steam after i played the demo i was impressed the Artstyle is kinda cool , the soundtrack is very good and the puzzles are well made . we need more Woodhill interactive games if you need game testers then contact me via steam or somewhere else per commentary
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game crashed at least 12 time during my playthrough (always during the time rewind). Also for how often you need to repeat large chunks of the game over again and again the ability to save and quick load anywhere would have been greatly helpful and stopped the latter portion from feeling like a giant drudge.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is so much fun and original. The artwork is fantastic.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Forgot to play the storyline for so long I actually missed a crucial event. But that's ok. I figured out how to play basketball and scored three in a row for a sweet new pair of sneakers as a reward!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very unique take on a point-and-klick type adventure. With integrated puzzles, events and interactions in real-time. It almost plays like a point-and click adenture but with alot more freedom and space. The artstyle is very intriguing and fits the story and makes you eager to explore the world and the people. It grabs you very early on with the plot and is very easy to get immersed in the world which feels very vibrant and alive. Alot of unique characters with intresting designs. A major…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awesome game! I find the controls a bit finicky at times (although using a controller helps with that), but that aside I love it! The game has very original and very fun gameplay and awesome artwork!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Smack full of interesting interactions, scenarios, and dialogue, not to mention the super cool artstyle and aesthetic. I've only played for a couple of hours but feel like I have just scratched the surface. Can't wait to explore everything!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very fun. I'm a big fan of point- and click/puzzlegames and this reminds me of it a lot. I havent finished it yet but the artstyle is fun and unique, the game flows nicely and the next step is usually logical which allows you to progress without much handholding, and the story grabs your attention easily. It will be very fun to se how it ends. :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →That's it, video game music has peaked. Attached is a track from "Orten Was The Case" soundtrack, titled 'Fartstyle'. And it's exactly what you imagine: an hardstyle banger entirely made out of farts. You have a good day now.
positive · AI labelView post →This is a recommendation with some pretty strong caveats. This game is an obvious labor of love. It's creative and different. It has a truly engaging mystery and makes you feel smart. Up to a point, where it becomes rage-inducingly frustrating because it is, in a sense, an unfinished and unpolished game. If you're okay with playing this game until you reach the standard (bad) ending, you will only have to forgive a few charming quirks and bugs. If you, like me, are intrigued beyond the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →super good until you get to the last puzzle, which is filled with ill-thought out ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ that cost nearly half my playtime despite knowing the "solution". and after that you still get a bad ending and it turns out that you need to figure out a bunch of nonsensical stuff on your own to get the ACTUAL ending. I'm good bro I'm sure I just got unlucky in a few big ways but this should have been playtested more. I'll still drop a thumbs up but I can't necessarily recommend this because of how…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best puzzle games I've played. There's more than meets the eye with this one. The game is a loop based metroidbrainia (you don't get new abilities with each run but instead you get more knowledge) so it is best to play it as blind as possible.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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