Tick Tock: A Tale for Two

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is a cooperative puzzle-adventure game for two players. You and a friend find yourselves trapped in a world filled with machinery, where each of you can see only certain parts of the puzzles hidden throughout the environment. By communicating with one another, you must piece these puzzles together and utilize objects in your surroundings to uncover clues that will help you escape this mechanical realm. As the game progresses, you will encounter increasingly complex logical puzzles—all while racing against the clock. Will you manage to escape before time runs out? Inspired by Nordic fairy tales and featuring meticulously crafted animations, the game offers a uniquely eerie and immersive experience.

Gameplay:

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is a game that is played by two local multiplayer partners, who will be challenged to take on a series of interactive puzzles. Each player will have to share information with one another, in order to progress through the game. In the game, players are able to see different things. This means that one player could have a part to a puzzle, while the other player has the piece that it fits to. In order to advance, both players will need to be able to verbally communicate this information. This version of Tick Tock: A Tale for Two, allows players to experience everything this game has to offer. The game is meant to be played on two different devices, to express the idea that the two players are different people, that are located a distance away from each other.

As in real life, communication is the most valuable tool for solving the puzzles. Clues to the solutions are distributed to both players and talking is the only way for the players to access the relevant info. Players’ descriptions often include mentions of seemingly unimportant detail like the position of an object, the direction an object is facing or minor marks or patterns on an object. The puzzles can be thought of as a series of hints and clues that players have to solve in addition to the logic puzzles. As in other logic puzzles, players can solve them locally or on separate end of the connection. Verbal communication is the main method of interaction in the game. While other logic puzzles can use simple graphics or text to communicate, the same is not possible in this game. As a result players have to interact using spoken word.

On average, the game takes 2.5 hours to finish, all while developing its narrative. During that time, and with a few exceptions, challenges in the game take place in the same locale. Because of that, players are gradually challenged to figure out deeper levels of the game’s world and its clockwork. Moreover, it helps with better understanding of how the world functions and how to handle higher level puzzles. Different from other games where the challenge is in reflexes or strength, this game challenges its player to exercise their cognitive skills and coalition. If a player or a team manages to overcome a puzzle, a reward is satisfied in the collaborative service of dealing with a puzzle.

Features:

Two Screens, One Shared Answer: Each player explores a different view of the same mystery, sharing clues to decode patterns, operate mechanisms, and reconstruct sequences. Neither side has enough information to proceed alone. That asymmetric structure turns careful description and listening into the central challenge rather than an optional cooperative flourish.Simple controls and the absence of a complicated inventory keep attention on observation. This makes the game a good fit for partners who enjoy talking through logic problems, including people who don't usually play puzzle adventures. Most challenges aren't timed, so players can compare details without constant pressure; only a few sections introduce time-sensitive demands.

Cooperation Without Matchmaking: Partners can play beside each other or remotely, provided they have two devices and a voice connection. Cross-platform support includes Windows, Mac, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, allowing mixed-device pairs to participate.There is no built-in matchmaking, however. “Online co-op” means remote compatibility rather than automatic partner finding. That suits friends who already intend to play together, but anyone arriving alone will find the game effectively inaccessible.

Amalie Ravn's Clockwork Prison: The story traps both players inside a sinister world created by clockmaker Amalie Ravn. Hand-drawn locations such as an old clock shop, creaking rooms, and a dark basement draw on Scandinavian fairy tales. The imagery gives the puzzles a coherent identity instead of presenting them as a disconnected stack of codes.A typical session lasts two to three hours, making this easy to finish in one evening but undeniably brief. Still, the focused length suits an idea built around sustained dialogue. For two willing partners, Tick Tock is a clever, atmospheric test of how accurately they can communicate.

Player Comments:

An amazing co-op puzzle game which my girlfriend and me really enjoy. This game helped us stay connected while being apart for a longer period of time. The game was a bit short (took us about 2 hours) but it was very enjoyable regardless. Everything was very solvable without a guide or anything. Price was also very fair in my opinion for the experience it provided. Unfortunately it has no replay value but it's to be expected with any escape room-like experience.

Really fun puzzle game, love the mechanics and it's a very clever way to worth with a friend to solve the puzzles without the phones actually requiring a connection. I wish it was longer though! I hope the developers make more games like this.

the game was amazing. the concept of playing two player to solve the game is genius. my only problem is that the game is very short. I hope they have some dlc or a side Story to add later. but I fully recommend this game.

This was one of the best games I've ever played. Spent a lot of good times with my partner at this..the puzzles were quite good but he overall aesthetic and story and most of all the co-op concept was brilliant. I'd like to see more from you guys! Money well spent.

My wife and I consider ourselves master puzzle solvers and this game definitely put that to the test. Phenomenal storyline with great graphics and several puzzles that even stumped us for awhile.

Walkthrough:

Chapter 1

1927

Both players should turn around until they are facing the well, then approach it and climb to the bottom. They must then describe the fixed symbols on their own box so that they both end up with the same pattern:

Top Left: Black triangle

Top Middle: White circle

Top Right: White triangle

Bottom Left: White square

Bottom Middle: White square

Bottom Right: Black circle

Now pull the lever down on the right of the box to partially open it. Drag the front of the box to the left, then take out a button. Climb back out of the well.

Both players should now enter the house. Player 1 should click to turn on the light bulb to attract a moth as well as some words. Now rotate the wheel on the train engine to make more words appear. Convey these to Player 2, who should now rotate the handle on the Jack-in-the-Box as follows (without letting go of the handle):

Anti-clockwise 3 times

Clockwise twice

Anti-clockwise twice

Keep turning it clockwise

Examine the piece of paper, which is part of the train journey you will need to arrange. Back out of the house. If you look at the Ravn's Clocks shop, it will be closed. You can change the time by spinning around clockwise or anti-clockwise - keep doing this until the time is between 3:00 and 9:00. Now visit Ravn's Clocks and go inside.

Once both players are inside, you can read through the news by both gradually changing the tuning on the radio from left to right. Player 2 can also scroll up to see a newspaper article. Between the radio story and the newspaper article, Player 1 can see the correct date on their upstairs calendar: Wednesday, March 18. Open the cupboard and you will see the second half of the train journey.

Both players should now head out to the train stop. Examine the machine and insert the missing button. Now you can program the full train journey:

Back out and board the train.

Chapter 2

1932

Both players should enter the house. Player 1 should open their door and head down to the basement. Take the cork out of the barrel to reveal some words. Click on the lizard several times until it reveals more words. Pull on the rope to reveal the last set of words, then read them carefully. Player 2 can now ring the bells according to these instructions:

Ring the study bell 1 time

Ring the kitchen bell 2 times

Ring the dining hall bell 5 times

Now Player 2 can head down to their basement. Click on the barrel repeatedly until a clock falls out, then click on it to see a code being displayed. This is the first half of the next train journey.

Player 2 should change the time to between 3:00 and 9:00, then visit Ravn's Clocks. Once inside, pick up the envelope and the key. Back out and go to the post office. Put the envelope in the mailbox, then read the message that appears and give this information to Player 1.

Player 1 should now go to the post office. Find box number 28 and set the 4 arrows to the directions indicated on the message:

Northwest

West

Southwest

East

Press the button to open the box. Read the letter and take the key. Both players should now go to Ravn's Clocks while the shop is closed (not between the hours of 3:00 and 9:00). Player 2 should convey the instructions from both books to Player 1, so they can work out how to position the gems within the clock:

Now Player one should rotate the arrow so that it points towards the green gem (by dragging the slider around the edge of the clock). Rotate the top-right gear clockwise twice. Once the clock closes, set the time to 12:00. The clock will now display another code, which form the second part of the next train journey.

Both players should now head out to the train stop and program the full train journey:

Back out and board the train.

Conclusion:

Playing this game requires two people to have two different smartphones. Everyone has a smartphone, so this condition is too easy. But that’s why it connects two people. Because each person’s screen displays differently, they must do missions together. Split up and do it. If you stay together in one place, both of you will die. This way of playing with two people also helps two people understand each other while still far away. Or we should talk to each other more.