Time loops lend themselves perfectly to video games, but that does not mean that all time loop games are created equal. Outer Wilds, uses its time loop to encourage player exploration, discovery and learning. Solving its central mystery feels immensely satisfying. Without expert craftsmanship or a deft touch, loops run the risk of becoming repetitive or even stale.

Expelled! is another game built on the time loop mechanic. At first glance, its all-girls private school setting doesn’t seem particularly ambitious. Verity, a scholarship student, from a working-class background finds herself on the business end of an expulsion, blamed for pushing an upper sixth student out the towers ornate stained-glass window. And not just any upper sixth student: Louisa Hardcastle, the beloved captain of the hockey team and soon to be head girl.

The loop resets are cleverly disguised as Verity recounts the day’s events to her father. You quickly discover that Louisa broke the window before promptly throwing herself from the top of the tower. Why did she jump? Why is Verity the scapegoat? How can she clear her name when everybody is out to get her? And that’s just it. The challenge is in trying to prove your innocence to a jury that already sees Verity as guilty.

Initially, resets are quick, as you uncover evidence planted to place you at the scene of the crime. Like any good time loop game, knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you can influence. Piecing together a routine prevents your early expulsion, affording Verity time to interview and cross examine her peers. You are introduced to an eclectic cast of characters, who all fill a stereotypical public school role. But at their core each character is an exaggerated representation of a social class or underrepresented minority, with Verity filling the role of working-class outcast. Everyone has a motive. Everyone has something to hide. History and relationships that can be explored and exploited to decipher the puzzle.

While the game offers a wealth of unique interactions, I found myself ignoring the morality system more often than not. Manipulating people and their opinions is where Expelled! truly shines. Removing potential threats via unsavoury means inches you closer to clearing your name, and since everyone else seems to be playing dirty, why not jump on the bandwagon.

I found the partial voice acting quite jarring. Amelia Tyler – of Baldurs Gate 3 fame – does an impeccable job of portraying Verity when called upon. But I rarely found this heightened my enjoyment. If anything, my imagination would run wild while playing, creating my own interpretation of how characters deliver shock revelations. When Verity’s voiceover kicked in, it was in stark contrast to my own imagination, breaking the immersion.

The structure also didn’t lend itself well for repeat runs once the underlying mystery was solved. Although there were plenty additional secrets to discover, wading through familiar dialogue to uncover them felt a tad monotonous. I found myself lamenting the story beats that previously fuelled my intrigue. I ended up putting the game down far earlier than anticipated to avoid that feeling of disdain brewing within me. In the end, some secrets are better left undiscovered. And that was the right decision. I now find myself looking back fondly on the tightly written and titillating narrative, which for me, is a perfect end to an experience like Expelled!

Expelled! is available now.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2963890/Expelled/