Stargate: Timekeepers

Stargate: Timekeepers is a challenging and enjoyable stealth tactics game that lovingly pays homage to the classic television series that inspired it.

On one level I am sure that there will be people that appreciate that, after all this time, they finally have a Stargate SG1 game. I just can’t help but see it as a missed opportunity on every level. Stargate was, at its core, a narrative-driven (not action) show about exploring the stars, meeting alien species and embracing science over religion. A more grounded take on Star Trek, basically. An isometric RPG in the vein of Disco Elysium would have certainly been harder to produce, but much more appropriate to the ideology and intent of Stargate than this stealth tactics title. It’s well-crafted and were it not carrying the license it would have been much easier to enjoy. Painted as it is, however, it’s far too dissonant and incoherent to be the celebration of the property that it needed to be.

In the end, I'm not sure who Stargate: Timekeepers is for. It certainly isn't for anyone who isn't already intimately connected to Stargate, that much is sure. But at the same time, it's so loosely woven into the Stargate universe that it doesn't feel like it's for fans of the TV shows, either. As a huge Stargate nerd who went into this looking forward to finally seeing Stargate come back, I didn't get anything from Timekeepers. It doesn't tie in well with the existing lore, it doesn't expand the universe at all and it doesn't tell a meaningful Stargate story. That just leaves the gameplay, and in that area Stargate: Timekeepers is decent but forgettable, and vastly overshadowed.

Stargate: Timekeepers is an interesting tactical stealth, but it could have done better with such a beloved IP.

Stargate: Timekeepers delivers a decent core gameplay loop. Working with a variety of characters to move stealthily and eliminate enemies can be fun, especially when players are dealing with the more complex enemy setups. The constant visual reminder about quick saving is a good idea.

Stargate Timekeepers wants to bring the iconic sci-fi series back into the gaming world, but it succeeds with some conspicuous uncertainty in tow.

A good take on the Commandos type of strategy games. The biggest Timekeeper's sin is that it basically requires to watch seven seasons of a tv series to be fully appreciated. On a side note, it is an excellent tv series.

Stargate: Timekeepers is a stealth-focused strategy game set in the Stargate universe that tries to fill in big shoes but barely manages to fit into a single one. Its foundational mechanics are great, however, it's apparent that many of them need further polish. The game has the potential to become a cult classic one day, but alas, that day is not today.

Recent unfortunate events led us to think that the Commandos-like genre would struggle to come up with new quality games, but here comes Stargate: Timekeepers to turn the tide, while rehabilitating the SG-1 IP that had fallen somewhat into oblivion. Vast and highly structured levels filled with enemies to avoid, overcome or eliminate by taking advantage of the environment, an AI that knows when to turn a blind eye and charismatic characters with exclusive abilities make this game a must buy for all stealth RTS lovers.