Time Flies is a whimsical life sim in which the player controls a fly as it lives out its short life in an interior space filled with objects to interact with. It’s an open-world game in that the player can fly to any location in the game world and essentially do as they please. 

Time Flies is one of the more distinctive aspects of this game is its color scheme, which is 1-bit, or black and white, like OneBit Pacman and Untitled Goose Game in the sense that the player is controlling a creature for the entirety of the game. 

Live the life of a fly 

The premise of Time Flies is simple: the player takes control of a fly for the short time that the fly must live. During that time, the player can go exploring, find objects to interact with, listen to music, watch television, clean its wings, get drunk, and do many activities. Flies live a short life, so the player has limited time to experience things, but can ultimately do whatever they wish within the game world. 

Gameplay is straightforward yet surprisingly layered. You control a small fly using floaty, responsive movement, and your life lasts only a handful of seconds. Within that short time, you can explore your surroundings, interact with objects, and attempt to complete a bucket list of mini-objectives like “learn an instrument” or “make a friend.” These goals are often clever puzzles in themselves, embedded within the environment. 

Bucket list 

What makes Time Flies compelling is its open-ended structure. There’s no traditional win state or failure—just moments. Each life feels like a blank canvas where experimentation and curiosity are rewarded. Death comes swiftly, and with it, the urge to start again and explore a different path. This loop of short-lived lives encourages replayability, and some may find it too abstract or slow with limited interaction variety. 

Visually, the game uses black-and-white hand-drawn graphics that resemble pencil sketches. This minimalist presentation enhances its themes, stripping away distractions and letting players focus on meaning and experience. The environments feel intimate, whether you’re flying around a sink or navigating the strings of a guitar. The sound design is gentle, featuring soft ambient tones and subtle effects that align with the fly’s delicate presence. It’s emotional, even existential, without ever becoming preachy. 

A short life, beautifully lived 

Time Flies is a charming, contemplative experience that turns the fleeting life of a fly into a thoughtful exploration of freedom, mortality, and curiosity. Its minimalist visuals and open-ended gameplay offer a quiet, personal journey with surprising emotional depth. Though some may find its pace too slow or its mechanics too minimal, those seeking a poetic, replayable indie gem will find something special here.