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Crushed In Time Wiki

Crushed In Time is a meta point-and-click adventure from Draw Me A Pixel, spin-off of There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate a mystery that leaps through the stages of their own game…

About Crushed In Time

Crushed In Time is a meta point-and-click adventure from Draw Me A Pixel, spin-off of There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate a mystery that leaps through the stages of their own game's development — with elastic, stretch-and-release gameplay instead of traditional clicking.

  • Elastic gameplay: grab, pull, stretch, and release every interactive object.
  • Meta time-travel story through alpha builds, prototypes, and glitched versions.
  • Fully voiced English dialogue with subtitles in 10 languages.
  • 46 Steam achievements, several missable on a single playthrough.
  • Built-in modular hint system (using hints blocks one achievement).

Release Date & Platforms

Crushed In Time launched on Steam for PC on June 10, 2026. Additional platforms are planned throughout 2026.

PC (Steam)

Available — June 10, 2026

Nintendo Switch

Coming 2026

iOS

Coming 2026

Android

Coming 2026

Mac

Listed on Game Informer

Base game ~$19.99 USD (20% launch discount from $24.99). Deluxe Edition bundles soundtrack.

Very Positive on Steam — 93% of 115 reviews at launch.

Controls & How to Play

Mouse

Hold left mouse button on an elastic object, drag in any direction, then release. Every action — including menus, pause, and hints — uses stretch-and-release. Clicking alone does nothing.

Controller

Hold the action button, pull back with the left thumbstick, then release the stick (not the button). LR/RB buttons cycle interaction points; triggers increase cursor speed.

Gamepad Tips

Controller works but mouse or touch is recommended for precision puzzles — especially QTE sequences and small targets in Chapter 5.

Touch

Mobile ports (iOS/Android, coming 2026) use touch drag-and-release, ideal for the elastic mechanic.

Practice the stretch distance and release angle — trajectory and timing matter for projectile-style puzzles.

Walkthrough & Puzzle Solutions

Step-by-step solutions for every chapter. Use the built-in hint system if you prefer partial help, but remember: hints block the It's a matter of honor achievement.

Prologue — Baker Street, London

Baker Street

  1. 1 Pull the door handle off the door, then drag it along the floor until it attaches to the drawer on the other side of the room.
  2. 2 Open the drawer and pull out the plug inside. Move the plug to the wall socket until it connects.
  3. 3 Pull the phone to make it ring.
  4. 4 Pull Sherlock's newspaper up so he lowers it, then pull his hat off his head. While he bends down, move his chair to reveal a key.
  5. 5 Pull the key off the wall and move it into the keyhole to unlock the door.

Chapter 1: The Weight of Words

Holmes' House

  1. 1 Pull Holmes backward to open the drawer.
  2. 2 Move the letter on the ceiling so it sits just above the drawer.
  3. 3 Go out the door. Pull Watson to see the paper behind him.
  4. 4 Interact with the clock and move the hands to 8:30.
  5. 5 This activates the dumb waiter. Move the honey jar into the dumb waiter, then pull the lever to send it upstairs.
  6. 6 Go back upstairs. Move the chair to the left, then pull the portrait to open it — the dumb waiter is behind. Leave the portrait open.
  7. 7 Move the honey jar across the room into the drawer. Flip it upward so honey covers the letter on the ceiling. Move the letter across the ceiling and flip it down onto the open portrait.
  8. 8 Close the portrait to reach the letter.
  9. 9 Go downstairs and exit through the front door.
  10. 10 Grab the circle on the car front and rotate clockwise to start the car.
  11. 11 Pull the game logo several times to dismiss it.

The Field

  1. 1 After the crash, use the arrow to move right.
  2. 2 Interact with the tree to reveal an apple.
  3. 3 Pull Watson near the sheep. When he tries to pet it, pull the sheep. Watson runs left.
  4. 4 Pull Holmes down near the sheep.
  5. 5 Pull the sheep right so dust blows toward Holmes. He sneezes and the apple drops.
  6. 6 Reset Watson and Holmes to their original positions.
  7. 7 Hit the apple so it lands in Watson's hands. Pull him down toward the sheep.
  8. 8 After the cutscene, pull the fence as Watson tries to remove it. Release when the arrow is in the highlighted zone — repeat three times.
  9. 9 Interact with the camera to make the bird fly away.
  10. 10 The bird lands on the sheep — pull it so it flies into the tree.
  11. 11 Pull the flash barrel twice quickly to knock it over, then pull the flash powder toward the photographer so he reloads.
  12. 12 Interact with the tree to make the bird fly; while mid-flight, pull the camera to take a photo. The bird crashes into the wall.
  13. 13 Knock over the flash powder barrel again and pull powder into the sheep's face. The sheep startles toward Holmes.
  14. 14 Pull the sheep toward Holmes' face to trigger a sneeze. Just as he sneezes, help Watson push the wall — stop the spinning wheel on the marker. Timing is tight; mouse controls help.
  15. 15 Interact with the hole in the distance, then the scarecrow. Remove belt and scarf, pull out arms, remove hat and jacket.
  16. 16 Press scarecrow buttons in order: third, second, first, fourth. Remove head and shirt to reveal a shovel.
  17. 17 Pull the sheep to make Holmes sneeze, blowing away the bush and revealing a rock. Move the rock left toward the sign.
  18. 18 Interact with Watson and stop the arrow in the highlighted area.
  19. 19 Pull the car front and rotate clockwise to start it.

Manor House

  1. 1 Interact with the fountain statue to fill the pothole on the right. Face the statue base toward Watson.
  2. 2 Pull the doorbell; when Watson turns, quickly spray him with the fountain.
  3. 3 He runs through the puddle toward Holmes.
  4. 4 Rotate the statue again and pull the car to get Watson's attention. Spray him with water again. He runs into Holmes, moving him from the door.
  5. 5 Interact with the door lock. It gets greasy — use the fountain to clean it.
  6. 6 Move each lock piece to the correct position to open the door.
  7. 7 Enter the door.
  8. 8 Turn the car handle to start it.

Chapter 2: Made of Odds and Ends

Manor House Interior

  1. 1 Interact with the arrow to go through the door.
  2. 2 Interact with the coat of arms above the fireplace to knock it down. Slide it across the floor onto the suit of armour near the door.
  3. 3 Open the curtain above the door. The shield can shine light toward the fireplace, but Watson must move first.
  4. 4 Go outside and ring the doorbell. When you regain control, ring again so Watson moves.
  5. 5 When Watson faces the fountain, spray him quickly — timing is tight before he moves.
  6. 6 Go back inside and move the shield to shine light into the fireplace and ignite it.
  7. 7 Go down to the cellar. Guide Watson by pulling his candle. Get the fuse from the right table to the fuse box on the left.
  8. 8 Examine the contraption puzzle on the back wall.
  9. 9 The dial solution is upstairs on the blackboard behind Holmes: spin the blackboard to read it.
  10. 10 Top-left to bottom-right: horizontal, vertical, horizontal, horizontal, vertical, vertical. Flip the switch on the right.
  11. 11 Turn the big wheel at the top right. Leave and enter the bathroom door at the top of the stairs.
  12. 12 Close the door to reveal a cabinet. Move the plug on top into the bath plug hole. Turn the tap.
  13. 13 Interact with the bath three times, stopping the spinner in the highlighted area each time, until the bath falls through the floor.
  14. 14 Return to the cellar. Watson needs the lightbulb on the left.
  15. 15 Turn the lever to lower bulbs one at a time. Even at lowest, Watson cannot reach.
  16. 16 Move the lit bulb left by swinging adjacent bulbs: lower second and third, swing them together to swap which is lit. Repeat with first and second. Lower the first lit bulb for Watson to pick it up.

Chapter 3: Upside Down

Glitched Manor House

  1. 1 Bounce the weight onto the table using the hat — position hat just right of the table with weight to its right.
  2. 2 When Emma faces the coat rack, swing the bag so she catches it. Wobble the coat rack so she grips the bag. Launch the weight onto the hat so it bounces into her bag.
  3. 3 Open top-left and bottom-right vents. Rotate the blackboard to show the hook. Move the key right onto the hook.
  4. 4 Position Watson over the floor vent and Emma beside the right vent.
  5. 5 Rotate the blackboard to fling the key. When you hear it under the floor, quickly close then open the right vent so Emma catches it.
  6. 6 Go through the door and down to the upside-down cellar.
  7. 7 Turn the red wheel to start a pipe leak. Interact with the crack — water spurts down; you need it to spurt up.
  8. 8 Interact with the crank near the light to tilt the room so the barrel rolls right.
  9. 9 Turn the wheel again to tilt the other way. The barrel crashes the pipe to leak upward.
  10. 10 Pull the barrel to center, interact with the crack to fill the barrel.
  11. 11 Tilt again to move barrel left, interact with pulley to crash through the right wall.
  12. 12 Click the arrow to move through the crack.
  13. 13 In the coding boxes: move right, down to "Set value" — set Name_Access to true.
  14. 14 Go up, left, up. At Condition, move left. At Set Value, cycle detectives until S_Holmes.
  15. 15 Go right, down, right, right. Drag timer all the way right, backtrack until new timer path opens right. Reach it before timer expires. Flip switch to restore room rotation.
  16. 16 Go upstairs to the bathroom. Close the door.
  17. 17 Turn the tap — lump in pipe. Interact to move it; when stuck, turn tap again. Keep until key emerges. Move key left to green unit and open it.
  18. 18 Move Watson's reflection through mirrors until it reaches the spinning mirror by the bath. Rotate so reflection is upright, then return to center mirror.
  19. 19 Go outside.
  20. 20 Interact with left pumpkin to loosen it. Rotate fountain left. Lodge pumpkin in fountain.
  21. 21 Pull doorbell so Holmes moves. Shoot fountain where he stood for orange residue. Shoot Holmes to knock him down.
  22. 22 Ring doorbell, shoot Watson before he pulls pumpkin out.
  23. 23 Pull Watson four times to ground the house.
  24. 24 Go back inside.
  25. 25 Interact with painting right of fireplace — Emma picks it up. As she walks away, interact with large painting above fireplace so Emma crashes and transfers makeup.
  26. 26 Outside: pumpkin in fountain, shoot top-right window twice.
  27. 27 Inside: flip portrait, shoot pumpkin up to transfer orange color.

The Car

  1. 1 Move Watson onto the wheel, then move wheel back up.
  2. 2 Move Watson right onto the front grill.
  3. 3 Move Holmes onto wheel, then left onto Watson's hand. Move left wheel down, Holmes onto it. Move Watson up toward Emma.
  4. 4 8-bit minigame: move names so Emmett is at the car's right side. Drag Emmett to grab the wheel.
  5. 5 Next screen: put Watson's name in Emmett's place.
  6. 6 Move Emmett right, make him grab TP-Tron. Drag him to reach it.
  7. 7 Change text so Sherlock catches TP-Tron. Change TP-Tron to tool, drag Holmes toward Watson.
  8. 8 Interact with Holmes to anger Emma. Move car front left. When TP-Tron nears Emmett, drag his arm to pick it up.
  9. 9 In handheld game choose Game B. Press alarm until bell shows.
  10. 10 Dodge obstacles left/right. When two obstacles block screen, pull bell. Keep dodging until you get TP-Tron.

Chapter 4: Proto Erectus

Alpha Prototype

  1. 1 You enter an early alpha build with crude art — prototype Holmes and Watson only say "test".
  2. 2 Explore the scene and stretch objects to fix as many bugs as possible (achievement: Na na na na na na na na... PatchMan!).
  3. 3 Interact with the developer console. Type commands to switch visual modes — including 8-bit style sections.
  4. 4 Flick character name labels in the text tree to move Holmes, Watson, and Emmett to correct screen positions.
  5. 5 In the scene editor, place character models at correct positions, align the camera, and set proper lighting to recreate a scene.
  6. 6 Access the behind-the-scenes dev menu. Connect objects to interaction commands: stretch/flick, 90° rotation, infinite spin, or water effects.
  7. 7 Make key objects interactive so you can stretch them to solve prototype puzzles.
  8. 8 Toss the prototyped honey pot out of the living room when prompted (achievement: Toss him Overboard!).
  9. 9 Let Emma float alone in pixelated spacetime when the scene allows (achievement: Gravity).
  10. 10 Travel too far into the future, then return to the past again for related story beats.

Prototype Puzzles

  1. 1 Pick locks using elastic flicking at precise angles (achievement: Garrett would be proud).
  2. 2 Use the vacuum to completely fill the bag (achievement: Luigi & Co).
  3. 3 Search Mr Wilhelm's secret lair (achievement: Y-Files).
  4. 4 Perform elastic slaps on character faces — 50 for one achievement, 100 for another.
  5. 5 Make the phone ring 10 times across the chapter (achievement: Player phone home).
  6. 6 Let bath water run for 15 seconds (achievement: The good old days).
  7. 7 Soak the English countryside with fountain water (achievement: Automatic watering).

Chapter 5: QUICK TIME EVENTually...

Quick Time Event Parody

  1. 1 This chapter parodies Telltale-style dialogue trees and Quick Time Events using only elastic controls.
  2. 2 When a QTE triangle appears, stretch the icon at its center and release to hit the target before the red meter empties.
  3. 3 Help Watson step over a puddle by stretching the center icon during the timed sequence.
  4. 4 Flick and stretch repeatedly through intentionally tedious QTE chains — precision flicking matters more than speed.
  5. 5 Manipulate dialogue branches by stretching name labels and dialogue options in the text tree.
  6. 6 Visit all dialogue branches between Watson and Emmett for an achievement (You talkin' to me?).
  7. 7 Dodge at least 15 obstacles in a single Watch&Play session (achievement: Dodge this).
  8. 8 Hit the Breakout ball 6 times in a row without missing (achievement: Billy Mitchell rival).
  9. 9 Burn more than 1000 calories in the exercise minigame (achievement: Six Pack).
  10. 10 Jump over 10 obstacles on a bike (achievement: Super Bike Bros).
  11. 11 Use mouse for tight timing; controller flicking is harder on small QTE targets.

Chapter 6 — Finale

The End of Time

  1. 1 Chapter 6 contains extended cutscenes and dialogue — do NOT skip if pursuing the So... can we play now? achievement (15 minutes of cutscenes without skipping).
  2. 2 Complete the final elastic puzzles using stretch-and-release on environment objects.
  3. 3 Restore the scene in the editor in under 5 attempts for Are you a developer? achievement.
  4. 4 Make at least 10 ideas float on screen simultaneously for Brainstorm achievement.
  5. 5 Save the company from bankruptcy by leaving a future positive review (Thanks, user achievement).
  6. 6 Clear three hands at once in the finale puzzle (The king's hands achievement).
  7. 7 Finish the full adventure in under 5 hours for You definitely used a walkthrough! — plan a speedrun route or skip optional exploration.
  8. 8 Complete without using any hints for It's a matter of honor — the hardest missable achievement.

Achievements (46)

All 46 Steam achievements can be earned in a single playthrough, but three are missable if you use hints, skip cutscenes, or take too long.

Missable Achievements

Plan your first playthrough around these three if you want 100%:

  • So... can we play now? — Endure fifteen minutes of cutscenes without complaining.

    Do not skip any cutscenes or dialogue in Chapter 6.

  • You definitely used a walkthrough! — Finish the adventure in under 5 hours.

    Speedrun the main story; skip optional exploration and cutscene replays.

  • It's a matter of honor — Use no hints.

    Never use the in-game hint system during your entire playthrough.

Got it, I know how to play

Learn how to play in one action.

Off to adventure!

Leave London.

Clearing the way

Clear the country road.

Great Scott...

Travel through space and time for the first time.

Na na na na na na na na... PatchMan!

Fix as many bugs as possible in the Alpha version.

That wasn't the right exit

Travel a little too far into the past.

There's a lot of anger in you

Perform 50 elastic slaps on characters' faces.

Dinner time!

Feed the characters.

Player phone home

Make the phone ring 10 times.

Gravity

Let Emma float alone in pixelated spacetime.

Holmes & Watson Fest

Befriend a group of fans.

Toss him Overboard!

Throw the "prototyped" honey pot out of the living room.

The future...

Travel way too far into the future.

Back to the past of the future

Go back to the past once again.

Unknown destination

Get lost in the limbo of time and space.

Automatic watering

Soak the English countryside all around.

No budget

Experience the no-budget section.

The real truth

Discover the real truth.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Inception

Experience inception within the game.

Garrett would be proud

Pick a lock like a master infiltrator.

You should probably see someone

Perform 100 elastic slaps on characters' faces.

Watson²

Encounter Watson squared.

We are legion

Meet the legion.

Paparazzi

Take a picture of the fake wall 5 times.

So... can we play now?

Endure fifteen minutes of cutscenes without complaining.

Do not skip any cutscenes or dialogue in Chapter 6.

The good old days

Let the bath water run for 15 seconds.

Billy Mitchell rival

Hit the Breakout ball 6 times in a row without missing.

Luigi & Co

Completely fill the vacuum bag.

Y-Files

Search Mr Wilhelm's secret lair.

Catch them all!

Catch them all in the minigame.

Dodge this

Avoid at least 15 obstacles in a single Watch&Play session.

Just in time

Complete a timed sequence just in time.

Thanks, user

Save the company from bankruptcy by leaving a future positive review.

The king's hands

Clear three hands at once.

Interstellar

Experience the interstellar sequence.

Deus Ex Machina

Well, that's convenient…

Six Pack

Burn more than 1000 calories.

Cheater

Read a post-it and unlocked infinite lives.

Super Bike Bros

Jump over 10 obstacles on a bike.

You talkin' to me?

Visit all dialogue branches between Dr Watson and Emmett.

You definitely used a walkthrough!

Finish the adventure in under 5 hours.

Speedrun the main story; skip optional exploration and cutscene replays.

Are you a developer?

Restore the scene in the editor in under 5 attempts.

Interactive movie

Asking for help when reading would have been enough…

It's a matter of honor

Use no hints.

Never use the in-game hint system during your entire playthrough.

Brainstorm

Make at least 10 ideas float on screen at the same time.

Hint System

Crushed In Time uses the same modular hint system as There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension — playful, screen-based hints with multiple assistance levels per puzzle element.

  • Drag the hint icon to access hints — never simply click.
  • Choose which puzzle element you want help with.
  • Multiple hint tiers available — from vague clues to full solutions.
  • Characters may also drop gradual dialogue hints over time without using the hint system.

Using any hint permanently blocks the It's a matter of honor achievement for that playthrough. Start a new game without hints for 100%.

Characters

Sherlock Holmes

The legendary detective, hilariously inept in this meta adventure. Elastic slaps on his face trigger sneezes useful for puzzles.

Dr Watson

Holmes's loyal partner, afraid of the dark but essential for candle-guided cellar exploration and wall-pushing puzzles.

Emma

A missing NPC whose disappearance drives the plot. Central to glitched manor puzzles and the Gravity achievement.

Emmett Placeholder

Developer placeholder character with a wireframe face. Key to prototype chapters and text-tree manipulation puzzles.

Draw Me A Pixel Team

Real developers appear in meta scenes — panic at the studio as their Sherlock game collapses.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 2.8 GHz / AMD Ryzen 7 2600
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1050 / AMD RX 560
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 5 GB available space
  • Sound: DirectX compatible

No Linux, Xbox, or PlayStation versions announced. Recommended specs listed as TBD on Steam.

Deluxe Edition & Soundtrack

The Deluxe Edition bundles the base game with the official soundtrack at a discounted combo price.

  • Crushed In Time — full game
  • Crushed In Time Soundtrack — digital album (~$5.59 during launch sale)
  • Soundtrack available separately on Steam

FAQ

Is Crushed In Time related to There Is No Game?
Yes. It is a spin-off from There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension. Holmes and Watson first appeared there; this is their standalone elastic adventure through game development.
Why can't I just click on things?
The entire game uses elastic stretch-and-release — even menus. Hold, drag, release. This is intentional and core to every puzzle.
Mouse or controller?
Mouse is strongly recommended. Controller works but precision flicking on small QTE targets in Chapter 5 is significantly harder.
Can I get all achievements in one playthrough?
Yes, all 46 are possible in one run. However, you cannot use hints AND earn It's a matter of honor. Plan accordingly.
Are there cheat codes?
No official cheat codes. The game has a built-in hint system and this wiki walkthrough for puzzle solutions.
When is the mobile release?
iOS and Android versions are planned for 2026 after the PC launch. Nintendo Switch follows.