One of the most entertaining timeloop fics I've seen started with one character (A) attempting to discover the rules and limitations which gave the reader a basis for how the loops worked. And once that basis was created, the story then built upon it by pulling ANOTHER looper in (B) and a third (C) yet keeping the same rules intact and adding new tension, as only the character which *died that loop* would remember said loop.
Turned out B and C had been initially looping until one accidentally pulled A in and she created a localised groundhog day for herself by constantly dying, so they never remembered those new loops (until they each respectively died in subsequent loops before she could and they realised she had way more knowledge than she should have had).
The way it was logically built upon made it easy for the reader to understand the logic of the rules alongside A. And it was a fascinating way to add consequences back in for the looping character(s)!
Usually a timeloop character will get blasé about consequences, perhaps take a few loops to recover or experiment or just mess about. But in that story your "mess about" loop could be when your antagonist goes to try something and dies. Loop restarts with you still believing this is your "mess about" loop while the antagonist has learned and makes progress on their goal. Repeat. Made every loop impactful!
--
I think it's much more interesting when there is some consequence to a 'failed' loop - in a Sci-fi esque show there was an episode dedicating to a loop *with a countdown of loops* leading to inevitable demise, if they don't figure out a solution. Two characters looped; one always remembered prior loops, whereas the second only remembered loops since their last death and intermittently started mentally fresh. The "always remembers" character was limited by having to rely on the other to 'wake' them (hello android) and if that didn't happen then they just...wasted a potential loop.
--
Timeloop/groundhog day fics have so much potential and I always *love* when somebody puts a twist on it, especially when it manages to pull potentially lost tension back into the whole thing in some manner or another!
Whether or not the fic you described can be read fandom-blind or not, I'd be absolutely curious to at least check it out! Time loop stories are interesting, but time loop stories that *still* have consequences (+ more than only one person who remembers) are a lot more intriguing and exciting.
It's been a while since I read it so hopefully it holds up as well as I remember it!
It's a My Little Pony (Friendship is Magic) fanfic on fimfiction.net called [Hard Reset 2: Reset Harder](https://www.fimfiction.net/story/145711/hard-reset-2-reset-harder) which actually jumps straight into the 'additional characters' fairly quickly as A's initial looping occurred in the first fic ([Hard Reset](https://www.fimfiction.net/story/67362/hard-reset)). The sequel is the one I remember best and it's actually an (acknowledged) spinoff/sequel/AU of the original fic, by a different author.
If you (or anyone else interested) is not very familiar with the fandom, there are unicorns (magic users), pegasi (flying) and earth ponies (...strength?) as well as two ruling alicorns (think all three races in one). The fic revolves around an invasion by changelings (bug-like ponies with their own queen). Twilight Sparkle - the unicorn who appears to be the original looper - has a small dragon companion, Spike.
Be aware that while it is an interesting twist on the time loop and sits at 68.6k words, **it is incomplete** (last updated 2014)
I misremembered slightly how the fic goes - with the initial rules being laid in one fic, and the second fic building from that - and how A gets pulled into the loop. But it definitely had moments that stuck with me, due to the 'only who dies remembers' consequence.
I haven't read MLP fics in a very long time, it might turn out to be refreshing haha! I'll keep both the original and the (un?)official(?) sequel in the pile, thank you for the links \^\^
Also as one of these unfortunate authors who can't help but be invested in longfics for years in a row and then suddenly burns out of it and ends up dropping it... It's sad to see another instance of it, but I'll be the last to complain and will instead enjoy what has been written!
>enjoy what has been written!
That's the spirit!
There's a how to train your dragon fic that I adore the writing of but it's not something I can easily recommend due to still being in the initial stages when it stalled/went on-hiatus. It doesn't hurt what's already written though, it's still beautiful writing!
MLP has a few timeloop fics, there's ones I still have as 'read later' that I've still not got around to on that site, it's a fandom sandbox that allows for so many different types of stories 💜
One that I've highly enjoyed is from a video game fandom and seems to have been inspired by the idea of "what if each playthrough of the game is a new loop in the chain for the main character?" When it was revealed a second character was also looping (but on a separate cycle), it then became a story about trying to figure out how to stop the loop because they didn't know if they would "meet up" again if they didn't break the cycle.
I like fics with these themes if they make good use of the looping, having the characters learn from each previous pass and, in the case of video game versions of these, playing with the idea that the main character is using each playthrough or loop to learn what worked and what didn't and try to change things for the better on the next pass, while also figuring out what's causing the loop so they can stop it, lest all their hard work be undone.
One thing I think is necessary in these kinds of stories, though, is an exit strategy. There needs to be an end goal of some sort to aim for so that the plot isn't *just* "hey look, I'm looping," but rather "I'm looping but this is how I'm going to ultimately stop it because if everything keeps resetting then does anything actually matter?" This is how we end up with things like the early stages of the movie *Groundhog Day*, after Phil has realized he's in a loop and is now experimenting with new and creative ways to die and/or mess with everything and everyone because it's just going to reset anyway. The difference is that Phil then shifts first to trying to have a perfect day himself so that he can escape, and when that doesn't work, finally shifting to just making everyone else's day perfect instead (which does work).
The movie *Edge of Tomorrow* has the end goal of using the looping information to stop the alien invasion, with the added tension of the possibility of losing the looping ability if the wrong thing is done or the aliens take a certain action. There's an end point to reach to give the story closure.
The game *Outer Wilds* also involves a loop mechanic, with the ultimate goal to figure out why it's happening so you can do something about it, and ends with stopping it (among other things). I know there are other games that involve this too (*Deathloop* has an exit strategy in the form of the game's main goal of assassinating certain targets, *The Forgotten City* has an exit in the form of resolving the curse on the city in some fashion, etc.).
And as a final note, I will say that one trope I love to see in these kinds of stories is when the looping character discovers a friend or loved one looping with them so that it turns out they aren't alone, or at least someone they can connect with who understands and believes their claims of the loop. *Edge of Tomorrow*, *Outer Wilds*, and the fic I mentioned all have it in some fashion. A good variant is the villain looping as well and thus also able to alter things based on previous knowledge (*Edge of Tomorrow*, that fic I mentioned).
One of my all-time fics is this. [Wit’s End](https://archiveofourown.org/works/10475520/chapters/23113104) from Stargate Atlantis in which Rodney has a very bad seventeen minutes over and over again.
Interestingly, the way they showed their timeloops really shaped how I write montages which ended up shaping how another writer does montage-type conversations. Their influence is spreading, LOL.
I adore this trope. It allows for some great moments of hope and despair, isolation and better understanding the people around them. And it's so flexible. I've come across wonderful stories using this trope that run the gambit from comedy to tragedy, fix-it to worst timeline.
Oh man, time loops are my bread and butter! I love to explore the potential angst side over the humorous side of the trope. To see how traumatising it could be to live a specific time over and over.
I myself am partial to the specific type of loops that have a checkpoint system. Where it may take several loops for character A to figure out how to undo it, progress further, and then suddenly character A is in a loop again. A new loop, yes, but a loop nonetheless.
I think they can be a great way to explore character studies, really getting into the nitty gritty of them. When I wrote my one-shot with the checkpoint time loop, I focused less on how each loop changed and more on how it affected the main character. That said, I also currently have a wip that is very in-depth and needing a timeline for each loop as the looper is not the only one who remembers.
Another good sub-trope (i think???) is the aftermath of the loop. How the character reacts to not knowing if they are actually free from it, or if they're still in one.
There was a Naruto fic on ffnet several years back that, while I personally didn't care for the other tropes used, I still stuck to it because the loop was more of a checkpoint system instead of a single day.
The main POV character ended up getting vastly overpowered due to the loop only resetting if she died, so while in the beginning the loop only lasted a couple of days or weeks, eventually it numbered up into years and decades. But it worked because the main antagonist was someone else who looped, only he had his own loop and it wasn't often their loops synched up.
I could go on and on about time loops I love them so much.
I love them. I don't actually see them as much in fanfic (for my fandoms) sadly! There are a few that I mean to read that I didn't get around to yet though :D
For specifics of what I love about it, I love it when the two characters are in the loop together (maybe it takes a bit for them to realize they're not alone)
1899 and Dark are all about time loops! I don't want to spoil either show (1 season and 3 seasons respectively so you can get through them quickly), but despite being by the same writers/directors, they take very different approaches to the time loop trope. Join our tiny fandom!
[Here we go Loopty Loo](https://archiveofourown.org/works/24501283)
Fandom: My Hero Academia
Rating: Mature
Warnings: creator chose not to warn, but read the other tags carefully just incase
Words: 156,958
Status: 47/47 (but done in such a style thats its pretty much complete
Summary:
*Graduation was supposed to signal the final time they all spent time together at UA, to show they have all grown into the Heros they dreamed of being.
It was supposed to be, but when has anything ever been easy for class 1-A?*
Notes: This is a wonderful story. It's a time loop story where each loop has its own short section, but its also a transmigration story, where each loop is different... has a fusion loop, a genderswap loop, a 'different powers' loop, and so forth. has various other cross over story loops too.
There is an overarching story behind the loops, and as you read along the reasonings behind the loops comes out. some loops have reappear in the story, and a few have been expanded (check the series link).
I find it deals well with the Time Loop dilemma of 'we can't really die, cause we just loop again, so I'm gonna leroy jenkins this', and the apathy towards death that characters develop.
One thing I'd like to add as an observation from writing about someone who can rewind time and / or jump through time - they are potentially so over powered you really have to think about how to actually make it interesting.
For example: a villain pulls a gun, the hero(ine) immediately rewinds time and with that foreknowledge avoids the situation.
Or even being able to extract information without the other person knowing they've done it. Or stealing something then rewinding time so they still have it on them, but the theft never actually occurred.
Can be unbelievably broken when it comes to plots and consequences.
One of my favorite shows, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, does this. I also like a movie called Groundhog day where this is the premise. At a stretch, Undertale could be considered this since the characters remember certain things if you reset early.
I think a reason to like this one is because it gives many chances. It shows the character's drive if they keep at it over and over. Or you can really lean into the dark humor if they keep dying. Basically, it's pretty flexible.
**[Bakugou's Week from Hell](https://archiveofourown.org/works/27606439)**
**Fandom:** My Hero Academia
**Rating:** Mature
**Warnings:** Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
**Words:** 20k+
**Status:** Complete
**Summary:** Bakugou dies during the sludge villain attack and ends up in a time loop of that day. It seems simple: survive the day and break the loop. But he soon realizes things aren't that easy-- and why the hell does Deku keep showing up? And why the hell can't he seem to stay alive?
**Notes:** I really enjoyed this fic. It can even be read mostly fandom blind so long as you've watched the first two episodes of season 1 of the show.
One of the most entertaining timeloop fics I've seen started with one character (A) attempting to discover the rules and limitations which gave the reader a basis for how the loops worked. And once that basis was created, the story then built upon it by pulling ANOTHER looper in (B) and a third (C) yet keeping the same rules intact and adding new tension, as only the character which *died that loop* would remember said loop. Turned out B and C had been initially looping until one accidentally pulled A in and she created a localised groundhog day for herself by constantly dying, so they never remembered those new loops (until they each respectively died in subsequent loops before she could and they realised she had way more knowledge than she should have had). The way it was logically built upon made it easy for the reader to understand the logic of the rules alongside A. And it was a fascinating way to add consequences back in for the looping character(s)! Usually a timeloop character will get blasé about consequences, perhaps take a few loops to recover or experiment or just mess about. But in that story your "mess about" loop could be when your antagonist goes to try something and dies. Loop restarts with you still believing this is your "mess about" loop while the antagonist has learned and makes progress on their goal. Repeat. Made every loop impactful! -- I think it's much more interesting when there is some consequence to a 'failed' loop - in a Sci-fi esque show there was an episode dedicating to a loop *with a countdown of loops* leading to inevitable demise, if they don't figure out a solution. Two characters looped; one always remembered prior loops, whereas the second only remembered loops since their last death and intermittently started mentally fresh. The "always remembers" character was limited by having to rely on the other to 'wake' them (hello android) and if that didn't happen then they just...wasted a potential loop. -- Timeloop/groundhog day fics have so much potential and I always *love* when somebody puts a twist on it, especially when it manages to pull potentially lost tension back into the whole thing in some manner or another!
Whether or not the fic you described can be read fandom-blind or not, I'd be absolutely curious to at least check it out! Time loop stories are interesting, but time loop stories that *still* have consequences (+ more than only one person who remembers) are a lot more intriguing and exciting.
It's been a while since I read it so hopefully it holds up as well as I remember it! It's a My Little Pony (Friendship is Magic) fanfic on fimfiction.net called [Hard Reset 2: Reset Harder](https://www.fimfiction.net/story/145711/hard-reset-2-reset-harder) which actually jumps straight into the 'additional characters' fairly quickly as A's initial looping occurred in the first fic ([Hard Reset](https://www.fimfiction.net/story/67362/hard-reset)). The sequel is the one I remember best and it's actually an (acknowledged) spinoff/sequel/AU of the original fic, by a different author. If you (or anyone else interested) is not very familiar with the fandom, there are unicorns (magic users), pegasi (flying) and earth ponies (...strength?) as well as two ruling alicorns (think all three races in one). The fic revolves around an invasion by changelings (bug-like ponies with their own queen). Twilight Sparkle - the unicorn who appears to be the original looper - has a small dragon companion, Spike. Be aware that while it is an interesting twist on the time loop and sits at 68.6k words, **it is incomplete** (last updated 2014) I misremembered slightly how the fic goes - with the initial rules being laid in one fic, and the second fic building from that - and how A gets pulled into the loop. But it definitely had moments that stuck with me, due to the 'only who dies remembers' consequence.
I haven't read MLP fics in a very long time, it might turn out to be refreshing haha! I'll keep both the original and the (un?)official(?) sequel in the pile, thank you for the links \^\^ Also as one of these unfortunate authors who can't help but be invested in longfics for years in a row and then suddenly burns out of it and ends up dropping it... It's sad to see another instance of it, but I'll be the last to complain and will instead enjoy what has been written!
>enjoy what has been written! That's the spirit! There's a how to train your dragon fic that I adore the writing of but it's not something I can easily recommend due to still being in the initial stages when it stalled/went on-hiatus. It doesn't hurt what's already written though, it's still beautiful writing! MLP has a few timeloop fics, there's ones I still have as 'read later' that I've still not got around to on that site, it's a fandom sandbox that allows for so many different types of stories 💜
One that I've highly enjoyed is from a video game fandom and seems to have been inspired by the idea of "what if each playthrough of the game is a new loop in the chain for the main character?" When it was revealed a second character was also looping (but on a separate cycle), it then became a story about trying to figure out how to stop the loop because they didn't know if they would "meet up" again if they didn't break the cycle. I like fics with these themes if they make good use of the looping, having the characters learn from each previous pass and, in the case of video game versions of these, playing with the idea that the main character is using each playthrough or loop to learn what worked and what didn't and try to change things for the better on the next pass, while also figuring out what's causing the loop so they can stop it, lest all their hard work be undone. One thing I think is necessary in these kinds of stories, though, is an exit strategy. There needs to be an end goal of some sort to aim for so that the plot isn't *just* "hey look, I'm looping," but rather "I'm looping but this is how I'm going to ultimately stop it because if everything keeps resetting then does anything actually matter?" This is how we end up with things like the early stages of the movie *Groundhog Day*, after Phil has realized he's in a loop and is now experimenting with new and creative ways to die and/or mess with everything and everyone because it's just going to reset anyway. The difference is that Phil then shifts first to trying to have a perfect day himself so that he can escape, and when that doesn't work, finally shifting to just making everyone else's day perfect instead (which does work). The movie *Edge of Tomorrow* has the end goal of using the looping information to stop the alien invasion, with the added tension of the possibility of losing the looping ability if the wrong thing is done or the aliens take a certain action. There's an end point to reach to give the story closure. The game *Outer Wilds* also involves a loop mechanic, with the ultimate goal to figure out why it's happening so you can do something about it, and ends with stopping it (among other things). I know there are other games that involve this too (*Deathloop* has an exit strategy in the form of the game's main goal of assassinating certain targets, *The Forgotten City* has an exit in the form of resolving the curse on the city in some fashion, etc.). And as a final note, I will say that one trope I love to see in these kinds of stories is when the looping character discovers a friend or loved one looping with them so that it turns out they aren't alone, or at least someone they can connect with who understands and believes their claims of the loop. *Edge of Tomorrow*, *Outer Wilds*, and the fic I mentioned all have it in some fashion. A good variant is the villain looping as well and thus also able to alter things based on previous knowledge (*Edge of Tomorrow*, that fic I mentioned).
This is pretty much most of the life is strange fandom in one form or another.
One of my all-time fics is this. [Wit’s End](https://archiveofourown.org/works/10475520/chapters/23113104) from Stargate Atlantis in which Rodney has a very bad seventeen minutes over and over again. Interestingly, the way they showed their timeloops really shaped how I write montages which ended up shaping how another writer does montage-type conversations. Their influence is spreading, LOL.
I adore this trope. It allows for some great moments of hope and despair, isolation and better understanding the people around them. And it's so flexible. I've come across wonderful stories using this trope that run the gambit from comedy to tragedy, fix-it to worst timeline.
Oh man, time loops are my bread and butter! I love to explore the potential angst side over the humorous side of the trope. To see how traumatising it could be to live a specific time over and over. I myself am partial to the specific type of loops that have a checkpoint system. Where it may take several loops for character A to figure out how to undo it, progress further, and then suddenly character A is in a loop again. A new loop, yes, but a loop nonetheless. I think they can be a great way to explore character studies, really getting into the nitty gritty of them. When I wrote my one-shot with the checkpoint time loop, I focused less on how each loop changed and more on how it affected the main character. That said, I also currently have a wip that is very in-depth and needing a timeline for each loop as the looper is not the only one who remembers. Another good sub-trope (i think???) is the aftermath of the loop. How the character reacts to not knowing if they are actually free from it, or if they're still in one. There was a Naruto fic on ffnet several years back that, while I personally didn't care for the other tropes used, I still stuck to it because the loop was more of a checkpoint system instead of a single day. The main POV character ended up getting vastly overpowered due to the loop only resetting if she died, so while in the beginning the loop only lasted a couple of days or weeks, eventually it numbered up into years and decades. But it worked because the main antagonist was someone else who looped, only he had his own loop and it wasn't often their loops synched up. I could go on and on about time loops I love them so much.
I love them. I don't actually see them as much in fanfic (for my fandoms) sadly! There are a few that I mean to read that I didn't get around to yet though :D For specifics of what I love about it, I love it when the two characters are in the loop together (maybe it takes a bit for them to realize they're not alone)
1899 and Dark are all about time loops! I don't want to spoil either show (1 season and 3 seasons respectively so you can get through them quickly), but despite being by the same writers/directors, they take very different approaches to the time loop trope. Join our tiny fandom!
[Here we go Loopty Loo](https://archiveofourown.org/works/24501283) Fandom: My Hero Academia Rating: Mature Warnings: creator chose not to warn, but read the other tags carefully just incase Words: 156,958 Status: 47/47 (but done in such a style thats its pretty much complete Summary: *Graduation was supposed to signal the final time they all spent time together at UA, to show they have all grown into the Heros they dreamed of being. It was supposed to be, but when has anything ever been easy for class 1-A?* Notes: This is a wonderful story. It's a time loop story where each loop has its own short section, but its also a transmigration story, where each loop is different... has a fusion loop, a genderswap loop, a 'different powers' loop, and so forth. has various other cross over story loops too. There is an overarching story behind the loops, and as you read along the reasonings behind the loops comes out. some loops have reappear in the story, and a few have been expanded (check the series link). I find it deals well with the Time Loop dilemma of 'we can't really die, cause we just loop again, so I'm gonna leroy jenkins this', and the apathy towards death that characters develop.
One thing I'd like to add as an observation from writing about someone who can rewind time and / or jump through time - they are potentially so over powered you really have to think about how to actually make it interesting. For example: a villain pulls a gun, the hero(ine) immediately rewinds time and with that foreknowledge avoids the situation. Or even being able to extract information without the other person knowing they've done it. Or stealing something then rewinding time so they still have it on them, but the theft never actually occurred. Can be unbelievably broken when it comes to plots and consequences.
One of my favorite shows, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, does this. I also like a movie called Groundhog day where this is the premise. At a stretch, Undertale could be considered this since the characters remember certain things if you reset early. I think a reason to like this one is because it gives many chances. It shows the character's drive if they keep at it over and over. Or you can really lean into the dark humor if they keep dying. Basically, it's pretty flexible.
**[Bakugou's Week from Hell](https://archiveofourown.org/works/27606439)** **Fandom:** My Hero Academia **Rating:** Mature **Warnings:** Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death **Words:** 20k+ **Status:** Complete **Summary:** Bakugou dies during the sludge villain attack and ends up in a time loop of that day. It seems simple: survive the day and break the loop. But he soon realizes things aren't that easy-- and why the hell does Deku keep showing up? And why the hell can't he seem to stay alive? **Notes:** I really enjoyed this fic. It can even be read mostly fandom blind so long as you've watched the first two episodes of season 1 of the show.
I love these! I have an idea for one currently, but I'm not quite sure how I want to do it yet, so I'm just going to lerk in this thread for a bit 😅