Why do people like TimeLoop Stories ?

I've read a few timeloop stories that are the standouts in the genre and they're enjoyable to me despite the loop not because of it.

I feel like timeloop stories have such a high degree of difficulty in keeping the reader engaged compared to the average story so I'm kinda baffled why writers persevere in writing them.

Unless it's highly rated I can't touch them. The fact the story can't expand or has save zones as the inherent dynamic puts me off.

Also the worst thing about the great timeloop stories is that the story ends when the loop ends. Like I wanted to see the character enter the wider world ? I remember being so annoyed when mother of learning ended.

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@lenarossi 16d ago

The forced ending is the feature honestly.

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@yuki_hau 16d ago

For me it's the mystery. Some detail you skim straight past in loop one turns out to be the whole answer, and you only catch it because you've lived the same week five times.

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@arjun3 16d ago

This, and it's the only corner of the genre where an author will let the guy actually lose. Everywhere else the MC never drops a single fight, so when a looper finally clears something it's the one win that feels paid for.

@kofifitch 16d ago

Half that loss is free though, he just gets the day back. The people are the actual cost — Perfect Run has her telling him not to bother next loop because it won't be her.

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