Most video games penalize failure. Enter the time loop.

Time loop games have existed from gaming’s earliest days. In fact, as some critics have pointed out, many games function as time loops — even if the characters in-game don’t know it. The iconic World 1-1 of “Super Mario Bros.” doesn’t ever change. Every time you fail, the level resets to the exact way it was at the start. Recent hits like “Hades” have also made repeated runs through the game’s world into a core mechanic. But several games released this year, including “Deathloop,” “The Forgotten City” and “Loop Hero,” have displayed a particular fondness for the traditional time loop premise, wherein knowledge gained during the loop helps players master their surroundings and break the cycle.