I found TIME Stories to be an expensive box of disappointment. You can play it only once since there is only one scenario in the box and you need to buy others after that. You'll be done with it in a couple hours
We are in the realm of opinion, so I want to offer a contrasting one. We had a great time with it, and yes, it was a one-off thing. The scenarios are about $15 a pop which compared to taking the same group of friends to a movie is a bargain. (and MUCH more engaging, imo) It is like a multi-player point and click adventure with light roleplaying elements. I don't know if it should have won the SDJ, but then again, it didn't. :)
EDIT: added more specific description of what I liked about it, in an attempt to up the quality of my comment.
I don't think movies are good benchmark. You go to movies relatively rarely and basically because someone I group really want to see the movie or to be able to talk around watercooler if movie is really popular.
Most people dont go for movies outside those constraints if ever. Movie is rather expensive choice people normally don't do.
Yeah, the description makes it sound like you'll have plenty of playthroughs and they'll each be different.
I bought a card-based "escape room" game that was the same way. The description makes it sound a little like you'll get multiple plays from it, but in reality it's just a set path. The "cards" aspect was just them cheaping out, instead of making something re-usable.
I plan to let some family play it (and the other escape game we bought) but I still think $15 is too much for a single 1-2 hour play session.
