Top 15 Short Time Loop Fanfics
Ranked by AO3 kudos. Each fic is tagged with time loop and falls in the 10,000–50,000 words range.
Looping Back to the Beginning
by Feneris
Where Class 1-A finds itself in a time loop centered around their first year at UA. After getting over the usual angst, they decide that the best way to grow as heroes is by antagonizing dangerous villains for fun and amusement.
The One in Which a Time Loop is Fucking Exhausting.
by badpancake
It’s the first time in a while that he doesn’t know what comes next. He’s dove into the water hundreds of times. Screamed as his flesh was torn apart, heard Master of Puppets in the distance and held back tears. Felt Max’s cold, small hand in his as she laid in the hospital bed. There are things tha
a lesson you should heed (try, try again)
by aloneintherain
Izuku doesn't know why the day keeps resetting. He doesn't know why he's trapped on campus, or why there's no phone reception, or why Aizawa and Shinsou keep losing their memories of the Saturdays they've already lived, while Izuku remains constantly, painfully aware. But he does know this: Aizawa a
(honey) there is no right way
by sincere_lies
‘Have you tried everything?’ Hermione asked insistently.‘Yes! Every time I get to the cup and Cedric doesn’t take it with me I go immediately back to my bed in the morning. But all the times he is with me, he dies and after I fall asleep I return too.’‘I guess it is obvious then, isn’t it?’ Both Har
Shadow Plays
by dreamlittleyo
In which Thor lives a single day more times than he can count, and Loki doesn't know how to fix it.
fruit loops in time (circle around me)
by justprompts
"This is Crabbe, and Goyle," the blonde boy says, pointing at the two boys next to him. "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Ma - "Ron laughs, and Malfoy immediately bristles."Think my name's funny, do you?" Malfoy says, angrily. "No need to ask yours - ""You're honestly so cute," Ron interrupts, yet again, shaki
turn back the clock (and I'll try again in the morning)
by madasthesea
Peter gets stuck in a time loop. In it, he lives through some of his worst nightmares, only to wake up that morning and have no one remember. He needs Tony to help him get through. And if that isn't bad enough, his identity is revealed over and over, every day.
Maelstrom
by feelslikefire
Victor Nikiforov is poised to win gold in his fifth consecutive Grand Prix Final. He has the world at his feet, is unparalleled in the sport--right up until a snowstorm blows into Sochi, and he finds himself repeating the same day over and over and over. He stumbles over Yuuri Katsuki, and everythin
hit me baby one more time
by theappleppielifestyle
Richie reaches up a shaking hand and puts it on Eddie’s stomach.“Uhhh,” Eddie says. “Is this a bit? Is this a really inopportune bit? ‘Cause I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Richie, but this is kind of an important moment-”“What the fuck,” Richie says, not for the first or last time, and lurches forw
at least you'll learn (to be okay)
by Chill_with_Penguins
"Help," Loki says, his voice completely flat, "I've fallen and I can't get up.""Did you just," Stark begins, staring over at him with some sort of horror. He's standing in the kitchen, cradling what appears to be a gallon of coffee close to his chest as if to protect it from Loki's villainy. "No! No
When The Morning Comes
by bitsori
“You're new,” Jisung proclaims. Minho snorts. “Am I?” “Well, I've never seen you here before.” “Because you know all of their wedding guests?” Jisung has to laugh. “I know most of Hyunjin’s side,” he says. “Well obviously I’m a friend of Seungmin’s.” Jisung pauses to stare, eyes narrowing with curio
and you will find me, time after time
by janie_tangerine
in which Theon's given a chance to go back in time and fix his mistakes after taking Winterfell.It's not as easy as it looks like in the beginning.
Travel Hopefully, if We Are to Arrive
by ScribeofArda
I look forward to hearing from you. Let me know how Dior is getting on; he does write to Lómion and Tyelpë, but I would like to hear your thoughts as well, as someone who understands what it is to rule. And Tyelpë gets annoyed if I ask to read his letters. Maedhros Also, whilst I am writing this a
Resonant Echoes
by Lise
A problem shaped like seven unexpected mercenaries carrying one of the priceless artifacts he stole arrives on Essek's doorstep, but he can handle it. Is handling it. Will be able to handle it, at some point, if he can figure out how to avoid them killing him first.(Or: time looping your way into a
Groundhog Day
by Fairy Tale (PlumoseRod)
Cloud Strife becomes trapped in a mysterious time loop that forces him to relive the same day in the Sector 5 slums over and over again. Every morning begins the same way: he wakes in Aerith’s church, sunlight streaming through the broken roof, flowers blooming beneath him, and Aerith greeting him w
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About Time Loop
A character repeats the same day, battle, or death over and over until they figure out how to break the cycle. Loops can be comedic, romantic — infinite chances to perfect a confession — or quietly horrifying as the repetitions grind a character down.
The loop is a pressure cooker for character study: infinite retries strip away pretense, and readers love tracking what changes and what the looper finally understands.
Common scenarios: A hero reliving the day their friend dies until they find the version where everyone lives, or two characters stuck in the same loop discovering it only on iteration forty.
About This List
This list of 15short Time Loop fanfics spans 346,478 total words. Kudos range from 13 on the newest entries to 38,730 on the most established. 67% are marked complete — check the status flag before committing to a longfic. The most common rating is Teen And Up Audiences (7 of 15 fics).
Recurring tags across this list: Time Loop · Time Travel · Temporary Character Death · Angst · Emotional Hurt/Comfort.
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