Out of Time Preview: Chaotic, Colorful, Roguelike Fun

In a thrilling twist of events, a dinosaur, a mechanical warrior, and a valiant knight find themselves in a chaotic roguelike game known as “Out of Time.” This upcoming action-packed title, developed by Manticore Games, presents a universe where time has fragmented into the past, present, and future. In this fractured reality, survivors from various eras must join forces to preserve the continuity of existence. The missions are swift and intense, the equipment is sourced from countless timelines, and Infinitopia, the last remaining sanctuary, stands as the sole barrier against the impending apocalypse. This vibrant, exuberant, and audacious game will make its debut exclusively on PC via the Epic Games Store this autumn.

Game Rant recently experienced a preliminary demonstration of “Out of Time,” developed by Manticore Games. In their presentation, they referred to it as a groundbreaking title – a 3D multiplayer roguelike that combines elements of popular games like “World of Warcraft” and “Fortnite.” Essentially, think of it as the offspring of these two games with a twist in the form of a roguelike genre. During our hour-long session, we were captivated by the stunning visuals of Out of Time’s world. This game doesn’t merely intend to mash together timelines; instead, it aims to create a dynamic and organized battlefield where an array of weapons such as rocket launchers, warhammers, and oversized buzz saws coexist harmoniously in the same arsenal. Based on our sneak peek at the game, “Out of Time” may successfully execute this unique blend of a roguelike gameplay.

Out of Time’s Setting Is One of Its Most Defining Features

In the roguelike game, “Out of Time,” the unique setting truly stands out. The narrative unfolds in a reality reshaped by an event called “The Shattering.” This catastrophe has twisted time itself, merging past, present, and future into one complex reality, trapping mankind within this new order. All survivors have congregated in Infinitopia, a place that serves both as a social gathering spot and a launch pad for gameplay. Here, players can interact with each other, form alliances with friends and strangers, improve their equipment and skills, and strategize for each new adventure.

In the vast expanse of “Out of Time”, a breathtakingly crafted universe unfolds, meticulously brought to life by Core and Unreal Engine. Upon our initial glance, one element that truly stood out was the stunning visuals of “Out of Time”. This impression intensifies when considering its rich environmental diversity. Each era is intricately designed around a unique theme appropriate for their time period, and the maps are expansive, divided into several zones that become accessible as players advance. At its release, “Out of Time” will offer three distinct eras for exploration, with additional eras added in subsequent updates.

Prehistoric, Medieval, Modern, Cyberpunk, Wasteland, and Solarpunk are the six eras in Out of Time.

In Infinitopia, you’ll find the most striking portrayal of the setting in the game “Out of Time“. This game achievement is truly remarkable! Inside the social center, players have the freedom to soar around, observing each timeline that orbits Infinitopia. This provides a sneak peek into their distinctive characteristics before diving into a run. Each epoch is also animated within this hub, with details like a Prehistoric era’s active volcano with flowing lava, which brings the world to life and makes it feel dynamic and expressive.

‘You Are What You Wear’ in Out of Time

A notable feature of the game “Out of Time” is its focus on equipment, following the path of contemporary roguelikes such as “Hades“, “Dead Cells“, and “Risk of Rain 2“. In this game, your abilities are tied to the gear you’re wearing, rather than a specific character class. While players can opt for a complete set of gear that enhances each other (like a full Druid outfit), the unique blend of past, present, and future in “Out of Time” allows them to be a Druid wielding an assault rifle without any embarrassment.

Experimenting with different equipment pieces is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable features of Out of Time, enabling players to create a character that stands out and feels customized, ranging from eccentric to conventional. The equipment in Out of Time mirrors and operates based on the time period it was gathered, so players who collect gear from all eras will unlock some extraordinary combination possibilities.

Out of Time’s Tether System Is the Heart of Its Chaotic, Cooperative Combat

Out of Time’s Tether System Redefines Class Roles

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but appreciate the importance of an engaging combat system in any top-notch roguelike game. And in the case of “Out of Time”, they’re truly aiming for something extraordinary. The core of their cooperative combats lies in the Tether system – a feature that lets us gamers link our stats with one another, as long as we don’t stray too far from each other. This means it’s best to form a balanced trio (tank, healer, and damage dealer) before embarking on an adventure, because this way, everyone benefits from the stats they don’t specialize in.

In the game “Out of Time“, the Tether is denoted by a visible blue line. This allows players to easily determine whether it’s currently active or inactive.

In the game “Out of Time”, the conventional roles in a role-playing game operate differently. When characters are linked through the Tether, they share statistics among themselves. This means that a tank can essentially make their teammates more resilient to damage as well. Consequently, instead of just absorbing damage, the tank’s primary function is to ensure the entire team can withstand damage, even if the tank isn’t the focus of attack. Similarly, damage-dealers’ statistics like critical hit percentage are increased for the rest of the team when the Tether is active.

In the game Out of Time, each mission aims to eliminate as much of what developers call the “purple snarl” as you can within a 15-minute timeframe. By moving through different zones, your team will clear out the purple snarl using their characters’ auras. This means that if your team is spread out more, they’ll be able to clear the purple snarl faster. However, there’s a balance to find: keeping the Tether unbroken while efficiently clearing the snarl. It appears this method encourages teams to stay together while adding excitement to gameplay with its strategic challenges.

During a game session, whenever players defeat monsters and gain experience points, the whole squad advances in levels collectively, regardless of who gathers the experience. Every five levels, each player gets 30 seconds to select an upgrade card for an item of equipment (such as weapons, armor, boots, or helmet), which enhances it with special abilities and boosts its stats. Additionally, players can observe the upgrades their teammates receive, providing opportunities for better coordination among the group. Furthermore, due to the Tether system in Out of Time, any chosen upgrade will advantage the entire team while the Tether is still active.

During each run as a player, I encounter unexpected events that reward me with upgrade cards upon completion, which often involve safeguarding NPCs from the advancing waves of monstrous mobs. And let me tell you, these monster hordes don’t just stand still! Enemies grow stronger throughout the game, so it’s crucial to grab XP-gain upgrade cards whenever they’re presented to maintain my edge in the game.

Out of Time’s Combat Is Intense and Chaotic

In the game “Out of Time“, the combat is nothing if not chaotic – it’s pure pandemonium! Essentially, it’s a 3D cooperative shoot ’em up with roguelike elements, where hordes and hordes of enemies are relentlessly attacking players during gameplay. The screen is constantly filled with damage numbers, explosions, laser sounds, and victory fanfares, but somehow, it all just adds to the excitement rather than detracting from it.

In Out of Time, each character can carry up to four skills that suit their role, ensuring the game stays balanced. Although characters can link stats through the Tether system, they cannot share skills with one another. This means roles remain distinct in this cooperative roguelike, despite some overlap. We asked the developers about the difficulty increase when the Tether is not active, and they highlighted that it’s a crucial aspect of Out of Time’s gameplay. Neglecting the Tether can lead to quick defeat for players.

When players reach the conclusion of their selected challenge level, they’ll summon a boss that needs to be vanquished to finish the run. Upon defeating the boss, every player can select one item from the three available options provided. What makes Out of Time stand out in terms of gear acquisition is that multiple players can pick the same item if they prefer, which keeps each playthrough feeling like an advancement. Unlike some MMO-style games such as World of Warcraft, where once one player selects an item, others are locked out, this approach offers a refreshing change.

Out of Time Preview — Final Thoughts

Out of Time is filled with multiple components, yet after witnessing it in operation, it’s challenging not to be left in awe. The Tether system, the intricate mix of gears, and the diverse array of adversaries and settings all suggest the beginning of something extraordinary. Based on what we’ve observed, Manticore appears to grasp precisely the kind of game they aim to create, which is more significant than it might appear.

Absolutely, the true assessment will occur once players start using it, but so far, things seem to be falling into place favorably. If Manticore can maintain a harmonious blend of innovation and simplicity, particularly given the rapid and intense gameplay, Out of Time may find a distinctive niche within the roguelike genre. Its aspirations are high, it’s chaotic, and slightly off-kilter, but that eccentricity could be what makes it successful.

Out of Time launches on the Epic Games Store this fall.

2025-07-23 19:07