Out of Time reveal preview — A promising new roguelike

I enjoy a game with a satisfying gameplay loop. Hades, Enter the Gungeon, or any randomizer gets those good brain juices flowing. Games with looping action and progression can lead to a unique experience every time, and the roll out of weapons, items, and currency as you progress through randomized dungeons or enemy layouts. That brings us to the reveal of a newcomer to the scene - Out of Time by Manticore Games. Out of Time is a 3D online co-op roguelike coming in September to the Epic Games Store, and the developers gave us a hands-off preview of the reveal, even answering some questions during a Q&A. We got a decent look at the game, and I came away from it pretty excited, honestly. 

Out of Time has a fun dynamic where a convergence of time brings together different eras across time and space, creating the hub known as Infinitopia. Players from around the world can meet up in this social hub before embarking on roguelike runs with their friends or randoms. Each era is its own playable map that randomly generates, and you and your teammates try to survive the hordes, almost in the vein of Vampire Survivors. The twist here is that it’s 3D, and the gear and items you can collect can give you unique stats, skills, passives, and more.

There are no classes in OoT (not that one), but you have pooled stats shared with up to three other players, done through the game’s tether system. Each player can equip their own gear, so the buffs and stats apply to nearby allies, meaning that even if a player can’t pull their weight in combat, they can still contribute to the overall team as long as they have some decent gear. From extra experience when killing enemies to resisting damage and passive effects, this hits the same sort of vibes I get from the aforementioned games. 

The eras that will be launching with the game are Modern Day, post-apocalyptic, and medieval fantasy, with more being added post-launch. Each map has its own mobs, gear sets, raid events, and even three difficulty options from Easy to Hard to help mix things up. We were shown a brief segment of some of the developers playing the game, and it was fun to watch them explore the grassy area they went through, shredding hordes of enemies with a huge uni-wheel bike.

That brings to mind all the chaotic weapons they showed off during the presentation. From standard swords to huge Ratchet & Clank-like guns, help combine with the special abilities you can equip to make your loadout truly your own. The devs even mentioned that there are plans for long-term support. With the game launching on September 25th for the Epic Game Store, up for pre-purchase now for $24.99, with plans for Steam and consoles later on, they’re planning to add more weapons, modes, and features, including cross-play!

Some of the modes mentioned were player-versus-player arenas, a fashion gear system so you can mismatch your stats and looks, and even new eras with their own things to unlock and grind through. It looks like a well-thought-out game, and while it may be a slow rollout for players, this has me intrigued. I even mentioned during the preview that I may rope my girlfriend into playing with me because it looks fun. Definitely worth keeping an eye out for Out of Time because the premise and gameplay loop really help this game stand out in the roguelike space.