At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025, South Korean developer and publisher NCSoft surprised fans with the reveal of Time Takers, a third-person team-based survival shooter that adds its own unique spin to the genre. Known primarily for MMORPGs like Guild Wars and Aion, NCSoft is proving it’s not afraid to branch into new territory, teaming up with Mistil Games to create a fresh take on hero shooters and battle royale gameplay.
A Surprise Reveal Beyond Expectations
Heading into Gamescom 2025, most fans expected NCSoft to focus on its upcoming third-person tactical MMO shooter Cinder City. Instead, the company unveiled two different shooters, with Cinder City showing off futuristic mech battles, and Time Takers introducing a survival system where time itself is the most valuable resource.
How Time Takers Changes the Formula
Unlike typical battle royales that rely on shrinking zones, Time Takers challenges players with a ticking death timer. Each player begins a match with a limited supply of Time Energy, which counts down continuously. When it reaches zero, the player dies.
Time Energy can be restored in several ways, such as:
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Collecting overworld pick-ups
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Defeating monsters
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Eliminating other players
But the twist doesn’t stop there—Time Energy doubles as a currency. Players can spend it on upgrades called “apps,” revive teammates, or refill their allies’ gauges. This dual role forces tough decisions: do you spend time to survive longer, or invest it to gain powerful enhancements?
Hero Shooter Meets Survival Mechanics
Adding another layer to gameplay, Time Takers features unique “travelers”—heroes with special abilities that define their playstyle. Unlike some hero shooters where weapons are tied to characters, here all weapons are available to every traveler, giving players freedom to experiment and build their ideal combat style.
This design choice encourages dynamic team strategies, blending the hero shooter format of Overwatch with the resource-driven survival mechanics of modern battle royales.
Free-to-Play With Playtests Coming Soon
Developed by Mistil Games and published by NCSoft, Time Takers will launch as a free-to-play title. Players eager to try it out can already request access to the upcoming Steam playtest, offering a chance to experience its time-bending survival mechanics ahead of release.
A Fresh Take on Competitive Shooters
With its innovative time-based survival system, Time Takers looks to carve out a niche among competitive shooters in 2025. By blending PvP intensity, hero shooter variety, and battle royale tension, NCSoft may have found a formula that keeps players fighting not just for victory—but for every second of life.