NCSOFT’s Third-Person Battle Royale Time Takers Wants You To Have Ways To Win “Even If Your Aim Isn’t Perfect”
Time Takers is the latest PvP third-person action-hero-shooter revealed by publisher NCSOFT and developer Mistill Games during Gamescom ONL 2025. Unlike traditional battle royales that lean heavily on either gunplay or melee combat, Time Takers aims to give players complete freedom in how they approach combat. According to Yongmin Jo, CEO of Mistill Games and director of the title, the goal is to allow players to succeed “even if your aim isn’t perfect.”
The reveal trailer showcased Time Takers’ vibrant and fantastical setting, where heroes are pulled from across time. In one sequence, a medieval knight fights shoulder-to-shoulder with a futuristic astronaut monkey and a cybernetic samurai with bionic legs. Calling it a mash-up of eras and archetypes might be underselling the sheer creativity on display.
In a recent developer video, Yongmin Jo expanded on the studio’s vision, highlighting that teamwork and strategic freedom are key pillars of Time Takers. Unlike other battle royales, where waiting out the match can sometimes be a viable path to victory, Time Takers introduces a new mechanic designed to keep the action flowing: Time Energy.
The Time Energy Mechanic
At the heart of Time Takers lies a survival system where players constantly manage Time Energy. This resource can be spent in two main ways:
Survival: Using Time Energy to stay alive longer, effectively buying more time for you and your squad.
Aggression: Spending Time Energy to charge powerful abilities, helping players push forward offensively.
This system ensures that squads who play passively will ultimately be at a disadvantage. While it’s still possible to adopt a “wait it out” approach, doing so means burning resources on survival instead of investing them into offensive plays. As a result, Time Takers attempts to balance accessibility with skill expression, encouraging all playstyles without punishing those who might not have pinpoint accuracy.
Upcoming Playtest
If the unique blend of mechanics and style has caught your attention, you won’t have to wait long to try it out. An upcoming playtest is already planned, and players can sign up now via the game’s Steam page.
With its inventive premise, time-based mechanics, and emphasis on accessibility, Time Takers could stand out in a crowded battle royale field when it eventually launches.
Do you think Time Takers’ unique Time Energy system could make battle royales more balanced, or do you prefer the traditional last-squad-standing formula? Let us know in the comments!
