Introduction to Out of Time

Out of Time, developed by Manticore Games, is a fast-paced, multiplayer co-op roguelite that throws players into 'The Tangle,' a cosmic anomaly where rules of space, time, and logic are shattered. The game focuses on short, timed runs with long-term progression driven by gear. Players team up to battle through corrupted enemies, brutal bosses, and unique challenges before time runs out. It emphasizes teamwork, gear, and quick decision-making, offering a blend of auto-attack combat and active skills tied to equipped items.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

The Tether System

The tether is the most critical mechanic in Out of Time. During a run, a glowing line connects squad mates, and maintaining this connection allows your group to share stats. Any stat boosts from gear and upgrades are evenly shared among the squad. Breaking the tether, however, can severely plummet your health, attack power, and other stats, essentially acting as a death sentence. Staying close ensures everyone benefits from buffs and bonuses, making coordination vital.

Timed Runs and Map Progression

Runs in Out of Time are time-limited, typically around 15 minutes, during which players must push forward, clear enough of the map, and trigger a boss fight. The objective is not just to survive but to reveal approximately 75% of the map's 'purple fog' or 'tangle' to summon the boss. If the timer hits zero, the run ends immediately.

Combat Basics: Auto Attacks and Abilities

Combat in Out of Time is largely auto-attack driven, with characters automatically attacking enemies when they are in range. Each weapon also comes with multiple cooldown-based abilities that can be activated during combat. These active skills are directly tied to your equipped gear, and their effects can significantly alter how a run plays out.

Progression and Upgrades

Match Progression (Temporary)

During a run, progression is temporary. Enemies drop XP, and your entire team levels up together. Every few levels, you'll choose upgrades that only apply for that specific run, boosting stats, modifying abilities, or adding new effects. These choices are crucial for in-run momentum and synergy but are gone once the run ends.

Meta Progression (Permanent)

Between runs, players return to a shared hub called Infinitopia. Here, resources collected during missions are used for permanent upgrades to gear, unlocking stronger versions, and pushing into higher difficulties. This system makes your character objectively stronger over time through investments.

Mastery Upgrades

Mastery upgrades provide incremental, permanent improvements to major stats like health regeneration or increase drop rates for materials. While the first few levels are inexpensive, gold costs quickly rise. It's recommended to upgrade 'Treasure Hunter' early to gain more gold per run, then focus on upgrades for resources needed for your gear.

Farming Gear

Different time eras and regions on the Time Map are home to specific item drops. To collect various gear for new Avatars and fine-tune builds, you'll need to farm across different eras.

Difficulties and Rarity

Out of Time offers Normal, Hard, and Shattered difficulties. Higher difficulties increase the power level you should aim for and change the rarity chances of loot.

Teamwork and Squad Builds

Co-op is central to Out of Time, with systems built directly around it. Since all stats are shared equally among allies, planning your loadout with your squad in mind is essential to maximize benefits. Your attack power, for example, isn't split among a trio; everyone gets the full effects.

Role Specialization

There are no locked classes in Out of Time; instead, roles like tank, damage dealer (DPS), or support naturally emerge based on the gear each player equips. Players can bring up a triangular chart by pressing the 'K' key to see their squad's gear balance. A good baseline for a balanced squad is aiming for 19-25% tank and healing, with the rest in DPS.

Communication

Before diving into a run, discuss loadouts and plans in the hub. Communicate cooldowns, especially before engaging major points of interest (POIs), to ensure your team is ready.

Combat Strategies

Movement and Positioning

Staying on the move is crucial for survival as enemies grow in strength with your level. Use movement skills to avoid damage, especially against swarms of enemies. For melee weapons that require standing still, skills like 'Heal Dash' can be very effective for survivability.

XP Management

Monitor enemy levels compared to your group in the top-left corner of the screen. If the meter is green (+2 or +3), you're out-leveling enemies. If it's negative, you need to gain more XP quickly to avoid being overwhelmed.

Boss Encounters

You can challenge the boss once enough of the map's fog is cleared (e.g., 75% on normal difficulty). However, enemies stop rewarding XP once the boss is summoned. If you're not ready, backtrack to clear missed areas for extra XP and resources, but always be mindful of rising enemy levels.

Utilizing Abilities

Active skills from your gear are powerful. For instance, 'Heal Dash' can provide a shield and dodge capability, scaling with max health. Some abilities, like 'Flame Concert' from the Flame Guitar, allow you to deal damage while moving, making them effective for avoiding hits.

General Tips for Survival