How to play
- Move by dragging anywhere on the game (it works like a joystick under your thumb) or with WASD / the arrow keys.
- Time follows you. While you move, the world runs at full speed. Stand still and it slows to about a tenth – enemies, bullets and your own weapons all crawl.
- Your weapons fire by themselves. Defeated enemies drop energy; collect it to level up and choose one of three skills.
- Survive three minutes, then defeat the Chrono Warden to win the run. A run takes about 3–5 minutes.
Skills and combos
There are six weapons (Rift Blade, Chain Lightning, Orbit Shards, Gravity Well, Pulse Nova, Seeker Missiles) and six boosts (Swift, Haste, Might, Magnet, Vitality, Precision), each up to level 5. When two partner skills both reach level 3, they form a combo:
- Storm Nova = Chain Lightning + Pulse Nova: your nova fires lightning at what it hits.
- Singularity = Gravity Well + Seeker Missiles: wells collapse into a far bigger explosion.
- Glass Storm = Orbit Shards + Precision: shards crit much more often, and crit explosions grow.
- Rift Dash = Rift Blade + Swift: your blade swings much faster while you are moving.
Level-up cards mark the pick that would complete a combo, and skills that complete one are offered more often.
Chain reactions, surges and last stands
- Critical kills explode, and those explosions can crit and kill again, so a single lucky hit can ripple through a crowd.
- Near misses charge the Rift meter (the purple bar). Brush past enemies or bullets while moving; when it fills, Rift Surge slows the world while your weapons keep firing at full speed.
- If you drop below 30% health, a Last Stand gives you the same slow motion once in a while to fight your way out.
Fair by design
There is nothing to buy. Every run starts equal, and difficulty adapts to how you are doing: a little more pressure when you are healthy, a little less when you are hurting. Skins and two alternative starting weapons are unlocked by feats such as defeating the Warden, reaching level 10 or winning without dropping below half health. They change your style, not your power.
For build ideas, read the Time Rift strategy guide.
FAQ
Where does the idea come from?
Time Rift mixes two popular ideas: the auto-attacking horde battles of “survivor” games and a world where time moves only when you do. The skills, combos, enemies and boss are our own.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. It was designed for one thumb: drag anywhere to move, lift your thumb to slow time down.