A Brilliant Idle Game with Untapped Potential

Time Warpers stands out as one of the most interesting idle games I’ve played, with a truly unique concept, but sadly, it’s been left behind.

Unlike traditional idle games that just let you sit back and watch, this one requires you to actively engage in the gameplay. You’ll run around, defeat enemies, earn money, and power up your character. The idle aspect comes into play with ghost mode, where you can let your drone and turret kill enemies for you, while still earning cash passively when you're away.

Eventually, you unlock the ability to restart the game from scratch, using cubes to permanently enhance your perks and skills—much like the prestige systems in Cookie Clicker and Kiwi Clicker. While this is a typical feature in idle games, it adds an extra layer of depth to the experience.

However, the game’s potential has been left unrealized. Since its last update in 2022, there’s been no sign of new content, bug fixes, or events. While the game offers something fresh and exciting, its abandonment is a huge disappointment. At $20, it’s hard to justify the price for a game that won’t receive updates or fresh content.

What stings even more is that the developers have completely shifted focus to a generic clone of Vampire Survivors—Time Wasters. This new game feels like a step backward, filled with AI-generated art that lacks the charm and originality that Time Warpers brought to the table. The decision to abandon a game with so much potential in favor of chasing trends is frustrating, especially when Time Warpers' innovative take on the idle genre was so refreshing.

Time Wasters’ reliance on AI art is another area where the game falters. While the use of AI might be a cost-effective approach, it often lacks the depth and personality of hand-drawn or carefully crafted art. In Time Warpers, the visuals felt more engaging and personal, which is now lost in Time Wasters' generic look. The shift feels especially jarring when considering how unique and different Time Warpers could have been if it received the same attention as this new project.

In conclusion, Time Warpers is a gem that could have flourished with more attention. Its core mechanics are enjoyable and addictive, and it’s a real shame that it won’t evolve any further. If you can overlook the lack of updates, there’s still a lot of fun to be had—but the steep price tag is hard to swallow for a game stuck in limbo. Meanwhile, the developers' decision to abandon a game with real potential in favor of a clone that's failed to impress makes it hard not to feel disappointed.