We’ve got a new challenger stepping up to deliver high-quality products in the gacha space, and I honestly predict this one could be pretty disruptive.
Described as an urban open-world RPG, Neverness to Everness (NTE) leans much closer to the vibe of Cyberpunk 2077 or Grand Theft Auto than the typical fantasy worlds like Genshin Impact. We haven’t really seen anything quite like this attempted before in the gacha market. But with Hotta Studio coming off a somewhat shaky history with Tower of Fantasy, is this going to be their redemption arc?
Here is an honest breakdown of what works, where it stumbles, and whether the game has real staying power.
Technical Performance & Hardware Demands
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. If you have a decent PC rig, this game can look outright jaw-dropping. I don’t think anyone expected a mobile-centric title to reach visual levels like this.
That said, you’re going to need a pretty strong setup if you want to push it to the max. Without DLSS frame generation enabled, locking a constant 60 FPS on max settings with ray tracing turned on can be tough for mid-tier systems.
| PC Hardware Rig | Graphic Settings | Performance & FPS Target | Requirements / Notes |
| High-End System | Max Settings + Ray Tracing | 60 FPS Target | DLSS Frame Generation MUST be enabled |
| Mid-Tier System | Mid Settings | Stable 60 FPS | Standard optimization; ray tracing off |
| Average System | Maxed-Out Settings | Frame drops / Unstable | Demands heavy optimization |
⚡ Hardware Check: Running maxed-out settings pushes your rig hard. If you’re targeting 60 FPS with ray tracing, make sure DLSS frame generation is toggled on to avoid frame drops.
Story, Combat, and City Exploration
The story doesn’t take itself too seriously at first. You play as an “Appraiser”—an anomaly hunter with memory loss operating out of an antique shop in the city of Hethereau. While the world setup opens on a serious tone, it’s immediately contrasted by bubbly character banter as you meet other hunters across different districts.
Combat Mechanics Overview
If you’ve played other open-world gachas, the moment-to-moment combat loop won’t blow your mind, but it is extremely polished.
| Combat Element | Mechanic Breakdown | Gameplay Feel |
| Team Comp | Field a team of 4 characters | Swap on the fly to chain multi-elemental reactions |
| Abilities | Standard skills + Ultimates on cooldown | Snappy, fluid, backed by flashy animations |
| Defensive Tools | Generous last-second dodge counters | Highly rewarding timing windows |
| Parry System | Timed attacks or character switches | Negates special enemy moves |
World Traversal & Atmospheric Features
Where NTE actually separates itself is outside of combat. You can run up walls, double jump, glide, and buy vehicles to drive around town. Driving handling feels pretty good—though definitely smoother on a controller when drifting—and weather actually impacts road friction.
| Exploration Feature | Mechanics & World Impact |
| Working Transit System | Climb platforms, board train cars, and enjoy 1st-person city views at dusk. |
| Dynamic Weather | Rain applies wetness effects to character models and reduces road tire friction. |
| Living World NPCs | Playable characters roam street districts and take ride-share lifts from you. |
| The Warrant System | Stealing cars/causing chaos spawns police heat, temporarily locking fast travel. |
🚔 The Warrant System: Causing chaos or stealing cars gets you a Warrant Level. Cops spawn on you quickly, blocking fast travel and activities. Honestly, it feels more like a minor nuisance than a fleshed-out GTA police chase, as the easiest way to clear your heat is just hiding in your apartment.
Business Tycoon & Progression Systems
Progression blends familiar gacha UIs with city-management systems.
| Mode / System | How It Works | Player Value |
| City Tycoon Mode | Invest in local cafes, buy real estate, and hire characters as staff. | Uses passive life skills to generate passive income. |
| Property Decorating | Place “anomaly furniture” earned through side quests inside homes. | Provides additional active gameplay buffs. |
Gear & Gacha Progression Breakdown
| Progression System | System Design | Player Impact & Verdict |
| Console Modules (Gear) | Tetris-like grid placement for set bonuses | Positive: Sub-stats are visible before upgrading; saves resources. |
| Duplicate System | Duplicates unlock toggleable passive perks | Mixed: Major milestone passives sit at copies 3 and 6. |
| 100% Rate-Up Gacha | Soft pity at 70 / Hard pity at 90 pulls | Excellent: 100% guaranteed banner unit—no 50/50 coin flip risk. |
| Skin Monetization | Locked behind 200-pull mileage thresholds | Negative: Forced to keep rolling even if you get the unit on roll #1. |
⚠️ The Cosmetic Trap: While the 100% rate-up is great, skin monetization is a bit scummy. Unlocking character skins (like Nanali’s) requires hitting a 200-pull mileage milestone on the banner. Even if you luck out and pull the character on your very first roll, you’re forced to keep burning pulls on the banner if you want the outfit.
Endgame Longevity Concerns
The main critique here isn’t the visuals or the combat—it’s staying power. NTE gives a fantastic first impression, but everyday side distractions like driving, café management, or playing Mahjong aren’t going to keep players logging in every single day long-term. If the endgame falls back on generic time-trial combat arenas, the game is going to stagnate.
| Current Approach (Risk) | Proposed Urban Sandbox Strategy |
| Rushing out new open-world maps every few patches. | Expanding, remodeling, and building upon the existing city map. |
| Generic time-trial combat arena loops. | Adding player-driven activities (custom race tracks, squad heists). |
| Chasing standard, repetitive gacha daily routines. | Leaning into deep vehicle, housing, and urban customization. |
Final Review Summary
Overall, Hotta Studio put together a very solid title here. NTE is a game you’ll likely jump into for the combat and graphics, but you’ll stick around because the atmosphere and vibes are immaculate.
If late-game content runs dry down the line, don’t fall into the fear-of-missing-out trap—just enjoy it for a few weeks, step away to play other games, and jump back in when a big update drops. It’s well worth trying out.
