During Tokyo Game Show 2025, we had the chance to spend about an hour with Neverness to Everness (NTE), and the game makes a strong case for players who value freedom and exploration in their open-world experiences. The demo provided players with significant freedom from the start. Rather than following a strict tutorial or linear path, the session allowed players to explore the world, drive vehicles, take on quests, or challenge bosses right away. This open structure highlighted the game’s emphasis on letting players choose their own pace and activities.

Gameplay Structure in Neverness to Everness

NTE follows a familiar structure for open-world gacha games but adds its own identity to the formula. Players can build a party of up to four characters and swap between them freely during gameplay. The demo featured around twelve characters, each filling different roles like DPS, burst damage, shield support, or aggro management. While the gacha system itself wasn’t available in this preview build, the character variety already hinted at the tactical depth the game aims for.

Exploration is one of NTE’s stronger points. The world blends modern urban design with vibrant anime visuals, creating a setting that feels both familiar and stylized. Players can move across rooftops, jump between buildings, or drive through city streets. The driving system stands out not because of complex mechanics, but because of how naturally it fits into the anime aesthetic. Cruising around the city felt smooth and enjoyable, adding to the overall sense of freedom.

Beyond driving, the game includes teleportation to marked locations, side quests, material gathering, and encounters with hidden bosses or events scattered across the map. The demo included two separate zones to explore. There’s also a feature called an Anomagram—a special map that helps players discover secret bosses and hidden stages, adding another layer to the exploration experience.

Combat and Boss Encounters

Combat in NTE is fast-paced and combo-focused. Each character has normal attacks, skills, and an ultimate ability that can be chained together. Dodging plays an important role, allowing players to avoid damage and, with proper timing, counter-attack or trigger new abilities.

One notable boss encounter in the demo was with Bopp. The fight had two distinct phases. Initially, Bopp appeared as a figure embedded in a wall, attacking while players chipped away at its health. In the second phase, Bopp broke free and began rapidly surfing around the battlefield, creating a more intense and chaotic fight that required quick reflexes and smart use of character abilities.

First Impressions

Even within the limited time, Neverness to Everness showed what it’s aiming for: an open-world gacha game that emphasizes player freedom, stylish exploration, and anime-inspired combat. The game’s approach to letting players set their own pace, combined with its visual style and combat flow, gives it a distinct feel compared to other games in the genre.