Cronos: The New Dawn Review

It’s nice to see some competition in the survival horror space, which is usually dominated by titles such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Bloober Team actually got their hands on the remake of Silent Hill II and, by all accounts, did an excellent job. I haven’t played that one yet, but it’s nice to see the team also exploring new projects. Cronos: The New Dawn was first revealed at The Game Awards at the end of December 2023, and almost two years down the line, we now have it in our hands for Xbox Series X|S. The game is also available on PC, Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

Push Through, It Will Be Worth It

I won’t spoil too much for you since the story unfolds whilst you play rather than being served to you on a plate at the start. You wake up as The Traveller in a suit that is very reminiscent of the Dead Space games. At the start, you’ll be answering a series of questions, and at first it doesn’t seem to make a great deal of sense, but as you progress, it all starts to come together.

Cronos: The New Dawn is tough to start with and is challenging throughout, with ammunition being scarce and melee combat sometimes being the only way to get out of an enemy fight. Due to the weight of your suit, movement is limited, and whilst you can progress to a light jog, you won’t want to be rushing around anyway. The perspective is a first-person view over the shoulder, which feels very familiar if you’ve played any kind of survival horror.

Puzzles & Upgrades

Cronus: The New Dawn is a pretty linear affair, but occasionally you’ll be able to go off the beaten track. I encourage you to explore these areas, as you may stumble across some handy gear. There are moments when you’ll need to kick your brain into gear to get a door unlocked or try and solve a puzzle to progress. Using energy and cores allows you to upgrade weapons, inventory space, health and more, so it is worth diving into every nook and cranny to obtain as much as possible. You do genuinely feel like you are making progress with your character as you progress through the game.

Strategic play is part and parcel of the game, and inventory management is key. You can’t carry everything, so you need to strike a fine balance of what to carry and what to drop as you work through the 20 hours or so the game takes to finish. You can always dive into New Game+ when you finish and have a crack at a harder run through the game if you wish.

Visuals & Audio

Cronos: The New Dawn is stunning with detailed environments, excellent lighting effects and well-designed effects. The game is super polished on Xbox Series X, and performance was pretty solid for the most part. I did notice some frame drops here and there, but they were very few and far between. Performance mode targets 60fps at 1440p, whilst fidelity opts for native 4k at 30fps. It’s worth playing around with these for your own personal preference.

Audio within the game is a huge strong point, and Bloober Team has ensured that every little drop to your ears blends with the atmosphere. You can feel the tension throughout every corridor as background noise, such as dripping pipes, machinery and echoes. You feel permanently on edge as you navigate your surroundings. I felt maximum suspense with the lights out in my living room with my headset on. The soundtrack is also superb, with music that is akin to something straight out of Blade Runner.

Final Thoughts

Cronus: The New Dawn is a challenging slog of a game, but if you’re determined to get through the tough times within the game, it is fantastic. If you’re into your survival horror titles, then you won’t be disappointed with how this game plays. They have nailed the atmosphere, audio and strategic combat throughout. As someone who isn’t too fond of challenging experiences, this was just on the edge for me. Bloober Team have certainly delivered with a beautifully polished and presented adventure that easily nestles amongst the best titles in the genre.