Few developers have made a name for themselves in the horror genre quite like Bloober Team. The Polish studio has delivered hit after hit with very few missteps. We’re talking titles like Layers of Fear, Observer, Blair Witch, The Medium, and the Silent Hill 2 remake. It’s fair to say this horror powerhouse has a formula it sticks to. So when their latest game was announced, it stood out, mainly because it breaks away from the foundations the studio has spent years perfecting. Cronos: The New Dawn is still horror, don’t worry, but it’s survival horror in the vein of Resident Evil, or more fittingly, Dead Space. The influence of Visceral Games’ classic series runs deep here.
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Played from a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective, you’ll use melee weapons and firearms like pistols and shotguns to take down grotesque, body-horror enemies. But like Dead Space, they don’t stay down unless you finish them off properly.
Survival Themed
Here, that means using fire. Surviving enemies can merge with nearby corpses, creating tougher foes. The comparison to Dead Space is no bad thing. It’s still considered one of the best survival horror games ever made.
Cronos also tells a compelling story that keeps you guessing until the credits roll. You play as the Traveler, an agent of a mysterious organisation called the Collective, sent on a mission known as the Vocation.
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You’re called the Traveler because you time travel, back to 1980s Poland, to extract individuals who didn’t survive the “Change,” a cataclysmic event that turned humans into monsters known as Orphans. These are the body-horror nightmares you’ll be blasting into pink goo.
Once you locate your targets, you must survive the post-apocalyptic wasteland and find portals to return to your own time. It’s a layered narrative. You never fully understand what’s happening beyond your immediate goal, but as you pick up another Traveler’s mission, you uncover more about the world, the Change, and the truth behind it all.
Timing is Everything
Gameplay is all about timing your shots and choosing them wisely. Ammo and resources are limited, and you’ve got one of those tiny, classic Resident Evil-style inventories. So, deciding what to carry is crucial.
You can upgrade your gear, but it’s a balancing act. Do you improve your weapons, your suit, or your inventory space? Resources are scarce, so exploration becomes essential.
Gunplay is decent, though it doesn’t quite match the feel of Dead Space. A dismemberment system would have added more impact, as enemies don’t feel truly damaged until they drop.
When not fighting or scavenging, you’ll encounter light puzzle-solving—usually involving spotting something useful and figuring out how to reach it. It’s never too difficult and fits well with the exploration and resource management.
Beautifully Grim
Visually, the game is grim, dark and oppressive. It’s not a pleasant world to be in. The design of your suit (called the Shell) and the Orphans leans heavily into biomechanical horror, with clear H.R. Giger influences.
The atmosphere is supported by a subtle, haunting soundtrack that adds tension and melancholy. Voice acting is solid throughout, helping to ground the experience.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a gripping dive into a bleak, unsettling world. Horror fans will relish every moment of the time-travelling journey. Everyone else might need to sleep with the lights on for a few nights after the credits roll.
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