Cronos: The New Dawn
" Intense action survival horror with innovative time-based combat but performance issues "
Cronos: The New Dawn Review
Cronos: The New Dawn is a survival horror game that combines elements from classics like Dead Space, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill, delivering a tense and atmospheric experience. Players appreciate its solid gunplay, impactful combat mechanics, and a unique Merge system where enemies absorb fallen foes, encouraging strategic use of environmental tools like fire. The game emphasizes resource and inventory management, adding to the survival challenge. Visually, it impresses with detailed environments and a retro-futuristic aesthetic, though some areas suffer from performance issues such as frame drops and stuttering.
The storyline is intriguing and keeps players engaged with its sci-fi mystery and complex time-loop narrative, though opinions vary on its execution. Sound design and music contribute significantly to the immersive atmosphere. While the game demands patience and strategic play, it rewards exploration with optional paths and upgrades. However, some critiques highlight repetitive enemy designs, limited melee combat, and pacing issues in later stages. Overall, it's considered one of the standout survival horror titles of 2025, especially for genre fans.
Highlights
Players praise the game's innovative Merge system that requires burning enemy corpses to prevent them from becoming stronger, adding tension to combat.
The gunplay is satisfying and impactful, with a good variety of weapons and environmental hazards enhancing combat dynamics. Boss fights are intense and visually impressive.
Graphically, the game boasts a solid visual presentation with detailed environments and a retro-futuristic design. The sound design and atmosphere receive high marks for enhancing immersion.
The storyline, while complex, is engaging and keeps players invested, supported by strong voice acting and pacing.
Exploration is rewarding, with optional paths providing valuable upgrades and resources.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, even on high-end hardware, attributed to Unreal Engine 5 optimization challenges.
Many players find the melee combat weak and the lack of dodge or parry mechanics frustrating, making ammo management critical and sometimes tedious.
The story delivery is uneven, with some finding it slow or confusing, and others noting a rushed or unsatisfying ending.
Repetitive enemy designs and environments contribute to a sense of monotony, and some players report excessive backtracking.
The inventory system is punishing with limited space, causing frustration in resource management and combat preparation.
Additionally, some find the pacing in the latter half of the game less engaging, with waves of enemies feeling repetitive.
Pros
- • Innovative Merge system adds unique combat depth and strategy.
- • Satisfying and impactful gunplay with diverse weapon variety.
- • Visually solid with detailed, atmospheric environments.
- • Excellent sound design enhances immersion and tension.
- • Engaging, complex storyline with strong voice acting.
- • Rewarding exploration with optional paths and upgrades.
- • Intense and visually impressive boss fights.
Cons
- • Performance issues including stuttering and frame drops.
- • Weak melee combat with no dodge or parry mechanics.
- • Story pacing uneven with a rushed or confusing ending.
- • Repetitive enemy designs and environments.
- • Punishing limited inventory space hampers gameplay.
- • Excessive backtracking can feel tedious.
- • Some combat encounters feel repetitive and frustrating.
Rating Criteria
Cronos: The New Dawn is a pulse-pounding, third-person survival horror game where time is your deadliest weapon — and your worst enemy. Survive a brutal future, dive back in time, and stop nightmarish creatures from merging into unstoppable abominations.