Cronos: The New Dawn Reviews
Cronos: The New Dawn is a strong new scary entry from Bloober Team, mixing well-worn tropes of the genre with some interesting sci-fi twists and a captivating, if somewhat confusing, narrative tying it all together. Balancing a restricted inventory while tackling waves of disgusting creatures makes for an intense time, and exploring the infected district in Poland is a memorable setting. Cronos: The New Dawn is confident in delivering what it set out to do; it's a new survival horror IP that has legs – and lots of other limbs – carrying it to spooky success.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a remnant of the legacy of survival horror. It takes whispers from two titans of the genre and blends them with its own ideas. It would have benefited hugely from ruthless editing in areas, but remains a masterclass in world building and a perfect balance of tension and release.
With Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober Team has cemented itself as a premier developer of survival horror games. Any lingering doubts after the release of 2024's Silent Hill 2 have been laid to rest.
Cronos: The New Dawn is easily Bloober Team's best original work, delivering a challenging sci-fi survival horror experience with brutal combat in an immersive and tense setting. It's just a shame that it doesn't quite nail the resource management that would elevate it to greatness.
Bloober Team has hit the mark once again, proving how the experience accumulated over years and years of horror productions is leading to titles of ever-increasing quality. Cronos: The New Dawn started out as a new IP with everything to prove, and it managed to win us over thanks to a captivating setting supported by an intense atmosphere, perfectly functioning survival horror mechanics, and excellent level design. We're convinced that for many fans of the genre, Cronos could become a name to watch in the future, but for now, enjoy this excellent beginning.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fans of Dead Space will be thrilled by the parallels, but Cronos has more to offer than superficial similarities. Fans of PS1 and PS2 era horror games will adore the level design and tasteful throwbacks. It’s old-school where it counts, yet modern enough to feel fresh. The classic survival horror gameplay will pull you in, but you’ll stick around for the intriguing story and characters.
I was initially unsure of Cronos: The New Dawn, and after the first few enemy encounters, I had a feeling that we just weren’t going to get on. This is a hardcore game, and at times you’ll be left frustrated, annoyed, and want to cry. BUT when it clicks, when you beat an enemy or a boss, and when you make progress, Cronos delivers a brilliant feeling.
It's not perfect, but what Cronos: The New Dawn does right is done so incredibly well. Across the runtime of the game, the battle arenas can be a little tiring, but the bread and butter of the exploration and moment-to-moment combat carry it through easily. This is a very competent, scary and exciting horror title with some amazing, unique visuals. Get on it, horror fans!
The game does a good job of keeping some mystery throughout while unfolding the world at an effective pace. The combat is harrowing, and I could feel the pang of dread in most encounters. The game is workmanlike – it's unlikely to dethrone your favorite survival horror–but there is a meaty and reasonably enjoyable experience to be had here.
Cronos is a horror and action game that starts off spooky, intrigues you, and gives you goosebumps, but ultimately leaves you breathless by the middle. Come for the thrills, but stay for the story.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
If you like a thick, viscous atmosphere or a sense of mystery, Cronos: The New Dawn is definitely worth a try, if only for the mesmerizingly dark visuals. The designers at Bloober Team have once again shown their skills. But as a game, it simply repeats the big hits of the genre, without bringing anything of its own. Yes, the game mechanics borrowed from other horror games work, but that's all, they are carefully reproduced, but without their own spark and understanding of how they could be made better.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Even though Cronos: The New Dawn has some flaws, like inconsistent enemy reactions, hit registration issues, and minor bugs, its challenging difficulty is central to its identity. The game's tough, isolating experience is designed to keep players on edge. While some players might find this frustrating, it's what prevents the game from being too easy and losing its core tension. Ultimately, the game is a must-play for fans of the horror genre and a homage to classics like Silent Hill 2 and Observer, offering a memorable experience for those who appreciate that style of game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
"Despite some technical issues and a few flaws that affect the experience, Cronos: The New Dawn is a brilliant and engaging survival horror game that immerses you in its dark and deadly world. If you can look past the problems and shortcomings mentioned in this review, you’ll find a thrilling and chilling experience. That said, it’s clear there’s still room for growth for Bloober and the Cronos IP in the future."
Review in Persian | Read full review
It's challenging, and it might take a little while for you to warm to its world and protagonist, but Cronos: The New Dawn is yet another brilliant survival horror game from Bloober Team. You'll be on the edge of your seat throughout this tense and atmospheric adventure, hopping between the past and the future while blasting enemies that grow more powerful if they manage to merge.
The world presented is second to none in its atmosphere, while fights are tense and danger everpresent. Unfortunately set pieces and enemy attacks are more frustrating, and exploitable, than fun or engaging.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Cronos: the New Dawn features an interestingly designed world and a proven gameplay model, which benefits greatly from being set in Krakow's Nowa Huta district, but it is clear that the team does not yet have experience with action-oriented games. Horror fans can safely give this new title from Poland a chance.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Cronos: The New Dawn is a retrofuturistic horror-action game with tense survival combat, atmospheric world design, and rewarding upgrades. Its slow-paced storytelling and eerie soundscape build tension, delivering a gripping 15-hour experience, though scarce ammo, frequent deaths, and tough bosses can feel punishing. A demanding but memorable journey for fans of atmospheric survival horror.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Fantastic art direction can't save Cronos: The New Dawn from its boring gameplay, and awkward story.
Cronos: The New Dawn feels like an average game coming on the heels of the amazing Silent Hill 2 remake. The reasonably fun gunplay is dragged down by a lackluster story and occasional moments of annoyance. It has a lot of cool ideas, but none of them quite hit the mark in the way I hoped. It's still a perfectly fun little survival horror romp but doesn't quite go anywhere above that. It's absolutely worth a shot if you're looking for something to fill the Dead Space-shaped hole in your heart, but it could've used a little extra punch.
Overall, Bloober Team proves with Cronos: The New Dawn that it has reached a solid level of maturity in crafting horror experiences—even without relying on a big name like Silent Hill. The game’s relatively slow-paced storytelling may not appeal to everyone, but patient players will find themselves rewarded with a gripping narrative. Similarly, the gameplay blends the best elements of survival horror with creative ideas—such as enemies merging into new threats—and only really falls short in its somewhat underwhelming puzzles. On the technical side, top-notch visuals, excellent sound design, and masterful atmosphere-building deliver a genuinely terrifying experience, despite occasional frame drops. For horror fans, Cronos is easily one of the best choices available right now—and one you definitely shouldn’t miss.
Review in Persian | Read full review