Cronos: The New Dawn Reviews
For a first outing with an original new IP, Cronos: The New Dawn is genuinely a great game, even if it falls just a tiny bit short of going head-to-head with the likes of a full-blown Dead Space or Resident Evil game. Still, I have no doubt that this is a game that has come the closest to being a new-age Dead Space, and for that, Bloober Team deserves flowers.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a brutal, atmospheric, and cleverly designed survival horror game that proves Bloober Team isn’t just capable of remaking classics, they can create them, too. Its mix of oppressive atmosphere, grotesque enemy design, scarce resources, and smart puzzle integration hit all the right notes for fans of the genre. Yes, the checkpoint system is frustrating, and the difficulty curve can be punishing, but the satisfaction of overcoming its challenges makes the struggle worthwhile.
Cronos: The New Dawn is a good starting place for Bloober Team’s newest IP. It has the bones of a great survival horror and plenty of meat to blast along with it. The combat and resource economy is a major highlight, with just the right difficulty to avoid feeling unfair. If you’re in the game for more narrative excellence, this one might not be for you.
As much a victim of greater survival horror games as it is an oasis in a desert of unique survival horror experiences, Cronos: The New Dawn tries its best to evoke the atmosphere and dread that put the genre on the map. However, what lingers is the stench of a lack of effort, as there are various instances where you'll be reminded of the greatness of the survival horror classics that came before, while you discover the myriad of ways Cronos falters in its attempts to shock and scare you. There are decent boss fights, excellent presentation, and decent weapons, but its workmanlike protagonist and weak conventional enemies keep this promising double A horror on a leash, when it really should've broken the chains and unleashed itself impressively upon every genre fan. Cronos is good enough, but it really should've been so much more.
Cronos scared me, it made me jumpy, and I had a blast every unnerving minute I spent with it. That's precisely why I play survivor horror titles, and to achieve that means the game has done the job right.
After the success of Silent Hill 2, Cronos: The New Dawn became a real challenge for Bloober Team, and the studio proved that it was capable of delivering a game with a great story that maintained its mystery until the end, provided the necessary information at the right time, and was supported by various narrative tools. The studio offered varied gameplay, supported by multiple gameplay elements, the most prominent and best of which was the survival element, and succeeded in delivering horror in many forms. The world design is beautiful, both in its outdoor and indoor environments. and the instantaneous time travel must be commended. Despite all of this, the lack of Arabic language support is considered a negative, along with other issues such as the lack of a personal skill bag and the voice acting of the characters at the beginning of the game, which even affected the delivery of the impact and information.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
After surprising us with the Silent Hill 2 remake, Bloober Team returns to original projects with Cronos: The New Dawn, an attempt built on promising ideas drowned by flawed execution.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cronos is a game that on its surface may look familiar and even share some inspiration from games like Dead Space and Resident Evil but is strong enough to stand on its own. The dark and eerie take on a post-apocalyptic and retro past Poland is an enigmatic canvas of gloom and gore.
Whether it’s frantic encounters that have you juggling between weapons, scares amplified by a demonic flashlight that loves to turn off at inopportune times, or the satisfaction of progressing through these interconnected areas, the act of working through Cronos: The New Dawn is a well-measured mixture of frights and thrills. While its narrative failings prevent this experience from merging into a cohesive whole, at least it channels the appeal of its video game inspirations.
Cronos: The New Dawn hits nearly every beat it needs to, from a genuinely terrifying atmosphere and environment painstakingly created, to a gameplay loop that harkens back to a nostalgic age of survival horror, all wrapped up in one of the most unique stories of 2025. If you’re looking to be scared, look no further.
Cronos: The New Dawn establishes itself as a survival horror game worthy of recommendation to a wide audience. The Wanderer is a charismatic protagonist whose quest for justice connects directly with the player. With rich cutscenes, an engaging narrative, and a suffocating atmosphere, the game delivers a memorable experience. Bloober Team once again demonstrates why it is one of the leading names in the genre. Cronos not only pays homage to the past but also proves that horror can still be original and unforgettable.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cronos: The New Dawn is a bold, atmospheric survival horror experience from Bloober Team, blending psychological storytelling, intense resource management, and inventive time-travel mechanics into a haunting, unforgiving journey that rewards skill and immersion.
Cronos: The New Dawn pays homage to survival horror greats like Dead Space and Resident Evil with solid atmospherics and tense gameplay, though it never quite reaches the heights of the games it's inspired by.
Cronos: The New Dawn is one of the biggest surprises of 2025. It takes the essence of Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 and adds its own special touch, resulting in a truly unique experience. From its excellent environmental storytelling and terrifying atmosphere to a gameplay style that blends tension with exploration, Bloober Team has succeeded in delivering a project that showcases its remarkable growth as a developer and places it among the ranks of top global studios. Despite some annoying technical issues and the lack of Arabic language support, the overall experience remains impressive and well worth the time of any fan of survival horror games.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Survival horror at its purest: oppressive, unrelenting, and unforgettable. Bloober Team has carved out a new nightmare that merges breathtaking atmosphere with punishing challenge. It’s not here to coddle you; it will test your will, and if you endure the challenge, the reward is one of the most impactful games of the year.
Once again Bloober Team shows us why they are the new masters of horror on the block. If you’re a fan of survival horror and want a little bit of challenge, then I can’t recommend Cronos: The New Dawn enough!
Cronos: The New Dawn is a thrilling, high-stakes survival horror experience that pushes the Nintendo Switch 2 to deliver on every front, story, gameplay, visuals and sounds. Bloober Team have crafted a game that demands strategy, patience and adaptability, rewarding players with tense, cinematic moments and satisfying combat.
Cronos: The New Dawn is one of the best titles in the first wave of Switch 2 third-party games. With an interesting story, haunting immersion and mysteries to solve, it's an excellent entry point for the horror genre on the new Nintendo console.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cronos: The New Dawn is a game with several contradictions - on one hand, it impresses with maturity in world-building and atmosphere, on the other, it disappoints with a lack of courage in designing the mechanics.
Cronos: The New Dawn is an unforgivingly brutal survival horror experience that harkens back to the old-school design with more modern sensibilities. And this is how it should be, with a confident approach to level and enemy design that maintains high tension from start to finish. However, it’s not perfect, and you will encounter issues throughout, but regardless of this, Cronos has become an instant surprise in my mind.