At the center of the plot are time travel, mutations, and the fight for survival in the grim district of Nowa Huta, a futuristic version of communist Krakow. Players explore semi-enclosed locations, encounter NPCs, and plan their route — the levels are reminiscent of Resident Evil 4 with recurring zones and multiple paths.
The game is built on risk mechanics: ammunition is limited, and every fight can end in disaster. The more enemies you kill, the higher the chance that the survivors will absorb the corpses and grow stronger. Moreover, mutated creatures can take on the abilities of defeated monsters. The only way to prevent this is to burn the bodies, but fire is a limited resource that has to be used wisely.
Each weapon features a charged alternate attack. However, using it too often can quickly deplete your ammo supply. Crafting complicates the situation: the same resources are needed both to craft ammunition and to heal, forcing you to choose between offense and survival.
According to designers Jacek Zieba and Wojciech Piejko, the studio expects to turn Cronos into a major new series. If the execution lives up to the ideas, the project could become a new milestone in the genre.
Cronos: The New Dawn will be released on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. There is no exact release date yet.
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Cover author: Bloober Team. Cover source: X