Cronos The New Dawn

Cronos: The New Dawn is a third-person survival horror created by Polish studio Bloober Team. It mixes retro-futurism, brutalist landscapes, and time travel into one grim package. You play as the Traveler, exploring ruined wastelands and stepping through rifts that lead to Poland in the 1980s. Sounds strange? It is. And that’s the point.

Gameplay

Action is shown from a third-person perspective, with constant tension around every corner. You’ll face grotesque creatures known as the Orphaned. They’re fast, relentless, and often appear in swarms. Firearms help, but close combat is sometimes the only option. Think quick, act quicker.

• Burn bodies of enemies to stop them from evolving into stronger forms
• Switch between past and future to reveal different versions of the same world
• Scavenge for resources to keep your ammo and health in check
• Use the Harvester to extract essences from key figures in history

Lesson learned: always carry extra matches.

Story

The narrative revolves around The Change, a mysterious event that turned Earth into barren wastelands. In the future, survival is your only goal. In the past, you must collect the essences of people lost during the catastrophe. The Traveler works for the enigmatic Collective, and every decision pushes her deeper into a dangerous paradox. Want a clear mind? Too bad. The more essences you carry, the more haunted you become.

Atmosphere

The game blends Eastern European brutalist architecture with bleak, sci-fi aesthetics. Future ruins stand in stark contrast with the raw, concrete structures of the 80s. It feels authentic yet otherworldly. Music by Arkadiusz Reikowski drives the tension, making even empty corridors feel alive. And not in a good way.

Why it Stands Out

• Third-person survival horror with unique time-travel mechanics
• Developed by Bloober Team, known for The Medium and Layers of Fear
• Enemies evolve if not burned – combat is about strategy, not just aim
• Psychological elements blur the line between reality and hallucination

Release and Platforms

Cronos: The New Dawn launches on September 5, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it’s visually sharp but emotionally rough. Don’t expect comfort. Expect fear.

Similar Games

If you liked The Callisto Protocol, Dead Space, or even Silent Hill 2 Remake, this game fits right in. It doesn’t copy them, but it scratches the same itch – that uneasy mix of survival, horror, and curiosity.

Need a challenge? You got it. Want a horror that plays with time as much as with your nerves? That’s Cronos: The New Dawn.