Cronos: The New Dawn will be the next big project from Bloober Team, the Polish studio that most recently made waves with its surprisingly great Silent Hill 2 remake. Bloober had been emulating the Silent Hill series, its second entry in particular, for much of its existence, honing in on similar themes and aesthetics, so it was arguably the perfect pick for the remake. But now that this facet of Bloober’s destiny has been fulfilled, it appears to be moving on to another famed horror franchise: Dead Space.
That may not be completely fair to say—Cronos: The New Dawn is doing a lot to set itself apart from Dead Space—but its sci-fi premise and survival horror gameplay make Visceral Games’ classic space-faring franchise an easy comparison. In Cronos, players will be tasked with exploring a post-apocalyptic Earth teeming with bizarre humanoid monsters (which are certainly reminiscent of Dead Space‘s Necromorphs). Delving into mysterious time rifts will allow players to visit Poland in the 1980s, and this enigmatic time-travel mechanism appears to form the backbone of the game’s plot.
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What to Expect From Cronos: The New Dawn
Upcoming sci-fi horror title, Cronos: The New Dawn, promises an unsettling experience that draws from genre classics while adding its own flair.
Bloober Team Is Chasing Dead Space, Resident Evil Magic With Cronos: The New Dawn
Cronos Will Have Gameplay Similar to Resident Evil and Dead Space, Says Bloober
Gaming audiences aren’t the only ones comparing Cronos to Dead Space. In an interview with MP1st, Cronos‘ Game Director Wojciech Piejko directly cited both Dead Space and Resident Evil—presumably the post-RE4 entries—as having combat frameworks that Cronos will be “leaning towards.” Unfortunately, Piejko didn’t go into much more detail than that, but he did suggest that Cronos will take inspiration from Dead Space‘s limb-cutting mechanic, as well as Alan Wake‘s light-based combat:
I can’t reveal much right now, but in Dead Space you need to cut off Necromorphs’ limbs, in Alan Wake you need to use a flashlight on enemies, and in Cronos you will need to… wait to see it.
This statement from Piejko is intentionally vague and suggestive, so it’s not clear how literal he is being with these comparisons. It’s important to note that these comments are part of a larger conversation regarding the role of combat in survival horror, and the balance that Cronos is aiming to strike between gameplay, atmosphere, and narrative. So, while Cronos could have a literal translation or more direct evolution of Dead Space‘s limb-cutting mechanic, it seems likely that Piejko is speaking more broadly here, implying that the game is trying to capture a similarly iconic, unique combat mechanic that ratchets up a sense of fear.
Cronos: The New Dawn Learning From Dead Space Can Only Be a Good Thing
Gaming audiences are no doubt anxious to see how Cronos: The New Dawn turns out. While it has always had supporters, Bloober Team has been on the receiving end of a lot of flak over the years due to its mishandling of certain subjects and what some perceive to be barebones game design. But Silent Hill 2 is viewed as something of a turning point for the studio, even by Bloober’s CEO. This is good, but it also means that expectations for Cronos are much higher. And since it’s an original IP, it will also be expected to be more unique and innovative than the Silent Hill 2 remake.
Bloober won’t be able to build its legacy off “being like Dead Space,” just like it couldn’t stake its flag on “being like Silent Hill,” but taking inspiration from one of the best science-fiction survival horror games of all time seems like a fairly reasonable call. After all, Dead Space itself was heavily inspired by Resident Evil 4, and few could argue that it feels overly derivative of Capcom’s 2005 masterpiece. Hopefully, the same relationship will apply to Cronos and Dead Space.
Set in a grim world where Eastern European brutalism meets retro-futurist technology, Cronos: The New Dawn lets you experience a gripping story that straddles the line between past and future.
In the past, you will witness a world in the throes of The Change, a cataclysmic event that forever altered humanity. Meanwhile, in the ravaged wastelands of the future, every moment is a fight for survival against dangerous abominations that will test both your reflexes and your tactical thinking.
You are a Traveler acting as an agent for the enigmatic Collective, tasked with scouring the wastelands of the future in search of specific time rifts that will transport you back to 1980s-era Poland.
Harvester of Souls
Your mission is to locate key people from the past who perished in the ensuing apocalypse. Using your all-powerful Harvester, you can extract their Essences and have them accompany you into the future.
Plan Every Move
In a desolate world filled with ever-present danger, your survival hinges on your ability to strategize and plan ahead. The enemies you’ll encounter are nightmarish creatures, born from the remnants of humanity – defeating them will require you to make full use of your arsenal. During battle, quick decisions can mean the difference between life and death.
Survival Horror
Science Fiction
- Released
- 2025
- Engine
- Unreal Engine
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Strong Language