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Chronos: Before the Ashes is a compact, atmospheric action-adventure RPG built around an unusual death penalty: each death ages its hero by one year. That hook gives the game a distinctive progression idea, but its reception is mixed, with reviewers praising its atmosphere, puzzles, and premise while pointing to simple combat and uneven execution. It may suit players looking for a smaller, exploratory adventure; it is less likely to satisfy anyone expecting a deep combat system or a full-scale Remnant experience.
What is Chronos: Before the Ashes?
Developed by Gunfire Games and THQ Nordic and published by THQ Nordic, Chronos: Before the Ashes is a prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. The publisher describes it as an overhaul of Chronos, a 2016 VR-exclusive game, rebuilt for play without VR. Its hero ventures into a labyrinth to save their homeland from a great evil, combining exploration and puzzle-solving with RPG progression and action combat.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Chronos Before the Ashes Xbox One | $14.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Chronos: Before The Ashes - Xbox One | $27.71 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Chronos: Before The Ashes - Nintendo Switch (Renewed) | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Chronos: Before the Ashes (Xbox One) | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Chronos: Before the Ashes (Nintendo Switch) | $21.03 | Buy on Amazon |
The connection to Remnant is chiefly its place in the same fictional world and the shared developer—not a promise of a similarly sized or mechanically equivalent game. Review excerpts specifically caution that it does not reach Remnant: From the Ashes‘s level of quality.
How does the aging mechanic work?
THQ Nordic’s official description puts the rule plainly: “Every time the player dies they age one year.” The intended effect is to shift the hero’s strengths over the course of play. The publisher presents youth as better suited to strength and agility, while an older character can improve magical abilities more readily.
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- Adventure RPG - refreshing combination of adventure game elements and RPG mechanics.
- Deep Combat - A variety of weapons, abilities and powers are available to the player in the pursuit of their quest.
- Unique aging mechanic - every time the player dies they age one year. Players must adapt to their advancing Age as they progress their character.
- Starting the game young, nimble and quick, and ending wise and more attuned to magic.
That makes death a progression trade-off as well as a setback: it advances the character into a different balance of capabilities rather than simply resetting the player. The official description establishes this as a change in character strengths; it does not establish aging as a fully developed narrative simulation.
What do reviews say?
The available reception is mixed. Steam showed a “Mixed” rating, with 62% positive from 580 user reviews when accessed in 2026; that figure can change over time. Critic excerpts collected by Metacritic likewise point to both appealing ideas and limitations.
Rank #2
- Adventure RPG - refreshing combination of adventure game elements and RPG mechanics
- Deep combat - a variety of weapons, abilities and powers are available to the player in the pursuit of their quest
- Unique aging mechanic - Every time the player dies they age One year. Players must adapt to their advancing age as they progress their character; starting the game young, nimble and quick, and ending wise and more attuned to magic
What reviewers liked
- Some critics describe it as a good small-scale adventure, highlighting its atmosphere, locations, mystery, and puzzle-solving.
- The aging system and Souls-style action give it a recognizable hook for players interested in action RPGs with a twist on progression.
What reviewers criticized
- Combat is described as simple, so players seeking elaborate action mechanics should temper expectations.
- Some levels feel repetitive, according to one critic excerpt.
- Other excerpts argue that the aging idea and narrative lose impact, or that the game falls short of Remnant: From the Ashes.
These excerpts are examples of the critical response, not a complete accounting of every review. Taken together, they suggest a game whose premise and atmosphere may be more compelling than the depth or consistency of its execution.
Is it a Soulslike?
Steam includes the Souls-like tag, and critic excerpts refer to ideas borrowed from Souls-style action. That makes the label relevant, but it should not be read as a guarantee of combat depth or scope comparable to better-known games in the genre. The strongest reason to consider Chronos is its aging-based progression paired with exploration and puzzles; reviewers’ comments about simple combat are an important counterweight.
Rank #3
- Adventure RPG - refreshing combination of adventure game elements and RPG mechanics
- Deep combat - a variety of weapons, abilities and powers are available to the player in the pursuit of their quest
- Unique aging mechanic - Every time the player dies they age One year. Players must adapt to their advancing age as they progress their character; starting the game young, nimble and quick, and ending wise and more attuned to magic
Platforms and PC requirements
At launch on December 1, 2020, THQ Nordic listed PC, Stadia, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. Current official storefront evidence confirms a Steam PC listing and a Nintendo Switch digital listing. The available information does not establish current Stadia access, so check the relevant live store before treating that platform as an option.
Nintendo’s US storefront lists the Switch edition as a 2.7 GB digital download for one player, with TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. Nintendo also says behavior is consistent on Switch 2. Its US listing gives the release date as December 1, 2020 and an ESRB rating descriptor of Blood, Mild Language, and Violence; those details are specific to that storefront and may differ by region.
Rank #4
- Adventure-RPG - Eine erfrischende Kombination aus Adventure-Elementen und RPG-Spielmechaniken
- Wilde Kämpfe - Dem Spieler steht bei seiner Aufgabe eine Vielzahl an Waffen, Fähigkeiten und Mächten zur Verfügung
- Einmalige Alterungsmechanik - Jedes Mal, wenn der Spieler stirbt, altert er ein Jahr
- Die Spieler müssen sich ans fortschreitende Alter anpassen, während sie ihren Charakter voranbringen
Steam PC specifications
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows | Not stated on the cited Steam listing |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon R7 370, 2 GB VRAM | Radeon RX 480 or GeForce GTX 970, 4 GB VRAM |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Not stated on the cited Steam listing |
| Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
These are the game’s requirements as listed on Steam. Steam separately notes that its client supports Windows 10 and later from January 1, 2024; that client requirement is distinct from the game’s listed operating-system requirement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Adventure RPG - Refreshing combination of adventure game elements and RPG mechanics.
- Deep Combat - A variety of weapons, abilities and powers are available to the player in the pursuit of their quest.
- Unique aging mechanic - Every time the player dies they age one year. Players must adapt to their advancing Age as they progress their character.
- Start the game young, nimble and quick, and ending wise and more attuned to magic.
Who should consider playing it?
- Consider it if you want a compact, atmospheric action RPG with puzzle exploration and an unusual progression mechanic, and you are comfortable with combat that critics have described as simple.
- Look elsewhere if you want consistently deep combat, an especially compelling narrative, or a game that matches the scale and quality of Remnant: From the Ashes.
- Choose by platform using a live, region-appropriate store listing. Current official evidence here confirms Steam PC and Nintendo Switch; verify other platform availability before buying.
Sources
- THQ Nordic launch announcement
- THQ Nordic game description
- Steam store listing and system requirements
- Nintendo US digital listing
- Metacritic critic reviews
- Steam user reviews
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
