Cronos: The New Dawn Sprinkles a Welcome Dose of Cuteness…

Cronos: The New Dawn is developer Bloober Team's latest entry in the third-person psychological survival horror genre. Following a number of titles that focused more on first-person exploration and puzzle-solving along the lines of Amnesia, rather than tense, nail-baiting combat with scarce resource management, Cronos: The New Dawn lies heavily on the latter end of the scale. Bloober Team members have made no bones about their latest title taking inspiration from some of the most celebrated and popular survival horror games of all-time, namely Dead Space and Resident Evil 4, and this certainly shows through in much of Cronos' gameplay and design.

Cronos The New Dawn screenshot traveling looking out at orange ruins

The premise and setting of Cronos: The New Dawn are also presented incredibly well, especially via the stunning visuals and classically claustrophobic level design. Bloober does an excellent job imparting the desolate and haunting feel of its world across two timelines. In a future ravaged by a strange global pandemic, an armored figure known only as the Traveler must brave time rifts to the past, searching for specific humans to collect their "Essences" in a desperate bid to prevent the catastrophe. And though it rarely lets up in terms of its oppressive and dour vibes, there is one inclusion in Cronos: The New Dawn that provides a somewhat surprising and much-needed break from the otherwise incessant terror.

Cronos: The New Dawn Cuts Up Its Nonstop Horror with a Smattering of Feline Companionship

Cronos The New Dawn screenshot cynamon cat

Cronos: The New Dawn's Unrelentingly Bleak Atmosphere

Cronos: The New Dawn's setting and story paint an incredibly depressing picture of both its future timeline and the past of the early 1980s, when the cataclysmic event known as The Change began to spread and decimate humanity, subsequently turning most of the surviving population into the twisted creatures called Orphans. As the Traveler moves between the two worlds, both are constantly covered in layers of fear, whether it be an Orphan lurking in the shadows or an investigation that more often than not reveals horrifying outcomes. It can often be overbearing to a large extent. But the Traveler can find a bit of consolation at times from an unexpected source.

Cronos The New Dawn screenshot traveler and dead predecessor

Cronos: The New Dawn's Cats Are Both Comforting Encounters and Valuable Resources

Cronos The New Dawn screenshot back and white cat

While tracking down Essences in the ruined landscapes of what remains of its version of Poland's Nowa Huta district, located in Kraków, the Traveler can come across stray cats in Cronos: The New Dawn. These felines will usually dart in front of the Traveler to lead them to the next important location, while at other times their presence is heralded by a faint meowing behind a door or wall, and the Traveler must find a way to reach them.

Cronos The New Dawn screenshot petting cat 1

It's notable in that the Traveler comes across as largely detached, meticulously observing and cataloging events in an almost robotic and clinical way even when confronted with abominations or heartbreaking scenes of loss. But even they don't seem to be immune to the renowned charms of cats. Once found, the Traveler can interact with them, giving the furry friends a gentle pet and revealing their names. The kitties will then show up in each hub area's safe room, adding a touch of companionship to an isolating experience. The cats also function as a kind of collectible, leaving behind extra items and upgrades, which can come in handy on the gameplay side for surviving the journey.

Fans may recall that another similar horror title, The Evil Within 2, also featured a mischievous cat that would appear variously and show up in safe rooms.

Animals can be a great source of comfort in real life, and Cronos: The New Dawn seems to acknowledge this by having the presence of cats provide at least a moment of respite from its disturbing hellscape. The fact that its cats are also useful in terms of gameplay makes them more than set-dressing and another incentive to rescue, if one was even needed. Their inclusion here, while a little surreal given its bizarre and brutal world, adds a humanizing element to Cronos: The New Dawn's style of horror and its protagonist, which helps give them both a small but extremely welcome sense of comfort and relatability.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image