Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 68 | 44 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 64% | 63 | 443 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 48% | 51 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 2 total reviews in window · weighted 0.6 up / 0.7 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (66)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Chronos: Before the Ashes may have its flaws, but the core experience, the combat, is solid, with a cool aging mechanic added on top that fundamentally changes the way you play the game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Chronos: Before the Ashes is a pretty good adventure title, that comes with a rather simple combat system, some cool locations, and an intriguing plot, which focuses on mystery and puzzle solving. Some of the levels may feel repetative, but if you want to take a break from big budget games and spend some quite and comfy times with something of a smaller scale on the holiday season, then Chronos is a pretty good choice for that.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The four-year VR exclusivity period only made Chronos: Before the Ashes a better game. It might not be 2020’s top dungeon crawler, but it shows how much Gunfire Games grew in the last gen from Chronos until Remnants:From the Ashes. A very fun romp.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Though it may not reach the same atmospheric levels as Demon Souls or Bloodborne, action RPG fans would do well to give Chronos: Before the Ashes a chance to test their killing abilities.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It has the weighty action and focus on learning enemy patterns to punish, but at eight hours to beat it’s relatively short and is lacking depth in many of its systems. At $30 and with an easier learning curve this is a good starter for anyone who hasn’t played this style of game, but veteran players may find the experience underwhelming.”
read full review ↗ - 63
“One of the tough elements of releasing a game on the Switch is that when you take on a gameplay style even remotely similar to one of its pillar titles, whether fully fair or not, you're going to be compared a bit...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Although this pays homage to industry legends like Dark Souls, as well as The Legend of Zelda series, don't come in Chronos: Before the Ashes looking a worthy successor to these - not even a game that plays like Remnant: From the Ashes, which is actually its sequel. Those who try it out with such expectations will be severely disappointed, especially if in need for something with 100+ hour replay value. You are advised to judge it by its own merits, and discover what is actually a great, immersive ARPG, with simple, yet very good combat, visuals, atmosphere, and story.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Chronos: Before the Ashes feels dated and awkward, though its intriguing world and unique aging mechanic will probably earn it some fans in the crowded action RPG landscape.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Add to this a genuinely unique aging mechanic and Chronos: Before the Ashes manages to stand out from the crowd in a genre that seems bent on enraging its player base. While I wish the Switch version, particularly handheld mode, was more robust, I still greatly enjoyed my time with it. There is a very satisfying adventure here, but on Switch you may need to dig a little deeper to find it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Chronos: Before the Ashes is a solid game for people like me who struggle with the genre. It is not as punishing and the death mechanic is unique and interesting. It kept me going throughout the campaign and I was able to tie some of the lore from Remnant up. I suggest checking this one out if you want to take a baby step into the genre. This game is much more accessible to those that struggle, but want to experience what everyone seems to be talking about. I am stoked to see what Gunfire Games comes up with next.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Although the technical part did not show any performance issues, the bugs we encountered made our lives a bit difficult and although it does not seem to be a widespread problem, we must mention it.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“Chronos: Before the Ashes will draw comparisons to the Souls series, but its unique aging concept Is one area where it stands out. Unfortunately there are other areas such as combat, where the comparison is less favorable. It doesn’t quite measure up to its successor, Remnant: Before the Ashes, but the connected plot points were certainly welcome.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Chronos Patch #1 - Bugfixes & Italian LanguageDec 23, 2020