In Cronos, you play as the lovingly named Traveler ND-3576. Following the Change, which turned humans into monsters called Orphans, you work for an organization called the Collective, finding time-travel points that take you back to 1980s Poland in the hope of finding and extracting people who didn’t survive. Because working for a mysterious organization has never, ever gone wrong.
With a suit taken straight from a ’60s sci-fi movie, the Traveler (and, in effect, you) will have to slowly walk through spooky, run-down buildings, finding resources and eventually fighting off Orphans. While they’re not Necromorphs, the Orphans look like a more violent take on the monster from The Thing, and in reality, they fight just as hard. Unsurprisingly, the suit the Traveler is wearing isn’t very nimble.
Cronos works so well because it oozes the intense, dread-inducing atmosphere that makes horror games so effective. Every corner feels like it could be hiding a monster, and that fear makes every level feel like a nightmarish experience. Considering how big of a hit Silent Hill 2’s remake was, I’m surprised I don’t see more conversation around Cronos because, for all intents and purposes, it’s like a sci-fi take on the beloved horror franchise. Just with slightly more body horror for good measure.
At least if the Change ever happens in our reality, you’ll be well-prepared for it. I’m going to need a less bulky suit, though.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.
Have thoughts, questions, or benchmarks on this topic? Join the discussion on our forums.
Join Discussion ➔
Join the conversation