Chronos: Before the Ashes on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Chronos: Before the Ashes is an atmospheric RPG that chronicles a hero’s lifelong quest to save their homeland from a great evil.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is a action, souls-like and adventure game
developed by Gunfire Games and THQ Nordic
and published by THQ Nordic.
Released on December 01st 2020 is available only on Windows
in 10 languages: English, French, German, Spanish - Spain, Korean, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Japanese.
It has received 802 reviews of which 518 were positive and 284 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.3 out of 10. 😐
The game is currently priced at 7.49€ on Steam with a 75% discount, but you can find it for less on Gamivo.
The Steam community has classified Chronos: Before the Ashes into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7 / 8 / 10 64 bit
- Processor: AMD FX-8320 (3,5 GHz) / Intel i5-4690K (3,5 GHz) or better
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon R7 370 with 2 GB VRAM
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 8 GB available space
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Picked this up in a sale, purely because its related to Remnant and I loved that game. Other reviews seemed to say it was a very short and quite easy souls-like, so I thought I'd blast through for the lore. Ended up really enjoying it, it has a pretty heavy adventure game element to it, puzzle's are fairly similar to the old Resident evil game's and a few were very cool and quite original. Got stuck quite a few times but always managed to figure it out without resorting to a guide. The combat is really simplified and slow paced compared to Dark Souls although the controls are nearly identical. Souls players will find it easy but it would probably challenge genre beginners. The aging mechanic as punishment for death is unique but a little under-utilised, most players won't reach 40 I don't think. All in all, worth the sale price easily if you like old school adventure games or want to expand your Remnant lore (there's a fair bit here). Not so much if your a souls player looking for a similar game. Disregard my played hours (I pause games sometimes hrs at a time) but I guess it took me around 12hrs without a guide.
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Chronos: Before the Ashes, developed by Gunfire Games and THQ Nordic, is an atmospheric action RPG that serves as both a reimagining of the original 2016 VR title and a narrative prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. Removed from its virtual reality roots, the game presents a more traditional third-person adventure, where deliberate combat, methodical exploration, and a unique aging mechanic form the backbone of its identity. Rather than a grand open-world experience, it offers a focused, labyrinthine journey through mysterious ruins, mythical creatures, and shifting dimensions, wrapped in a melancholic tone that captures the feeling of a hero’s long, solitary struggle against time. The story follows a young hero who enters an ancient labyrinth to slay a dragon that has cursed their homeland. This seemingly simple premise unfolds through fragmented environmental storytelling rather than lengthy exposition, leaving much of the world’s history and meaning to the player’s interpretation. As the protagonist ventures deeper, the labyrinth becomes a living metaphor—a space that constantly reshapes itself, representing both external challenge and inner transformation. What sets Chronos apart is its intriguing twist on failure: every time the hero dies, a year passes, and they age. Youth is associated with physical power and agility, while age brings diminishing strength but greater wisdom and affinity for magic. This mechanic transforms death from mere punishment into a subtle form of progression, giving each mistake narrative and mechanical weight. The passage of time becomes a part of the experience, reflecting the persistence and toll of a lifelong quest. Combat in Chronos: Before the Ashes takes cues from the Soulslike genre but delivers its own rhythm and philosophy. Battles are slow, deliberate, and grounded in precision. Every encounter demands patience—attacks must be timed carefully, stamina must be managed, and learning enemy patterns is essential. Shields, dodges, and parries form the foundation of survival, and though the system never reaches the fluidity or depth of its genre inspirations, it carries a sense of weight and purpose. The protagonist’s strikes feel heavy, and every victory feels earned through discipline rather than speed. Some players might find the controls slightly stiff, especially during crowded fights or encounters with faster enemies, but this deliberate pacing complements the game’s introspective tone. Over time, combat evolves subtly as you invest points into strength, agility, or arcane attributes, shaping your approach according to how old your character has become. Younger versions rely on reflexes and melee proficiency, while older versions harness magical power and intelligence, mirroring the inevitable shift from physical prowess to wisdom. Exploration is equally central to the experience. The labyrinth is not a single sprawling maze but a collection of interconnected realms, each with its own distinct architecture and mood. These spaces—ranging from ancient stone corridors and mechanical ruins to dreamlike dimensions—reward curiosity and patience. Puzzles are woven naturally into the environment, often involving the discovery of hidden pathways, cryptic devices, or symbolic keys. The level design carries a sense of mystery that evokes early 2000s adventure games, where observation and memory matter more than hints or markers. There is no map to guide you, which can occasionally make navigation frustrating, but it also enhances the feeling of immersion. Each shortcut unlocked and puzzle solved feels like a personal discovery, grounding the player in the labyrinth’s eerie, self-contained world. The aging mechanic adds a fascinating, if imperfect, layer to this exploration. With every death, the world remains static, yet your character changes, both visually and statistically. Hair greys, posture shifts, and your affinity for certain abilities alters. While the idea holds enormous narrative and symbolic potential, it never fully transforms the experience beyond stat redistribution. The labyrinth itself does not reflect your passage through time—its monsters remain frozen, its puzzles unchanged, and the world largely indifferent to your aging. Still, the concept is compelling, lending a subtle poignancy to the player’s journey. By the time your hero reaches middle or old age, you feel the weight of their endurance, as if decades of perseverance have shaped them into something greater than mere adventurer—a mythic figure sustained by purpose rather than youth. Visually, Chronos: Before the Ashes carries the understated elegance that Gunfire Games is known for. The art direction favors stylization over realism, using soft lighting, moody palettes, and clean geometry to evoke a dreamlike quality. Its worlds feel ancient and lonely, touched by both decay and divinity. Though not technically impressive by modern standards, the presentation supports the game’s atmosphere beautifully. The sound design enhances this sense of quiet reverence—ambient echoes, faint music, and the distant hum of unseen mechanisms lend the labyrinth a haunting presence. The soundtrack, subdued yet emotional, underscores both the triumphs and tragedies of your long passage through time. Each death and rebirth feels accompanied by a melancholic note, reinforcing the introspective tone that defines the experience. As a prequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, Chronos establishes important thematic and narrative groundwork for that universe without relying on explicit connections. The two games share a sense of desolation, mystery, and cyclical struggle, yet Chronos feels more intimate and meditative. It replaces Remnant’s gunfire and chaos with swordplay and silence. The lore hints at the metaphysical origins of certain ideas seen in Remnant, but this is not a story about saving the world so much as understanding it. The sparse dialogue and environmental clues invite reflection rather than spectacle, encouraging the player to find meaning in persistence itself. It’s a smaller story told with restraint, which gives it a distinct personality within its shared universe. Chronos: Before the Ashes succeeds most when appreciated as a quiet, contemplative adventure rather than a punishing action game. Its slower pace, measured combat, and cyclical structure create a rhythm that rewards observation and endurance over aggression. It can at times feel repetitive, and the aging system’s narrative potential goes underutilized, but the strength of its concept and world design sustain it. The feeling of gradually mastering its labyrinth—both as a player and as a character growing older—gives the experience a satisfying sense of continuity and growth. It is a meditation on time, struggle, and the quiet dignity of persistence, presented through the language of combat and exploration. For those willing to embrace its deliberate pace and understated storytelling, Chronos: Before the Ashes offers a memorable and soulful journey through the twilight of youth and the wisdom of age. Rating: 7/10
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Pretty good game over all. Its a simple and short game that explains a little on what happened before remnant. So reviews complain about the controls, but I played with a controller and the game felt fine. Definitely worth picking up on sale,
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If you buy it on sale it's worth getting it, fun experience but with little depth. Controls are a bit wonky at times but combat functions well enough to be enjoyed, only the last boss has some weirder moves. Story isn't super clear or deep, it serves more as context for the other Remnant games. If you like to 100% games, this one is broken. There is no actual NG+ for the NG+ achievements so it's impossible to complete.
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10/10 I played Remnant from the ashes + remnant 2 before this one and this game is still a bagner!!!! Amazing begining for the trilogy I wish I played sooner!!!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Chronos: Before the Ashes is currently priced at 7.49€ on Steam.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is currently available at a 75% discount. You can purchase it for 7.49€ on Steam.
Chronos: Before the Ashes received 518 positive votes out of a total of 802 achieving a rating of 6.26.
😐
Chronos: Before the Ashes was developed by Gunfire Games and THQ Nordic and published by THQ Nordic.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is not playable on MacOS.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is not playable on Linux.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Chronos: Before the Ashes. Explore additional content available for Chronos: Before the Ashes on Steam.
Chronos: Before the Ashes does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Chronos: Before the Ashes does not support Steam Remote Play.
Chronos: Before the Ashes is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Chronos: Before the Ashes.
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 18 January 2026 10:35 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 27 January 2026 19:57 |
| Steam price | 28 January 2026 20:29 |
| Steam reviews | 26 January 2026 19:54 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Chronos: Before the Ashes, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Chronos: Before the Ashes
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Chronos: Before the Ashes concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Chronos: Before the Ashes compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
6
Developer
Gunfire Games,
THQ Nordic
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Release
01 Dec 2020
Platforms
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