One reviewer succinctly noted that the game suffers from "significant stability issues on the Switch, with numerous glitches, severe frame rate drops, and overall poor performance, making it nearly unplayable". While "unplayable" might be an overstatement for some, it's clear that the Handheld mode is the weakest way to experience Chronos . For the best performance on Switch, it is highly recommended to play in TV or Tabletop mode.
Minor stuttering can occur during heavy combat encounters or when transitioning between major zones.
You play as a protagonist tasked with entering a mysterious labyrinth that opens only once a year. Your goal is to kill the guardian within and end the corruption. The game acts as a direct prequel to Remnant , explaining how the "Root" (the antagonistic force) first entered the world. 2. Unique Mechanics: Aging and Death Chronos- Before the Ashes Switch NSP
Fast forward to 2020: Gunfire Games and publisher THQ Nordic announced an overhauled, non-VR version of the game, titled . This new edition was rebuilt from the ground up to function on traditional screens, bringing its unique world and mechanics to a broader audience. The game was released on December 1, 2020, for multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia, and of course, the Nintendo Switch.
What begins as an exploration of a seemingly modern, abandoned underground facility quickly transitions via massive travel crystals into a dark, medieval fantasy world teeming with stone golems, hostile tribes, and deep mysteries. One reviewer succinctly noted that the game suffers
Loading screens when entering new zones or respawning after a death are moderate. Installing the NSP to fast internal storage (NAND) rather than an older MicroSD card yields the fastest results. Beginner Tips for Survival
Unlike the post-apocalyptic, gun-heavy world of Remnant: From the Ashes , Chronos leans heavily into atmospheric, dark fairytale fantasy. The story follows a young hero who is chosen by their tribe to embark on a lifelong quest to save their homeland from a great evil. Minor stuttering can occur during heavy combat encounters
Every death makes you one year older. While it feels like progress, you’re slowly trading raw power for mystical insight. The Prequel Connection
The combat is deliberate and punishing. It leans heavily into the soulslike genre, requiring precise timing for blocks, parries, and dodges. Button mashing will result in a quick trip to the "aging screen." On the Switch, the controls feel responsive, though the Joy-Cons’ smaller travel distance can make tight parry windows a bit more challenging than on a Pro Controller.
In the digital sphere, you may encounter the keyword "Chronos- Before the Ashes Switch NSP." The term stands for "Nintendo Submission Package," which is the official digital file format used by Nintendo for games downloaded directly from the eShop.
When users search for the keyword they are specifically looking at the digital package format of the game.