What to know

  • Main story takes 15-20 hours, depending on your playstyle.
  • Completionists can expect 25-30 hours to uncover all secrets.
  • New Game+ mode adds replayability with tougher challenges.
  • Time-travel mechanics and branching choices extend playtime.

Get ready to lose yourself in the eerie, time-bending world of Cronos: The New Dawn. Bloober Team’s latest survival horror game blends sci-fi and terror, set in a haunting, alternate 1980s Poland. If you’re wondering how long it’ll take to conquer this atmospheric adventure, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the playtime, objectives, and what makes this game worth your hours.

How long is the main story?

For a standard playthrough focusing on the main story, you’ll spend around 15-20 hours navigating the creepy corridors and post-apocalyptic wastelands of Cronos: The New Dawn. This estimate comes from playtests and reviews, with some variation depending on your approach. If you rush through, skipping optional exploration, you might hit the lower end—closer to 15-16 hours. But if you take your time soaking in the unsettling atmosphere or struggle with the game’s tough combat, expect to hover near 20 hours. The game’s restrictive inventory and challenging enemies, like the monstrous Orphans, can slow you down, especially if you’re cautious.

What about a completionist run?

If you’re the type who hunts every collectible, lore file, and achievement, brace for a longer journey. A full completionist run, including all trophies, alternate paths, and hidden secrets, clocks in at 25-30 hours. The game rewards exploration with files that deepen its rich narrative, inspired by films like 12 Monkeys and The Thing. Many collectibles tie into the story, so even semi-completionists will naturally extend their playtime. The layered time-travel mechanics and multiple endings also encourage replays, pushing the hours higher for dedicated players.

New Game+ and replayability

Once you’ve seen the credits roll, Cronos: The New Dawn tempts you back with a New Game+ mode. This ramps up the difficulty with tankier enemies but lets you carry over weapon and suit upgrades, making subsequent runs smoother yet still thrilling. Directors Wojciech Piejko and Jacek Zięba have emphasized that you’ll need at least two playthroughs to fully grasp the story’s depth, potentially doubling your time to around 36 hours for a second run. New skins and varied weapon combinations add extra incentive to dive back in, ensuring the game stays fresh.

Key objectives to guide your journey

The game’s structure revolves around a central hub—a defunct tram station—connecting you to various sectors. Your missions as the Traveler, an agent for the mysterious Collective, involve time-jumping to extract key figures from a doomed timeline. Here’s the full list of objectives you’ll tackle:

  • Find the Predecessor
  • Head for the housing project in Sector D-3
  • Head for the Dive Point
  • Find the Target: Edward Wisniewski
  • Find the tram in station A
  • Power up the tram
  • Head for the Steelworks in Sector A-11
  • Head for the Dive Point
  • Find the foreman’s office
  • Launch the Ascendance Sequence
  • Head to the hospital in Sector A-0
  • Find the Target: Dr. Dawid Zybert
  • Find Weronika
  • Launch the Ascendance Sequence
  • Find the tram in station B
  • Power up the tram
  • Find the abbey
  • Head for the Dive Point
  • Find the Warden
  • Find the Pathfinder

These objectives drive the narrative, with each sector—like the Apartments, Steelworks, Hospital, and Abbey—offering unique challenges and puzzles. Expect to backtrack and explore, as the interconnected areas hide secrets that enhance both story and gameplay.

Why the playtime feels just right

Unlike shorter horror games that wrap up in 8-10 hours, Cronos: The New Dawn stands out with its substantial length. The 15-20 hour main story feels meaty for the genre, blending tactical combat, puzzles, and time-travel mechanics inspired by Dead Space and Resident Evil. The extra hours for completionists are justified by the depth of lore and branching choices, which make every decision feel impactful. The game’s retrofuturistic setting, rooted in 1980s Poland’s brutalist architecture, adds a layer of immersion that makes every minute gripping.

Availability and platforms

You can play Cronos: The New Dawn on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and macOS, released on September 5, 2025. No pricing details are widely available, but check platforms like Steam or the PlayStation Store for the latest. The game’s single-player focus ensures a consistent experience across all systems, with no multiplayer to stretch playtime further.

Is it worth your time?

With its blend of survival horror and sci-fi, Cronos: The New Dawn delivers a robust experience that justifies its runtime. The game’s difficulty, especially in combat and resource management, ensures you’re always on edge, while the replayable New Game+ mode and multiple endings reward your investment. Whether you’re in for a quick scare or a deep dive into its lore, the playtime feels balanced and engaging.