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.

A decent adventure title which, despite its slow pace, just barely manages to earn its keep with combat, puzzle and exploration gameplay. It doesn’t live up to its predecessor, but it doesn’t seem like it’s trying to.

Chronos: Before the Ashes is a mostly successful attempt at making a more accessible roguelike that does not compromise its challenge too much. Its experience mechanic is a very welcome idea and something that has a lot of potential to be improved in future releases, but technical issues affecting its visual performance make this more difficult to enjoy on the Switch screen, and as such there's many players who might feel behind on what the game has to offer.

While performance and visual downgrades make it difficult to recommend the Switch version, Chronos: Before the Ashes is an intriguing and enjoyable rework of a once VR-exclusive title. Its unique ageing mechanic makes it worth looking into for souls fans.