Published by: THQ Nordic Developer: Gunfire Games (Creators of Remnant: From the Ashes) Genre: Action RPG / Rogue-Lite / Dungeon Crawler
When you hear the name Remnant: From the Ashes, you think of fast-paced, third-person shooting. But before that world existed, Gunfire Games experimented with a unique, slow-burn concept involving age, memory, and sacrifice. That experiment was Chronos: Before the Ashes.
Originally a VR-exclusive title (simply called Chronos) for the Oculus Rift, the game was re-engineered for flat screens and released on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Stadia, and the Nintendo Switch in December 2020. For Switch owners, especially those looking for the Chronos: Before the Ashes Switch NSP, the game represents a curious paradox: a portable, challenging souls-lite that literally gets harder as your character gets older.
This article dives deep into the game itself, the specifics of the Switch port, and what you need to know about the NSP (Nintendo Submission Package) format for this title. Chronos- Before the Ashes Switch NSP
Yes, but with caveats.
If you are a fan of Remnant: From the Ashes and want to see the mythology’s origin, Chronos is a fascinating prequel. The aging mechanic is brilliant, forcing genuine emotional attachment to a character you watch go from a spry 18-year-old to a grizzled 70-year-old mage. The Switch version preserves that core gameplay perfectly.
However, if you have a PC or a PS4/PS5, buy it there. The frame rate and loading times on Switch are objectively worse. Chronos: Before the Ashes Switch NSP – A
Only buy the Switch NSP version if:
For the digital collector or the modding community searching for the Chronos: Before the Ashes Switch NSP, understand that while the file is small and the game is unique, the hardware ultimately kneecaps the experience. It is a brilliant game trapped in a mediocre port.
Final Score (Switch Version): 6.5/10 “An innovative time-looping RPG undone by technical compromises on Nintendo’s hybrid console. Play for the ideas, endure the loading.” Verdict: Is Chronos: Before the Ashes Worth Your Time
Before we get into the technicalities of the NSP file, let’s discuss the game itself. Developed by Gunfire Games, Chronos: Before the Ashes is a atmospheric action-RPG that tells the origin story of the labyrinthine world seen in Remnant.
Unlike its cousin Remnant (a third-person shooter), Chronos is a slow, methodical dungeon-crawler focused on melee combat, parries, and puzzle-solving. You play as a young hero entering a mysterious labyrinth to save their home from a great evil.
But here is the brilliant twist: Every time you die, your character ages by one year.