Ever since the release ofDead Space, several video games have attempted to replicate the atmosphere, setting, and vibe of the 2008 horror classic. Striking Distance Studios’The Callisto Protocol, for instance, was heavily inspired by theDead Spaceseries, from its overall story set-up to its melee combat system. It, however, wasn’t able to live up to fan expectations; many derided it as a clunky, underwhelming horror game. Luckily, other companies, like Bloober Team, are also taking a crack at making aDead Spacespiritual successor.Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober’s next project, seems to be a great example of this.
Cronos: The New Dawnis the first new game from Bloober Team following its release ofthe critically-acclaimedSilent Hill 2remake. It was revealed during an Xbox Partner Preview event late last year, and it’s currently scheduled to come out sometime in 2025. AlthoughCronos: The New Dawndoesn’t take place in a derelict spaceship, likeDead Spacedoes, it features many of the elements from the iconic game, such as its close-quarters third-person combat and futuristic setting. As exciting as the upcoming game sounds, though, it may face some strong competition in theDead Spacesuccessor market.
Displacement Could Be a Big Competitor to Cronos: The New Dawn
Displacement is an Upcoming Horror Game with Temperature-Based Gameplay Mechanics
Earlier this month, an independent developer by the name of Obelisk Studio revealed that it was working ona new original game calledDisplacement. This upcoming title is a first-person action-horror game that shares a lot in common with theDead Spacefranchise andhas a few similarities toCronos: The New Dawn.Displacementtakes place in a frozen polar station, where all of its inhabitants have fallen victim to a strange plague which has turned them insane. Players are placed into the shoes of a lone psychologist, who must make their way through this decrepit station and discover the source of this disease.
Displacementfeatures a couple of interesting gameplay mechanics that set itself apart fromotherDead Space-likes. For one,Displacementfeatures a unique temperature system that it utilizes in multiple ways. Players have access to a special weapon that can burn or freeze enemies at will, which also has the ability to shatter obstacles, freeze locks, overheat weapons, and ignite traps. There are temperature-based puzzles in the game, as well. In some instances, players will have to redirect heat between rooms or thaw certain objects to progress through a level. Last but not least, gamers can also build their own makeshift heat sources in order to withstand the cold.
Combat in Displacement is Melee-Heavy, and the Game’s UI is Very Limited
Similar to theDead Spacegames,Displacementfeatures melee elements in combat. The game contains 20 close-range weapons, many of which have their own gory execution animations. The environments inDisplacementare also highly interactive; players can use a lot of the items they find in their surroundings as improvised weapons. Although the game is in first-person, unlikeDead SpaceandCronos: The New Dawn, its UI is very limited and emphasizes immersion. The originalDead Spacewas, likewise, notable for its minimalist approach to UI design.
Although Displacement May Be a Ways Off, it Could Steal Some Thunder from Cronos: The New Dawn
The company behindDisplacement, Obelisk Studio, has been involved with the production of several titles, likeFar Cry 6,Love, Death & Robots,andSons of the Forest, but it’s never made a game of this scope before. On Obelisk Studio’s official website, the company notes that its Alpha vertical slice ofDisplacementis almost complete. However, the game doesn’t have enough funding yet and may not be completed without the support of fans. With this in mind, it’s possible thatDisplacementmay still be a ways off. Nonetheless, if it exceeds expectations, it could steal some thunder fromDead Spacespiritual successors likeCronos: The New Dawn.
