The Chronos: Before the Ashes Switch NSP is the digital version of the game. For users who have homebrew-enabled Switches (using Atmosphere or SX OS), the NSP file is the preferred method for installation because:
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.
Even with the NSP installed, you may want to tweak the experience. Because Chronos is not the most optimized port, here are some tips: 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.
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. The Chronos: Before the Ashes Switch NSP is
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.”
Disclaimer: Modifying your Nintendo Switch violates Nintendo’s Terms of Service and may result in a console ban. Proceed at your own risk.
Assuming you have a compatible Switch (unpatched Erista model or a modded Mariko/Lite with a modchip) running Atmosphere 1.5.0 or higher, here is the standard method to install the Chronos: Before the Ashes Switch NSP:
The defining feature of Chronos is how it handles death and progression. You play as a hero trying to save their world from a dragon. Every time you die, you do not simply respawn; you age by one year.
You play as a young hero tasked with entering a mysterious labyrinth to save your homeworld from a great evil. The labyrinth is a non-linear, interconnected dungeon (reminiscent of the first Dark Souls firelink shrine hub). Every time you die, you do not simply respawn at a checkpoint. Even with the NSP installed, you may want
Instead, you are resurrected via a magical crystal, but you age by one year.
Starting at age 18, you can theoretically age up to 80+. As you age, your physical stats (Strength, Dexterity, Vitality) shift. You become wiser (increasing magic stats) but physically weaker (losing raw melee power and stamina). This forces the player to evolve their playstyle over the course of the game—from a nimble warrior-dodger in their 20s to a wise, spell-slinging mage in their 60s.
Pros:
Cons: