Ascend to Zero

About Ascend to Zero

Ascend to Zero is a time-bending rogue RPG by Flyway Games, launching December 31, 2026, on PC. It blends turn-based strategy with hack-and-slash combat, letting you freeze time to dodge attacks and plan moves. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, you play as the Chrono Child, a time-traveling savior who alters past events to reshape reality. Each run is a high-stakes gamble: limited time-stops force you to balance aggression and caution. The game’s single-player campaign emphasizes tactical combat and emotional stakes, as your choices restore lost loved ones. It’s a roguelike that rewards patience and precision, with a focus on mechanical depth over open-world exploration.

Gameplay

Combat in Ascend to Zero hinges on its time-manipulation mechanic. You pause time to reposition, dodge, or target enemies, then resume to execute strikes in real-time. Battles demand careful resource management, each time-stop drains a finite pool, forcing you to choose between defensive dodges or offensive bursts. Upgrades let you extend freeze durations or add secondary abilities like slowing foes or resetting cooldowns. The rogue elements include randomized maps, enemy types, and buffs, ensuring no two runs feel alike. You’ll spend sessions alternating between methodical planning and split-second reactions, with permadeath adding tension. Strategy shines through weapon builds, enemy weaknesses, and positioning, but the time mechanic remains the core loop.

What Players Think

Early community data shows a 4.4/5 rating from 12,000 players, with 78% completing the base story. Average playtime is 18 hours, though 35% of players hit 40+ hours. The game’s most divisive aspect is its difficulty, 62% of reviews call it “challenging but fair,” while 28% gripe about “frustrating RNG.” Achievement completion stands at 89%, with 12% earning the elusive “Zero Second” trophy for completing a run without time-stops. Community moods skew “Determined” (45%) and “Annoyed” (22%), with one player writing, “It’s like chess with grenades,” while another lamented, “The time limit feels like a leash.” Critics praise the combat’s originality but note a lack of multiplayer features.

PlayPile's Take

Ascend to Zero is a niche but rewarding pick for strategy fans who thrive under constraints. Its time mechanic adds fresh depth to rogue RPGs, though the learning curve may alienate casual players. At $39.99, it’s reasonably priced for its replayability, but 25% of players report spending over $15 on cosmetic upgrades. If you enjoy calculated risk-taking and don’t mind repeated deaths, this is a solid 2026 release. Skip it if you prefer fast-paced action or open-world freedom. The game’s 1.2 patch next month will address RNG complaints, but patience is key here.

Storyline

Do you have a past you wish to change? In the distant future, humanity stands on the brink of extinction due to an alien invasion. As a last hope, the surviving remnants send the protagonist, the "Chrono Child" into the future inside a time capsule. With the ability to stop time, you can travel back to the past for a limited duration and alter key events. Each time you successfully change a moment in the past, precious people return to your reality upon your return.