Chrono Odyssey is one of those rare MMOs that immediately sparks curiosity the moment you step into its world. Marketed as a dark fantasy, open-world action MMORPG with a sandbox lean, it blends the deliberate, weighty feel of Soulslike combat with the scale and systems of a full-fledged MMO. After roughly 70 hours across multiple beta tests and hands-on time with the early-game content (levels 1–25), it's clear this is a game brimming with promise—but also one that still has a lot to prove.

This review is based strictly on the beta build available this month. While the developers have already addressed some issues behind the scenes, what players will experience is very close to what's described here.

First Impressions: A Soulslike MMO, First and Foremost

Chrono Odyssey doesn't feel like a traditional MMO wearing a Soulslike skin. It genuinely plays like what a Souls game might become if it were built for hundreds of players instead of one. Movement is heavy, attacks are committed, and mistakes are punished. There's no mindless button-mashing here—you're expected to dodge, block, and think.

That said, the sense of inertia can feel a bit too strong at times. Jumping and forward momentum in particular may frustrate players who prefer snappier, more responsive controls. Still, once you settle into the rhythm, the combat becomes one of the game's strongest features.

Visuals and World Design: Stunning, But Uneven

Built on Unreal Engine 5, Chrono Odyssey delivers some truly breathtaking environments. When the lighting hits just right, the world looks like something straight out of a high-budget single-player RPG. Sweeping landscapes, imposing ruins, and detailed character models all contribute to a powerful first impression.

However, the presentation isn't consistently polished. Lighting can dramatically shift the quality of a scene—zones that look incredible in sunlight can feel muddy, oversaturated, or overly dark at night or in certain weather conditions. Character faces, in particular, can look drastically different between the character creator and in-game, depending on the lighting and camera angle.

Character customization also feels like a mixed bag. While there are plenty of sliders and body customization options (which are easily one of the highlights), fine-tuning facial features to create a specific look can be surprisingly difficult. You'll be able to make some wild, exaggerated characters—but recreating a precise or realistic face is a challenge.

Game Structure: Freedom Over Hand-Holding

Chrono Odyssey wastes no time introducing you to its core philosophy. Within your first 10 to 20 minutes, you're guided to a "Chronogate”—a solo, Soulslike boss encounter around level four. It's challenging, and many players won't beat it on their first try. That early difficulty spike does a great job of setting expectations: this is a game that wants you to engage with its combat systems from the start.

After that, the reins come off.

There's no rigid main story path forcing you forward. Progression is largely player-driven, and the game encourages you to choose how you want to grow stronger. You can:

Complete side quests for experience, gold, and gear

Take on dynamic zone events that pop up across the world

Hunt bounties—named enemies that reward large XP and special currency

Gather and craft gear through life skills (which also grant experience)

Explore freely, discovering field bosses, solo dungeons, and rare resources

This sense of organic adventure is one of Chrono Odyssey's biggest strengths. Leaving town doesn't feel like checking off a to-do list—it feels like going on an actual journey. You might set out to grab a mount and end up harvesting materials, stumbling into a dynamic event, and uncovering a hidden boss spawn along the way.

According to the developers, this freedom-focused design is intended to carry into the endgame as well, rather than becoming another "daily homework"MMO. If they can deliver on that promise, it could set Chrono Odyssey apart from many of its competitors.

PvE Content: Solid Foundations, Mixed Execution

Chrono Odyssey offers a wide range of PvE activities:

Group Dungeons: Ranging from three-player dungeons to five-player content and even 10-player raids. The early three-player dungeon feels like a solid introduction, with reasonable rewards and decent pacing.

Trials: A solo, gauntlet-style dungeon where death kicks you out entirely. These reward a special currency used for permanent stat boosts and gear.

Time Portals: Short, key-based instances that drop gems used to upgrade skills. Functional, but fairly shallow in early game.

Labyrinths: Puzzle-style solo dungeons that grant permanent stat upgrades. These currently feel clunky and underwhelming, especially due to awkward movement and frustrating mechanics.

World and Field Bosses: Surprisingly fun and challenging, especially when you're undergeared. These encounters stand out as some of the most engaging PvE content available.

While the variety is impressive, not everything feels equally polished. The open-world boss fights shine, but some of the solo instance content feels more like a chore than an adventure.

PvP: Potential, But Not Ready

PvP is clearly still in its infancy. Right now, players can duel or flag themselves for open-world PvP. Unfortunately, both systems feel rough. Duels are plagued by awkward design choices, like tiny arenas and line-of-sight-blocking pillars. Open-world PvP lacks incentives, and you can't even party with friends while flagged.

The developers have stated that true PvP content—such as conflict zones and larger-scale PvE/PvP hybrid areas—is planned for launch. On the bright side, the combat system itself shows promise in PvP. Crowd control is impactful but short, dodges and blocks matter, and landing hits actually takes skill. With better structure and rewards, PvP could become a standout feature.

Combat: The Heart of the Experience

Combat is where Chrono Odyssey truly shines. It's slower and more deliberate than many action MMOs,with cheap Chrono Odyssey Gold, but not clunky. You're limited to a small, meaningful set of abilities per weapon, with a strong emphasis on timing, positioning, and resource management.

Weapon swapping plays a major role, offering buffs, resource regeneration, and combo potential when done well. It might not appeal to everyone at first, but once you get comfortable, it adds depth and flow to fights.

Ranged players even get headshot modifiers, adding a genuine aiming element to combat. Overall, the system is approachable for newcomers but has a high enough skill ceiling to reward mastery.

Classes: Strong Identity, Promising Variety

There are six planned classes in total, though only three—Swordsman, Ranger, and Berserker—are available in the current beta. Each feels distinct, with its own playstyle and weapon options.

The Berserker, in particular, stands out with its aggressive, flashy weapon kits like chain blades and twin axes. Even in this limited preview, class identity feels solid, and there's a good chance players will find something that clicks with their preferred style.

Monetization: A Big Question Mark

The developers have publicly committed to avoiding pay-to-win, stating that monetization will focus on cosmetics and a battle pass. There has been some mixed messaging around "convenience items,"which has raised concerns.

In direct interactions, the team has strongly emphasized their anti-pay-to-win stance, positioning Chrono Odyssey as a potential outlier among Korean MMOs. Ultimately, though, this is something players will need to judge at launch. Promises are one thing—implementation is another.

Final Verdict: A Canvas Full of Potential

Chrono Odyssey feels like a game standing on the edge of something great. Its combat is engaging, its world encourages real exploration, and its core design philosophy breaks away from the rigid, checklist-driven structure of many modern MMOs.

But there are real concerns. The game currently suffers from a noticeable lack of polish, with numerous small bugs and quality-of-life issues that chip away at the experience. More importantly, the endgame remains a question mark. Without a compelling long-term loop, even the best early-game experience can fade quickly.

Right now, Chrono Odyssey Gold feels like an ambitious indie project wearing AAA clothing. The vision is there. The potential is undeniable. Whether it becomes something truly special depends entirely on how well the developers can refine, stabilize, and expand what they've built.

For now, it's a game worth watching—and, if you enjoy Soulslike combat and open-ended MMO design, absolutely worth trying.