Today is the day that Ascend to Zero has finally released on Xbox Series and PC, and after getting to grips with the final version of the game today (and following a good showing during Next Fest), I’m here to recommend you check it out, especially if you’ve got a Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
The central premise of Ascend to Zero asks a simple but enticing question: What would it feel like to stop time in the heat of battle?
What is Ascend to Zero?
Developed by Flyway Games and published by Krafton, Ascend to Zero is a sci-fi action-roguelite with a time-stopping twist and a survivors-like spin.
In Ascend to Zero, you play as humanity’s last survivor after a devastating mechanical invasion wipes out civilisation. Armed with time-bending powers, you must fight to save your team, and then undo the events that brought mankind to the brink of extinction.
During each run, you start with just 30 seconds to eliminate hordes of attacking robots. Your greatest advantage, however, is the ability to freeze time at the press of a button. This can be used to evade deadly attacks, collect fallen upgrades, and preserve or even add precious seconds to the clock as you fight to survive for longer.
Each room is marked by the level of enemies lurking within, encouraging you to farm XP and strengthen your character before pushing deeper into the run. It’s a neat system, as you can refer to the map and plan your route to the boss before hopping in a portal and then restarting an area and taking a new path.
When time is standing still, you don’t have to, and you can explore at will. The catch is that every time you restart the clock, those precious seconds begin ticking away once more. Careful time management is essential, and every mistake can feel like a costly setback.
The combat felt like a blend of Brotato and Hades. Your weapons fire automatically, but survival hinges on carefully timing dodges to avoid incoming attacks telegraphed by visual cues.
I loved how nail-bitingly intense these close-quarters encounters could become, with split-second decisions often making the difference between success and failure. That said, the sheer volume of enemies, effects, and projectiles on screen could occasionally make the action feel a little cluttered.
Progression and upgrades
After a failed run, you’ll return to a hub area populated by a cast of blocky characters, each of whom you must rescue from the past. Each of these folks offers new ways to strengthen your future attempts.
It’s also back at base where you can unlock new weapons, gadgets, and pieces of armour, as well as expand your available equipment slots, giving you greater freedom to experiment with different builds.
You can also invest in upgrades for the time machine itself, granting temporary buffs provided you have the funds to spare. These enhancements can significantly ease the challenge, boosting key stats such as your starting time, XP gain, and gold income, making future runs far more manageable.
There’s also a sizeable roster of playable characters, each with their own unique skills that can significantly alter how you approach a run.
The Verdict
If you’re a fan of more action-focused roguelites, I’d highly recommend downloading it on Game Pass (PC and Ultimate), and if you’re looking for a survivors-like with an interesting focus on time management, I’d also recommend you take a closer look – there’s still a demo available on Steam so you can try before you buy!
Ascend to Zero’s time-bending mechanic adds a satisfying layer of tension to combat, forcing you to carefully time your strikes and think strategically about when to engage. There’s also a wealth of meta-progression options that allow you to shape your build over time and gradually adjust the difficulty as you fight to save humanity.
Ascend to Zero is out now on PC and Xbox Series X|S, and I played via access kindly provided by devs and their time-travelling PR friends!
