Total Chaos is a horror experience from the New Zealand studio Trigger Happy Interactive, well-known for the frenetic Turbo Overkill (2022), and the independent publisher Apogee Entertainment. Initially launched for Xbox in 2018, the game started as an ambitious and extreme total conversion mod for Doom 2. Now, it’s finally coming to PC during the second quarter of 2025. It will be available on Steam, with future updates planned to include Steam VR support. A free demo will also be available soon, though its release date is still pending but expected early this year.
The concept of Total Chaos might not be the most original, but it is undoubtedly effective and well-executed. Players are abandoned in a terrifying world across nine chapters of linear storytelling, stranded on the desolate island of Fort Oasis. To survive, they must rely on scattered, unreliable clues and makeshift weapons recovered along the way. Inspired by classic survival horror but with modern game design, Total Chaos immerses players in feelings of isolation, fear, and the desperate need to survive in environments that seem on the verge of collapse. These sensations are further enhanced by dynamic lighting, detailed visuals, and a soundtrack that perfectly captures the tense atmosphere.
The Terrible Story Behind Total Chaos
In Total Chaos, players take on the role of a coast guard who, after a shipwreck, finds himself on the rocky shores of Fort Oasis, a desolate and mysterious mining outpost. The only guide, if it can be called that, is a mysterious voice on the radio urging, “Get to the mines…” But can this voice be trusted? And if not, are there any other options? Perhaps the most unsettling question is, why does this place feel so familiar to the protagonist?
From this starting point, the story unfolds over nine highly claustrophobic chapters, with a tenth chapter available as a DLC included with the base game at launch. The narrative takes players through a world of psychological horror, filled with desolate locations such as forgotten cemeteries, ruined buildings, and empty prisons. These places harbor supernatural phenomena, vague and scattered clues, and the tools needed to survive. Since the game is so focused on desolation, you might wonder, survive what? Loneliness? That could be one option, but in Total Chaos, players will face multiple creatures whose characteristics are at least disturbing. These enemies adapt to the strategies used against them, becoming more determined to find the player, who will mainly rely on improvised tools, like a wrench or a homemade axe, for defense. Advanced weapons will either be scarce or non-existent, meaning that more often than not, survival will depend on ingenuity rather than the tools themselves.
We’re looking at a combination of psychological terror and an oppressive atmosphere in a setting inspired by classic survival horror games, but with modern and innovative design. Enemies adapt to each player’s movements, delivering a unique experience. Total Chaos doesn’t rely on cheap jumpscares but immerses players in an unsettling narrative, where they will not only feel pressured by the well-crafted visual aspect but also constantly hear a chilling soundtrack designed to give them goosebumps.
“This game is designed to make you feel truly helpless and alone. Survival horror isn’t just about scares, but about atmosphere and psychological tension, and we’re pushing those elements to the extreme with Total Chaos.”
Sam Prebble, developer at Trigger Happy Interactive
If you’ve read some of my previous articles, you might conclude that this is definitely my kind of game! But, just like you, I’ll have to wait for more news about its final release date. So, while we wait, how about we meet in the comments and chat about what we think of this version of Total Chaos? Come on, gamer, you know, we’ll be reading you! 🙂
Images Source: IGN Official YouTube Channel, Total Chaos on Steam