8Bit/Digi

The Source of Suffering

Total Chaos has just joined the same exclusive club as Counter-Strike, The Stanley Parable, and DayZ. A rare group of games that began as mods before becoming fully released titles. Originally a Doom II mod, which still surprises me, it evolved into a standalone experience that plunges players into an unforgettable nightmare. Like the others mentioned, its leap from humble mod to complete game is remarkable given where it began and what it ultimately became.

There is more to Total Chaos than a mod that became a full game. It’s an atmospheric horror survival that avoids doing everything I’ve hated about the genre. Instead, it’s a great example of how an atmospheric horror survival should be, with a balance of survival and combat while making you feel hopeless in the situation.  At the same time, it makes you question reality and yourself.

Welcome to Fort Oasis

It’s April 1972, and a Coast Guardsman is out on patrol during an intense storm when they receive a distress call. Despite their best efforts, they can’t weather the storm and end up stranded on the island of Fort Oasis. Once a thriving mining community, the island has long since been abandoned and left to rot under decades of decay. Yet someone is still there, calling out for help as you step onto its haunted shores. As you descend deeper into the island, a sinister presence reveals itself, turning the mission into a slow descent into madness.

Like Dante Alighieri’s journey through the nine circles of the Inferno, players embark on a similar descent, but into the mouth of madness. Total Chaos is a classic Lovecraftian experience that pits players against the horrors of the unknown while completely cut off from the outside world. As others have before, players venture deep into the abyss of madness, though this time they are not seeking escape but answers to a question that has lingered within them for far too long. Those answers never fully arrive, leaving players to piece together fragments of meaning without ever seeing the full picture. This ambiguity works to the game’s advantage, as it explores themes that rarely offer clear answers or solutions, no matter how hard we search.

Down in my Cellar

The gameplay builds on the foundation of survival horror by blending it with the mechanics of a traditional survival experience. This creates an experience where you must manage not only the basics, but also your mental health, hunger, and other aspects of overall well-being. At the same time, you need to be cautious with every action, as resources are scarce and even blunt weapons have limited durability.

Combat takes the form of a mix between melee encounters and limited firearm use, but every fight demands a tactical approach. There are blunt weapons along with bladed weapons that can be found or crafted at certain points on the island. Melee weapons deteriorate over time, forcing you to either craft replacements or scavenge for new ones as supplies run low. Firearms are also available, but ammunition is far more scarce, making them best suited as a last resort or when you’re overwhelmed.

The survival elements are on par with titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Players must manage not only their inventory, but also item weight and multiple aspects of health, including HP, blood, hunger, and sanity. Resources exist on their own but are useless unless combined to craft essential tools or weapons. At the same time, players are forced into a constant balancing act between what they can carry and what must be left behind.

Alone in a Dying World

Right from the start, I have to praise Total Chaos for being an atmospheric horror game that isn’t a walking simulator. Too often, that label translates to slow paced wandering disrupted by an occasional jump scare. Movement usually feels miserable, like trudging through a swamp while fighting the controls more than the threats ahead. There have been some exceptions, but they are usually titled Silent Hill. Those problems are completely absent here. You have a horror game that doesn’t feel like a slog when moving around, you have a fighting chance against the horror, and there are moments that I’m actually scared while also trying to survive. Overall, this is what a horror game should be!

Going deeper into the game itself, Total Chaos truly delivers an atmospheric horror experience—one of the best I’ve played outside of the Silent Hill series. It succeeds because it understands what atmospheric horror and survival horror are meant to be. Tension is present from the moment you step onto Fort Oasis, driven by more than just its fog-drenched environments or oppressive visuals. There’s a constant sense that you’re not alone, heightened by the fear of what might be behind you or lurking around the corner. That unease is amplified by Akira Yamaoka’s soundtrack, which perfectly sets the tone not only for specific moments, but for every step you take across the island.

Finally, I have to reiterate that this game started as a mod for Doom II. I absolutely admire stories where a mod grows in popularity while the team behind it has such potential that they take the next leap and make it into a full game. From Counter-Strike to Gary’s Mod, there have been countless examples of this, and now Total Chaos joins the ranks.

Make Good Use of It

The only issue I have with Total Chaos is the absence of a New Game+ mode. It’s annoying when a horror game lacks a New Game+ option that lets you replay everything while aiming for a higher score, unlock special rewards, or carry over your previous progress. Without it, finishing the game feels hollow, offering little incentive to return for a better performance. While the developers have announced one will be added in 2026, this should not have been treated like an afterthought.

Keep in Touch

Total Chaos is not just a mod that became a full experience; it’s a horror survival that knows how to have an atmospheric experience. Its plot carefully drip feeds lore without revealing too much, leaving room for interpretation. It delivers every key element of a strong horror game while avoiding the mechanics I tend to despise. There’s a careful balance between solid combat and lingering unease, constantly pushing you to question what’s happening around you. That tension is further amplified by Akira Yamaoka’s soundtrack, which reinforces the dread at every step.

Disclaimer: The publisher, through a PR representative, provided the game used for this review.

This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt, then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Total Chaos (PC)

10

Masterpiece

10.0/10

Pros

• Properly drip feeds you the story without giving too much away while being open to interpretation.
• It has every key aspects of a good horror game and none of the elements I despise.
• * A balance between solid combat and a sense of unease as you question everything
• Akira Yamaoka’s soundtrack perfectly sets the tone.

Cons

• New Game+ being an after thpught coming in 2026.