If you missed it, first-person horror title Total Chaos is out now

Shadow-dropping last week, Apogee and developer Sam Prebble’s horror-soaked shooter Total Chaos is here.

Popup Total Chaos

We have to admit, we kind of missed this one, as Total Chaos has been a game we’ve been watching for some time. Nevertheless, Apogee, in partnership with Infogrames, and Trigger Happy Interactive’s horror shooter emerged out of the Xbox Partner Preview a few days back.

If you haven’t seen the title in action, it’s got about as dark and foreboding of a look as we’ve seen in recent years. Right there with that vibe is a cadre of horrific foes too, and what looks to be both melee and ranged combat.

As mentioned as well, the game hails from Trigger Happy, which is kind of enough to get us interested. If the name sounds familiar, you might know the developer (and its own Sam Prebble) from none other than Turbo Overkill. Yep, the same guy who was behind the breakout retro-cyberpunk hit has created this full-on horror adventure.

How’s that for range?

Total Chaos pulls players into the abyss of Fort Oasis, a desolate wasteland once considered paradise by its residential coal miner community. A shadow looms over the island, evoking a sense of madness that can only be described as the feeling of being constantly watched. Monstrosities lurk around every corner of the island’s heart, trapping anybody daring enough to enter the void. While shooting and bludgeoning through these twisted foes, players will unearth fragments of forgotten lives to piece together the chilling mystery of Fort Oasis’ demise (and their connection to it) before their sanity runs dry.

Apogee press release

Total Chaos is out now for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

A mod, turned full-on game

For those interested, Total Chaos has a pretty interesting history. The game look pretty great as it stands now, but was actually a total conversion first. There’s a blast from the past for you. Prebble created it for the iconic classic DOOM II, before building it out into a complete title.

As it happens, games like the aforementioned, Duke Nukem 3D, and more all served as inspiration for this new shooter. Though we’ll add that Total Chaos looks like it ups the ante significantly over those titles, when it comes to horror.

Catch up on more of the history of the game, and how it came to stand on its own legs, with some quotes from the publishers and Prebble, below.

“Total Chaos began for me almost two decades ago when the original mod became my first real step into creating a world of my own. I never imagined I’d return to Fort Oasis and rebuild it as a full standalone release on PC and consoles,” said Total Chaos developer and head of Trigger Happy Interactive, Sam Prebble. “I’m grateful to everyone who helped bring it to this moment, especially the teams at Apogee, Atari, and Infogrames. See you on the island. Listen carefully to the voice you follow.”

“Total Chaos is Apogee’s first step into survival horror and a full-circle moment for Sam, whose early love for classics like DOOM, Duke Nukem 3D, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and the horror genre at large helped inspire this original vision. What began as a total conversion mod has grown into a faithful and expanded remake. Our creative bond from Turbo Overkill made it a privilege to support him again and ensure Total Chaos delivers a truly landmark horror experience,” said Apogee’s Executive Producer, Jeron Moore.

“I’m excited to be working with Apogee on the release of the scariest game Atari has ever been associated with in our long history,” said Wade Rosen, CEO of Atari/Infogrames. “Developer Sam Prebble has crafted a game for the ages, and bringing it to the consoles was an opportunity that we could not pass up.”

“I am truly honored to have taken part in this collaboration with Total Chaos,” said guest composer Akira Yamaoka. “Within the chaos lies a hidden silence — an invisible world that cannot be captured by words, but only expressed through sound. It is an experience like a journey where unseen landscapes are felt through the ears rather than seen by the eyes. I hope you enjoy it.”

Apogee press release