Resident Evil and Silent Hill are the beacons that virtually every other survival horror game aspires to, and Total Chaos looks like it could capture a lot of what’s great about both. While both franchises have had their ups and downs, they’ve managed to maintain unique atmospheres and defining features for decades, leaving many fans hungry for more even after decades of games.
Total Chaos, which released today, might be the perfect game to scratch that itch. The launch trailer on the official Xbox YouTube channel highlights a combination of Resident Evil‘s shotgun-blasting action and the oppressive grunge of a Silent Hill game, all in an immersive first-person perspective. Following a new trailer debut at the Xbox Partner Preview showcase, the game immediately became available for purchase on digital Xbox storefronts and Steam.
Total Chaos Is Available On Xbox Today
A Surprise Survival Horror Debut
Interestingly, the DNA from Resident Evil and Silent Hill isn’t the only obvious inspiration in Total Chaos. The game also descends from the boomer shooter tradition, and it’s published by Apogee, the company originally responsible for the legendary Duke Nukem series. Director Sam Prebble rose to fame as a DOOM modder and previously created an FPS hit called Turbo Overkill.
It doesn’t look like you’ll need to love shooters to like this one, but it definitely leans into some of those action possibilities. Whether throwing torches at enemies or stepping back from trees that hulking foes can hurl your way, there’s a lot more going on here than just hacking, slashing, and shooting. In between the action, it engages with some of Resident Evil‘s more measured elements, like inventory management and puzzle-solving.
Voiceover narration dominates the trailer audio, but the biggest draw for Silent Hill fans might be the soundtrack. While the original score comes courtesy of five different composers, Total Chaos boasts “new music by Akira Yamaoka,” the legendary composer behind the music of Silent Hill.
Total Chaos Looks Seriously Terrifying
This Could Be The Real Deal
The surprise drop of Total Chaos means that there aren’t too many reviews for the title so far, so there’s no guarantee that it lives up to the standard set by Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Screen Rant‘s review highlights a lot of strengths, however, and the gap between Silent Hill f and Resident Evil Requiem might be the perfect time to play.
At any rate, Turbo Overkill‘s 86 on Metacritic and “Overwhelmingly Positive” Steam consensus prove that Sam Prebble is capable of crafting great games. Here’s hoping that Total Chaos brings that talent to the survival horror genre successfully, potentially setting up a long-term competitor to Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
Systems
Released
July 24, 2025
Developer(s)
Trigger Happy Interactive
Publisher(s)
Apogee Entertainment
