CHAOS;CHILD

Chaos;Child tells a heartbreaking tale of murder, delusions, and what drives a person. It's a painful tale, but one that very well may stick with you forever.

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CHAOS;CHILD is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with an intriguing story, delightful graphics, and a splendid music score. The game features a unique atmosphere and wholesome story, along with a 10-track soundtrack available as an early-purchase bonus. The music, including tracks such as "WORLD -C;C MAIN THEME-" and "CAPACITY", adds to the game's overall immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 899 reviews

story239 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Engaging and complex story with numerous plot twists that keep players on the edge of their seats.
Well-developed characters that evoke strong emotional responses, making players care about their fates.
High production value with beautiful visuals, excellent voice acting, and a captivating soundtrack.

Pacing issues, especially in the early chapters, leading to a slow start that may deter some players.
Some characters and plot points feel underdeveloped or clichéd, detracting from the overall experience.
The delusion trigger system can feel unnecessary and distract from the main narrative.

story
802 mentions
30 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of *Chaos;Child* is a complex and engaging narrative that intertwines elements of psychological horror and murder mystery, featuring numerous unexpected plot twists that keep players on their toes. While some reviewers praised its depth and character development, others criticized pacing issues and convoluted plot points that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its rich storytelling and emotional impact, making it a compelling entry in the visual novel genre, particularly for fans of the *Science Adventure* series.
- “The story is amazing.”
- “Chaos;child is a storytelling masterpiece, full of mystery, intrigue, feels, and plot twists.”
- “The story is very gripping until you read the side routes and the true end.”
- “Despite interesting scenes, powers, and delusions, things were personally ruined for me by nonsensical plot twists (not just one but multiple) that seem mostly done for shock factor.”
- “I expected chaos;head 2 but I ended up disappointed by the direction the story took (and the ending).”
- “The story pacing and too much padding.”
music
114 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the narrative. Composed by Takeshi Abo, the soundtrack is described as superb, fitting perfectly with various scenes and effectively building tension and immersion. While some found certain tracks repetitive or less memorable, the overall consensus highlights the music as a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's impact.
- “With an amazing soundtrack and beautiful art that is the perfect evolution of the precedent chaos;head set six years before, this game is a truly unforgettable experience.”
- “The music especially is a highlight to me, with each track setting the mood perfectly and the amazing vocal themes complementing each opening/ending.”
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece, every single track is perfect for the context it is used.”
- “Music is there and it serves its purpose of building the game's atmosphere, but there's nothing particularly memorable about it.”
- “Even the background music feels off at some scenes; the same music box theme is looped in every 'ominous' scene to the extent it became almost comical.”
- “The production value is high, with good art, but mediocre music.”
emotional
57 mentions
98 % positive mentions
-4 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players reporting intense feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. The narrative effectively balances tender scenes with shocking twists, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that resonates deeply with players. However, some critiques mention pacing issues and character development that can detract from the overall emotional impact, leaving certain moments feeling less impactful than intended.
- “It has the perfect balance of quiet, more tender heartfelt moments and absolutely shocking and horrifying moments as well.”
- “The most heartbreaking moment in Chaos;Child is when you realize that you've done everything in the game, finished every route, got every achievement... and now you have to say 'goodbye' to every character you got attached to and move on.”
- “This game was hands-down the most emotional game I have ever played.”
- “The plot twists felt contrived and were clearly there just for shock value. After finishing my first playthrough, I discovered that the game forces you to reach the same ending regardless of the choices you make. This completely undermines the purpose of having multiple endings and meaningful choices. I have no interest in replaying a dull story just to unlock the 'true' ending.”
- “The emotional impact of the story was severely lacking. I expected my choices to shape the narrative, but instead, I felt like I was just going through the motions without any real connection to the characters or their journeys.”
- “Despite the game's attempts at emotional depth, I found it to be superficial. The characters lacked development, and the story didn't resonate with me at all. It felt like the game was trying too hard to evoke feelings without actually delivering a meaningful experience.”
graphics
50 mentions
50 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals, clean art style, and impressive character designs, contributing to an engaging atmosphere that enhances the horror and mystery elements. While some reviewers noted a lack of personality in the art compared to previous titles, the overall quality, including dynamic lighting and detailed backgrounds, received high marks. The combination of beautiful artwork, effective use of graphic imagery, and a fitting soundtrack creates a compelling visual experience that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “The graphics are out of this world.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with subtle shaders for different backgrounds and with a great UI design.”
- “What truly amazed me was the care and effort put into every background, every item artwork, and even at the lighting presented throughout the game.”
- “The art style, while clean, definitely feels like it has less personality too.”
- “Though I do admit that some zoom-ins of the background and character artwork were so pixelated I suffered.”
- “Despite its seemingly cheerful visuals, it's definitely not for the faint of heart.”
gameplay
50 mentions
10 % positive mentions
82 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Chaos;Child" is primarily focused on narrative, characteristic of visual novels, with minimal interactive elements. Players engage with mechanics like the 'delusion trigger' and mapping sequences, which some find intriguing while others view them as extraneous or poorly integrated. Overall, the game is praised for its compelling story, but those seeking traditional gameplay experiences may find it lacking.
- “There are several endings and the game mechanics deciding which path the narration takes are actually curious.”
- “During gameplay, you can experience lots and lots of thrilling and horror parts, which were fine by me.”
- “Once you get the first ending, the delusion trigger system will lead you to more routes and endings, which explore the characters and themes in even more depth, as well as providing hints to piece together what's really going on.”
- “The game's central gameplay mechanic, the 'delusion trigger', serves as a microcosm of what's wrong with this game.”
- “From a gameplay perspective, it's a bizarre and arbitrary mechanic that's incongruous with the other parts of the game, like if final rounds in a fighting game made players finish opponents off with a pong match.”
- “If you're looking for a visual novel with gameplay elements, something akin to Danganronpa or Ace Attorney, this ain't it.”
atmosphere
35 mentions
51 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, effectively building tension and dread through sound design and visuals. However, some reviewers note a decline in the psychological horror elements compared to previous titles, with mixed feelings about the soundtrack's memorability. Overall, while the game successfully creates a creepy and engaging environment, it struggles with pacing and execution in certain narrative aspects.
- “The overall quality is good, and the atmosphere is really immersive.”
- “This game builds an excellent atmosphere of dread for the majority of its runtime, which puts the highly compressed anime to shame.”
- “Chaos;Child absolutely nails the grim and disturbing atmosphere when it needs to be creepy, and pulls your heartstrings when it wants to be emotional.”
- “My only issue is that this game slightly lacks the psychological horror atmosphere that the first captured so well.”
- “But I was honestly surprised by just what a good story this was, even if it didn't have the same raw atmosphere of its predecessors.”
- “Not only that, but they also break the atmosphere of several tense moments when chosen.”
character development
34 mentions
32 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth and progression of key characters, particularly the protagonist, while others criticize certain characters for being poorly developed or too trope-driven. Many reviews highlight the balance of slice-of-life elements with mystery, allowing for meaningful growth, though pacing issues and inconsistent development can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while some characters shine with strong arcs, others fall flat, leading to a varied reception of the character development aspect.
- “The plot and character development in here are literally fire.”
- “Takuru is a complex yet realistic and likable protagonist with the best character development I've seen in any protagonist.”
- “Character development is stellar and, like in any sci-adv game, no character is useless, filler, or a plot device - they all have their motives and interests to pursue which makes the storyline feel natural and logical.”
- “I kinda hate the character designs, feels very generic anime, but the backgrounds, objects, and UI all look great.”
- “However, the character development of the protagonist is poor in this game.”
- “Of course, I still haven't finished the game yet, but truth be told it is incredibly painful having to endure this poor character development unfold before my eyes... guess I should be glad that the plot on the other hand is fantastic.”
humor
24 mentions
96 % positive mentions
-8 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring both dark and absurd comedic moments that often arise from the grotesque and bizarre scenarios presented. While some players appreciate the levity provided by the delusion triggers and well-crafted character interactions, others find the humor inconsistent, with some moments feeling forced or cringe-worthy. Overall, the game balances its dark themes with light-hearted humor, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and execution.
- “The game lacks subtlety in almost everything it does: the murders are brutal and grotesque to the point of being hilarious, there is a pileup of gambits and plot tokens that, while justified within the game's reality, feel artificial and forced.”
- “The delusion trigger system is fantastic, though, and really offers some hilarious choices throughout the story.”
- “On a side note, some of the delusions are incredibly funny and honestly made me laugh for a good ten minutes.”
- “The humor relies too heavily on clichés, making it feel forced and unoriginal.”
- “The jokes often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- “The attempts at humor feel outdated and fail to resonate with the current audience.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when it comes to replaying sections to unlock all endings. While the main story is engaging, the requirement to repeatedly skip through text and manage choices detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration. Despite this, many still appreciate the value and enjoyment the game offers, even if it could have streamlined the process.
- “Whilst I'd have seen all the endings anyway, I would have preferred to have individual choices be able to select each route, rather than a tedious skipping through all the text for the 5th time, pausing whenever there's a delusion trigger, checking that I've done it right, reloading when I've done it wrong, etc.”
- “Having to skip through the early story chapters multiple times after your first playthrough to get all the regular endings (which is required for the true ending) is quite tedious.”
- “Imo it could have done a much better job of taking advantage of it being a game to cut down on the boring and tedious parts significantly.”
optimization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally praised for its strong voice acting and sound design, which effectively enhance the atmosphere and tension. However, some users have reported performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The sound design and soundtrack are eerie, creepy, and haunting at times; there are many genuinely tense and scary moments, where the tension is so fully realized by combining sounds, writing, and acting performances. Reading on for too long in those moments might prove painful, yet one can hardly stop as long as the rhythm doesn’t relent.”
- “Performance issues”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability for beginners due to its multiple routes and delusion triggers, making it a good starting point for those new to visual novels. However, some players feel that once all content is explored, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly.
- “Overall, I'd recommend this for beginners who want a strong start when it comes to reading/playing visual novels, with the delusion triggers and multiple routes adding to the replayability.”
- “I don't think I will ever play it again now that I've done everything - visual novels have little replayability.”
- “Overall, I'd recommend it for beginners who want a strong start when it comes to reading/playing visual novels, but the delusion triggers and multiple routes don't significantly enhance replayability.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's stability is questionable, as players report a lack of confidence in the protagonist's abilities, leading to a frustrating experience when faced with scary elements. Overall, the game's stability seems to detract from the immersion and enjoyment.