1. Why an Open BETA for Critical Chaos?
Six years, three major redesigns, and four title changes later, Critical Chaos has reached its final pre-launch phase: open BETA.
I spent a big chunk of those years just learning RPG Maker MV and how to develop an RPG properly. The result is a 100% content-complete game, not a prologue, not a vertical slice, not a 30-minute demo.
Instead of disappearing for another year and quietly dropping v1.0, I’m running an open BETA on purpose to get real-world feedback and tighten things before the 2026 RELEASE.
Here’s how you can help.
2. What Critical Chaos is; no fluff.
If you like:
- Golden-era-inspired turn-based JRPGs (SNES / PSX vibes)
- Big casts where 20+ playable characters actually matter to the story
- Cross-classing, build crafting, skill variety, including learnable enemy skills
- Mixing modern military (created by an Army vet, not some Hollywood hack), fantasy, sci-fi, and a bit of time travel
- Stories that put family at the center instead of a lone chosen one
- ‘80s–early ‘00s action/sci-fi/fantasy movie energy
- Story-rich games where you still get to fight things, not just read
- Long-form RPG Maker games that go way beyond the first dungeon
…then Critical Chaos is aimed directly at you.
You’re not a perfect young prodigy chasing a magic crystal. You’re a selfless, middle-aged, out-of-shape, reluctant hero trying to protect your family in a world where multiple evils are all competing to wreck everyone and everything you believe in. Half the battle is figuring out which threat is actually the worst.
3. Why BETA instead of ALPHA or “release and hope”?
The ALPHA flop taught me a lot. I only gave it to people I knew, and most of them now have jobs, families, and way less time for 40+ hour JRPGs. Result: almost no feedback.
So this time, I’m opening it up.
Critical Chaos is a big, messy RPG:
- Large cast = huge skill pool and lots of build options
- Optional storylines, side quests, multiple worlds, time periods, and endings
- UltraMode7, parallax overlays, and video backgrounds that can stress weaker PCs
- Years of iteration without giant studio resources behind it
I can test a lot on my own, but I will never play the game the way YOU do.
From this BETA, I want to learn things like:
- Which bosses are overtuned or pushovers
- Where story pacing drags or rushes past important beats
- Which mechanics feel hidden or under-explained
- Where performance dips on real hardware, not just my machine
- Which dungeons feel too long, too short, or pointless
- Where you bumped into bugs, soft-locks, or confusing events
This is the information I need before the 2026 RELEASE.
4. How you can support Critical Chaos.
- Go to the Critical Chaos itch.io page
- Download and play the BETA
- You’re welcome to stream, make videos, or share screenshots
- Please don’t re-upload the build or harvest assets
- If you share it, link people back to the itch page
- Leave feedback on:
- Story and pacing
- Difficulty and balance
- Mechanics and clarity
- Any bugs or performance issues you hit
None of this is “required,” but every bit of feedback helps make the RELEASE version better.
5. Way ahead.
- BETA revisions and bug fixes as needed
- Tighten pacing, encounters, and systems based on feedback
- Replace remaining AI-generated imagery with 100% human-made art
- Finalize the RELEASE build and push toward a full launch (itch + Steam)
If you’ve read this far and decide to give it a shot, thank you. This game has been living in my head for years. Watching other people play it, the good, the bad, and the ugly, is how it becomes something worth putting on Steam and building an indie studio around.
-Red Canopy Games