Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is a distinctive action adventure best suited to players drawn to surreal fantasy and hands-on combat who can tolerate demanding fights and uncertain navigation. Critics praised its strange visual identity, but reviews also point to friction in combat, backtracking, and level design. It is an acquired taste, not a straightforward soulslike or a conventional big-budget action game.
What is Clash: Artifacts of Chaos?
Developed by ACE Team and published by Nacon, Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is a single-player, third-person action adventure set in Zenozoik. You play as Pseudo, a martial-arts fighter protecting a small creature known as the Boy. Their journey brings them into conflict with mercenaries and the Great Artifacts, and ultimately with Gemini, the Mistress of the Artifacts. The game launched on Steam on March 9, 2023. Steam’s game listing describes it as an action-adventure/RPG with a surreal, punk-fantasy world.
The setting connects it to Zeno Clash and Zeno Clash II, but the Steam listing describes Clash: Artifacts of Chaos as entirely independent. You do not need to know the earlier games to follow this one.
How does combat work?
Close-range fighting and progression
Combat centers on fists and movement rather than conventional weapon-focused action. Pseudo can attack, dodge, stun, block, and parry; landing a successful counter opens the way to a special attack. You can also switch to a first-person view for certain techniques. As you progress, you can learn martial arts, change fighting styles, and improve characteristics and attacks. The appeal is in experimenting with timing and styles, but that emphasis makes the fighting less forgiving for players who prefer a simpler, more immediately readable combat loop.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- Drawing upon both surreal and punk fantasy influences, the world and civilisations of Zenozoik are brimming with fascinating characters, creatures and landscapes.
- Crush your opponents! Your fists are your greatest weapons.
- Learn various martial arts during your adventure and alternate freely between them based on the situation, types of enemies and your preference.
- Clash: Artifacts of Chaos takes place in the same universe as Zeno Clash and Zeno Clash II, but the game is entirely independent.
- The Clash: Artifacts of Chaos – Zeno Edition includes the base game, a supporter pack including 2 Zeno Clash armours, 3 headwears for the Boy and a humiliation artifact, a digital artbook and the original soundtrack!
The pre-fight Ritual
Before some encounters, an optional dice game called the Ritual lets opponents compete to choose a special condition for the upcoming fight. Official examples include summoning a monster ally, filling the arena with fog, or using shackles to limit movement. The dice shape the encounter conditions; they do not determine the fight’s outcome.
What do reviews say about the game?
The critical response highlights a clear trade-off: the world and art direction stand out, while the moment-to-moment experience can be demanding or confusing. PC Gamer’s Jon Bailes gave the PC version 64/100 in a review published March 10, 2023, writing: “Clash’s brilliantly surreal world is hampered by uncompromising combat and level design.” Bailes praised the visual design and environments, but noted that the game gives little navigation guidance and that its level design can leave players wanting a quest marker. The RTX 2070, i7-10750H, and 16GB RAM listed in that review were Bailes’s test configuration, not current minimum requirements. Read PC Gamer’s review.
Rank #2
- EVER-CHANGING: A ruthless card game where the rules never sit still. The goal is simple — be the first to get rid of all your cards. The catch? The rules keep changing, and most of them stay secret until they're revealed... right before they change again.
- ABSOLUTE CHAOS: This game keeps players on their toes. Fast-paced and unpredictable, it puts memory and quick thinking to the test. Includes one deck of Chaos cards. Box measures 5.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches; rules and Chaos cards measure 3.5 x 2.25 inches.
- PARTY GAME: Built for laughs with friends and family. A fast, funny addition to any game night or gathering — for 2 to 6 players.
- TRAVEL-READY: Compact and portable, Chaos is easy to toss in a bag, backpack, or suitcase. A perfect pick for road trips, flights, camping trips, or any adventure where you need quick, portable entertainment.
- TDC GAMES: Making the world’s zaniest party games and exceptional puzzles since 1984. Our games are fresh and imaginative with a twist of humor.
Critic excerpts collected by Metacritic show a range of reactions: some reviewers valued the hand-to-hand combat ideas, unusual character designs, and atmosphere; others objected to confusing backtracking, repetition, frustration, or clunky mechanics. Those excerpts illustrate the divide in critical opinion, rather than representing a complete or current review census. See the Metacritic critic reviews.
For another signal, Steam user reviews were 90% positive among 1,371 all-time reviews and 95% positive among 42 reviews in the previous 30 days, in a snapshot accessed October 8, 2026. These are changing user-review aggregates, not critic scores; the counts and percentages may differ when you check the listing. Check Steam’s current review figures.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- Brand new card game: Enjoy a fresh and exciting gameplay experience that mixes strategy, surprises, and fun, perfect for game nights, travel, or gifting to friends and family.
- Easy to learn: Quick to pick up and play with simple rules and a clear, illustrated manual, perfect for all ages to jump in and start having fun right away.
- Fun for friends and family: Spark laughter and connection with hours of engaging gameplay, perfect for parties, game nights, and quality time with loved ones.
- Travel-friendly design: Compact and lightweight, this game is easy to pack, store, and carry, perfect for road trips, vacations, or spontaneous fun wherever you go.
- Gift for all ages: A thoughtful and fun choice for kids, teens, and adults alike, perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just bringing people together for a good time.
Who is likely to enjoy it?
Clash: Artifacts of Chaos is a better fit if you are curious about an unusual setting and want to learn a bespoke close-combat system, rather than simply move through a familiar action-adventure formula. Consider these differences when deciding:
- Combat: Expect to work with timing, counters, and style changes. If you want low-friction fights, the combat’s demanding side may outweigh its experimentation.
- Navigation: Be comfortable exploring without strong guidance and with the possibility of backtracking. Players who rely on clear quest markers may find the level design frustrating.
- Art direction: The game’s surreal, punk-fantasy look is a central draw. It favors a singular, strange identity over conventional realism.
- Encounters: The dice-based Ritual adds a choice of conditions before a fight, rather than offering only a standard setup.
- Genre expectations: Steam includes a user-defined “Souls-like” tag, but that label alone does not capture the game. Its distinctive martial-arts focus and Ritual make it a less conventional comparison.
Platforms and editions
Steam lists digital PC purchases for the base game and Zeno Edition, alongside downloadable DLC, a digital soundtrack, and a digital artbook. PlayStation lists PS4 and PS5 editions in Standard and Zeno formats. The PlayStation Zeno Edition includes the Supporter Pack, original soundtrack, and digital artbook. Prices and discounts vary by region and over time, so check the live store listing for the edition available to you. The available storefront evidence establishes digital formats; it does not verify a physical game edition.
Rank #4
- EPIC BATTLE FOR ETERNIA: Join He-Man, Skeletor, and the legendary Masters of the Universe in a thrilling, asymmetric board game of power and strategy.
- HEROES VS. VILLAINS: Choose your side and command iconic characters like He-Man, Teela, Skeletor, Evil-Lyn, and Beast Man as they clash for control of Eternia.
- STRATEGIC GAMEPLAY: Utilize unique character abilities, dynamic objectives, and tactical positioning to outwit your opponents in every mission.
- HIGHLY DETAILED MINIATURES: Features premium-quality minis that bring the Masters of the Universe heroes and villains to life on your tabletop.
- SOLO OR TEAM PLAY: Battle in epic 1–5 player modes—cooperative, competitive, or solo—for endless replayability and adventure in every session.
View the Steam listing and editions or check the PlayStation listing.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Zeno Edition Includes: Base game; Supporter Pack: 2 Zeno Clash Armors, 3 Headwears for the Boy, Humiliation Artifact; Digital Artbook; Original Soundtrack
- EXPLORE ZENOZOIK - Drawing upon both surreal and punk fantasy influences, the world and civilisations of Zenozoik are brimming with fascinating characters, creatures and landscapes
- CRUSH YOUR OPPONENTS - Your fists and speed are your greatest weapons; Attack, dodge, stun, block, counter a parry to land a special attack, switch to first-person view to perform unique techniques
- CUSTOMISE YOUR COMBAT STYLE - Learn various martial arts during your adventure and alternate between them based on the situation, types of enemies and your preference; Victories will enable you to improve your characteristics and upgrade attacks
- RISE TO THE CHALLENGE OF THE RITUAL - Challenge your opponent to a game of dice with the winner defining the rules of the encounter; Summoning a monster as an ally, covering the area in fog, having shackles limit movement…
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
