I really want to love this. The concept is brilliant, the launcher is incredible, and every creator involved clearly has passion for the medium. The first eight games weave an abstract but compelling narrative spanning several different genres, feeling like a playable nightmare operating within its own twisted logic - despite technically being different games by different developers, each one truly feels like a single stage within a much bigger work. Unfortunately, as usually happens in games of telephone, the plot is soon lost, and by part 11 everything I adore about the first half more or less collapses.

There's still some great stuff in what remains: the 12th entry is a standout with unique and terrifying audio/visual design, #13 is just incredibly cool, #18 manages to be both funny and creepy at the same time, and the final two segments do an admirable job attempting to wrap things up. Yet, while not completely shedding the dreamlike surrealism of the first half, the latter portion of this collection starts falling back hard on indie horror tropes, to the point of featuring not one, not two, but three Slender-esque games. By the time it was over, my affection for C.H.A.I.N. had morphed into disappointment, but I still think it's worth playing overall, and I have tons of respect for everyone involved in its creation.