Chaos Zero Nightmare is preparing for its next major seasonal update. Smilegate has revealed the prologue for Galactic Disaster Season 5, titled “A Promise Upon the Snow,” giving players an early look at the story before the full season begins on October 21, 2026.
The new preview, called “Escape from Judgment,” is available from September 30 through October 21. It follows the Captain and their companions after they receive an imperial summons and begin a large-scale investigation into Chaos. Their journey brings them into contact with several allied factions while tensions escalate around a mysterious individual claiming to be an Apostle of the Goddess.
Alongside the story preview, the update adds a new 4★ Combatant, brings back a previously released Seasonal Combatant, and introduces several gameplay improvements. Smilegate is also using the update to begin celebrations for the game’s first anniversary, with additional events and rewards planned for October.
Chaos Zero Nightmare Season 5 Prologue Sets Up a New Investigation
The “Escape from Judgment” prologue serves as the opening chapter for Galactic Disaster Season 5. Players follow the Captain and their companions as they investigate a large-scale Chaos incident after being summoned by the empire.
The investigation soon becomes more complicated as the group encounters different allied factions. Each faction has its own characteristics and interests, while the arrival of a mysterious figure who claims to be an Apostle of the Goddess adds another layer of uncertainty to the story.
The complete Season 5 story, “A Promise Upon the Snow,” will officially begin on October 21.
The update also gives players the chance to recruit Anika, a character connected to the new storyline. She joins Chaos Zero Nightmare as a new 4★ Combatant.
Players will also get another opportunity to obtain Sereniel, the Seasonal Combatant originally introduced in December 2025, along with her Partner Peko.
New Quality-of-Life Features and Anniversary Events
Smilegate has introduced several system changes alongside the Season 5 preview. The Growth Guide now includes additional missions and rewards intended to help players progress through the early stages of the game more easily.
The update also adds the Aether Cell system, which provides a more convenient way to obtain currency required for character growth. Meanwhile, the Full-Scale Offensive battle mode has received a UI overhaul alongside new achievements and rewards.
Chaos Exploration has also been improved. Players can now more easily check whether their Save Data contains the effects they are looking for, making the system more convenient to navigate.
The update marks the beginning of Chaos Zero Nightmare’s first-anniversary celebrations as well. A countdown toward the upcoming “Nightmare Carnival” is now underway, with a check-in event offering various rewards.
Two additional Sereniel-focused events are also available, giving players opportunities to earn Crystals and growth currencies by completing missions.
Kim Joo Hyung, Head of Business at Smilegate, said, “We hope players will look forward to the story of Galactic Disaster Season 5, which kicks off with the preview.” He also highlighted the game’s October anniversary celebrations and the variety of events being prepared for players.
Chaos Zero Nightmare is a free-to-play dark fantasy roguelike RPG developed by Super Creative and published by Smilegate. It is currently available on PC, iPhone, and Android.
