One thing I always try to keep in mind when writing about a beta is that what I’m playing isn’t the finished product. Systems can change, content can expand, and rough edges can be polished before launch. With that said, after spending time with the current beta of Chasing Kaleidorider, I walked away impressed with what the developers have put together.
The game’s story takes place in Terminus, a futuristic city where reality is being invaded by mysterious phenomena known as Integration. These events are caused when the real world collides with the Sea of Unconsciousness, creating monstrous beings called Hysteria. The only ones capable of fighting back are the Kaleido RIDER, supernatural girls who race into battle on motorcycles while their Navigator—the player—guides them using the mysterious Kaleido Vision.
If that sounds over-the-top…well, that’s because it is.
And the game knows it.
Chasing Kaleidorider doesn’t take itself too seriously, mixing dramatic moments with plenty of humor. Watching anime heroines battle monsters from the back of speeding motorcycles is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds, and somehow it works.
Presentation
The first thing that grabbed me was the artwork. The character designs are excellent, with each RIDER having a distinct appearance and personality. The environments are equally impressive, giving Terminus a colorful futuristic style that feels both lively and unique.
The enemy designs, however, didn’t leave quite the same impression. Compared to the detailed cast, many of the Hysteria feel fairly basic visually. They’re functional, but I found myself paying much more attention to the heroes than the monsters they were fighting.
The soundtrack also deserves a mention. It complements the action well without becoming distracting, and the overall presentation feels polished throughout the beta.
Combat
Combat uses an action gauge system rather than traditional turn-based battles. As your gauge fills, you can play attack cards associated with whichever RIDER you’ve brought into battle. It keeps fights moving at a brisk pace while still giving you enough time to think about your next move.
One mechanic I particularly enjoyed is Grand Assault.
After building enough Grand Assault energy, you’re rewarded with an additional card while your action gauge fills much faster for a limited time. These windows feel satisfying to trigger and create moments where you can unleash a flurry of attacks before the enemy has much chance to respond.
So far in the beta I’ve only encountered four counter types—Heart, Cross, Circle, and Triangle. Whether more are planned for release remains to be seen, but the current system is straightforward enough to understand while still encouraging team composition.
The Real Star: The Dating Sim
If you’re expecting the combat to be the main attraction, you may be surprised.
The romance and dating sim elements feel like the real focus of Chasing Kaleidorider. Every RIDER has her own personality, quirks, and relationship events that help flesh out the cast. Rather than simply collecting characters, you’re encouraged to spend time getting to know them.
The game’s own premise leans into this idea. The RIDER don’t just grow stronger through combat—they also develop new powers through intimate bonds with the Navigator. It’s an unusual concept, but one that the game embraces without hesitation.
If you’re someone who enjoys visual novels, character-driven storytelling, or relationship-building systems alongside your gacha games, there’s a good chance this will end up being your favorite part of the experience.
Kylemeow Deserves Recognition
I have to give a special shoutout to Kylemeow.
Every gacha game seems to have a mascot these days, but Kylemeow might honestly be one of my favorites. He’s charming, funny, and has far more personality than I expected from what could have easily been a forgettable mascot character.
The Gacha Experience
Outside of its unique setting, Chasing Kaleidorider includes most of the systems you’d expect from a modern gacha game. Character collection, progression, team building, relationship mechanics, daily activities—it’s all here. If you’ve played games like Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero, or other anime gachas, you’ll feel right at home.
Whether the long-term progression and monetization remain satisfying is something that can only really be judged after release, but the foundation appears solid.
Final Thoughts
For a beta, Chasing Kaleidorider is already in a surprisingly good place. The artwork is fantastic, the combat has enough interesting mechanics to stay engaging, and the relationship-focused storytelling gives it a personality that helps separate it from the ever-growing crowd of gacha games.
There are still areas I’d like to see improved. Enemy designs could use more variety, and I’d love to see additional combat mechanics and counter types introduced as development continues. But nothing I encountered felt like a deal-breaker.
More than anything, the beta left me wanting to play more, and that’s probably the best compliment I can give it.
Score (Current Beta): 8/10
Pros
- Excellent character artwork and world design
- Fast-paced, enjoyable action gauge combat
- Grand Assault mechanic adds exciting burst windows
- Strong cast with enjoyable dating sim elements
- Kylemeow is an outstanding mascot
- Polished presentation for a beta
Cons
- Enemy designs feel less inspired than the playable cast
- Combat mechanics are still somewhat limited in the current beta
- Long-term progression remains difficult to judge before release
If the developers continue building on what’s already here, Chasing Kaleidorider could end up being one of the more interesting gacha releases to keep an eye on.
