It’s been almost twenty years since The Thing video game released on PC, PS2, GameCube, Game Boy Color, and Xbox. The Thing was a sequel to John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 horror film of the same name. The game was a critical and commercial success, but a sequel was cancelled and a remaster or remake has never happened. Now, however, would be an ideal time for a remake of The Thing to hit next-gen consoles.

The Thing video game follows a U.S. Special Forces team who is sent to the outpost in Antarctica to find out what happened to the researchers from John Carpenter’s film. It’s a third-person shooter mixed with survival horror, and although players mostly control a man named Blake, the game allows people to control up to four characters at one time. The Thing featured a trust system and a fear system that determined AI in NPCs, and a probability-based infection system meant NPCs could theoretically turn into a Thing at any given time.

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Featuring cover art that’s a callback to the original film’s iconic poster, The Thing video game received excellent reviews and sold very well. A sequel was planned; however, the project was cancelled after developer Computer Artworks went into receivership. Because the company lost its financial and creative autonomy, The Thing‘s sequel never got further than the concept stage. That was all in 2003, though, which is why it’s time to remake The Thing for next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

The Timing Is Perfect For A Remake Of The Thing Video Game

When John Carpenter’s The Thing released in 1982, it wasn’t an instant success. However, over time, the movie gained a huge following and is now considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all time. Part of its success is due to the great use of practical effects for its gore and body horror. Those elements are toned down considerably in The Thing video game, simply because graphics in 2002 couldn’t handle it. However, remaking The Thing for next-gen consoles could perfectly convey the gore and body horror that made Carpenter’s film so memorable in the first place.

Now, The Thing is getting another movie reboot, and John Carpenter is even attached to the project. With a new movie coming out, it’d be the perfect time for the video game to be remade or remastered for next-gen systems. The game and the movie reboot could help each other succeed, and it would undoubtedly create a lot of interest in both projects from horror buffs.

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Even for a game from 2002, gameplay in The Thing holds up reasonably well. The major flaw in 2020 is that its graphical constraints keep it from taking full advantage of the gore and body horror that made the film so memorable. With a movie reboot coming soon, now would be a perfect time to take advantage of next-gen graphics and give The Thing video game a remake it truly deserves.

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About The Author


Austin King
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Austin King is a Game Features Editor at Screen Rant. He’s the author of several books and hosts the Dragon Quest FM and JRPGs & Me podcasts. You can find him on Twitter @DragonQuaustin.

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