Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 72 | 54 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 89% | 83 | 704 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 82 | 606 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jan 22, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 606 total reviews in window · weighted 154.4 up / 20.3 down · computed 6h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (32)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 60
“The Thing: Remastered is another splendid remaster from Nightdive. There's absolutely no issue with the enhancements, control tweaks, and other work that's been done here; it's the game itself, unfortunately, that for well over half of its running time leaves much to be desired. A good start, one that digs into the paranoia and fear of the classic movie with a handful of unique mechanics, is all too soon wasted as tension gives way to sloppy gunfights that aren't fun, no matter how smooth they now play or nice they look. It's certainly still a curiosity, and fans of the movie or returning players will enjoy the nostalgia. But beyond that, it doesn't warrant a hearty recommendation.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nightdive Studios did the best they could with a mediocre game. The Thing was never a good game and the original developers often lamented over the final product. They had much grander ambitions that could have made it a genuine classic. While the remaster's technical execution is commendable, the source material's was questionable. Despite this, the remaster may serve as an impetus for future adaptations of John Carpenter's film. The film's core concept remains a compelling narrative foundation and has potential for more successful interpretations in the right hands.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Nightdive has greatly improved on a lost gem from the turn of the century, with a massive visual overhaul that further enhances on an impeccable atmosphere, even if aiming still underwhelms.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“And like I said in my Shadow Man review, I'm glad Night Dive didn't "fix" the game. It was a great game in 2002, and, like so many games of that era, was a product of its time. And that's how it should be experienced.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I loved this game when it was released back in the day, and I still love it today. I do wish it stuck to its initial concept throughout the entire experience, but what is here is still tense and well executed here. Pair that with the excellent updates that Nightdive is known for, and this is a game I can wholeheartedly recommend. I really appreciate the mantra of Nightdive as they continue to remaster classics from a different time, and not just the well-known ones. The Thing is an encapsulation of gaming during the PS2 era, and I am all here for it.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Thing has lots to love and plenty to get frustrated about. Even with quality-of-life improvements, certain design choices are hopelessly dated, and the final act, with its over-the-top gunplay, is more comical than scary. Still, it's full of love for John Carpenter's iconic horror movie, and that alone means a lot.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you're reading this and thinking 'Gee, that sure doesn't sound like a particularly great game', well, you're right, it's kind of not. The Thing: Remastered so gloriously channels the vibe of something you'd rent from the video store on a Friday night and binge across the weekend that I can't help but love it anyway. Level layouts are often uninspiring, what few puzzles there are tend to be mildly annoying in their design, companion and enemy A.I. alike are completely wretched, and from start to finish it filled me with childlike delight in a way that no new game has in years. I've always had a soft spot for earnest B games, and The Thing: Remastered is the most earnest B one I've played in a long time.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Thing: Remastered brings back to life the unjustly forgotten survival horror game that, while never achieving the cult status of its cinematic predecessor, still offers an interesting gameplay experience with mechanics that still feel fresh and new today. Unfortunately, the game also suffers from some of the original's shortcomings, such as very weak AI and a drop in pacing and atmosphere towards the end.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Thing: Remastered is a solid remaster of a decent game that isn't lacking in interesting ideas but doesn't seem to know what to meaningfully do with them.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Deck: The Thing: Remastered reintroduces a flawed but fascinating game, with overhauled visuals and a number of crucial quality-of-life improvements”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Nightdive has made an exceptional remaster of a very mediocre game. The Thing does not deserve this kind of attention. There are better games out there that could have gotten this treatment, but hopefully, it inspires someone else to take another shot at adapting John Carpenter’s immortal classic. Its premise is still fertile and novel and maybe one day, someone will get it right.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ported by Nightdive, The Thing: Remastered looks fantastic and has all the bells and whistles you'd want from a remaster. As a follow-up to the cult 1982 movie, the story didn't quite do it for me, and the gameplay, mostly with its AI companions, can be a bit annoying.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
KonsoliFIN
Checkpoint Gaming
SECTOR.sk
GameLuster
GameSpot
Niche Gamer
TechRaptor…and 20 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 1.1 is available now!Jan 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window