Why the Original 2002 The Thing PC Game Deserves to Be on GOG
While the modern remaster may polish up the visuals and streamline some gameplay, there’s something uniquely raw and tense about the original 2002 The Thing PC game that fans still cherish today. As a direct sequel to John Carpenter’s cult-classic film, the game nails the paranoid atmosphere, body horror, and isolation that made the movie iconic.
You play as Captain Blake, leading a team into Outpost 31 after the film’s events. What made the original game stand out wasn’t just the monsters—it was the trust/fear mechanic, where your squad members could panic, betray you, or even be infected. You had to manage fear, ammo, and suspicion, all while surviving unpredictable encounters with shape-shifting enemies.
Even with a remaster, the original 2002 version holds historical and nostalgic value. Its gritty textures, early-2000s design, and haunting soundtrack are part of the experience that longtime fans remember fondly. On GOG, it would live on in its authentic form—DRM-free, preserved, and playable on modern systems without needing fan patches or workarounds.
Many of us discovered The Thing on PC during its original release and would love to revisit that version the way we first experienced it. GOG is the perfect home to keep that memory alive.
The remaster is great—but the original deserves respect, recognition, and a proper place in gaming history. Bring The Thing (2002) to GOG.