A Wild Week in PC Gaming: From Carpenter's Commando to Cerberus-summoning Match-3 Magic
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
This week in PC gaming brought a wild mix, from John Carpenter's co-op shooter and the haunting remake of *Fatal Frame II*, to quirky indies like a typing horror game and a match-3 where you literally combine three dogs into Cerberus. It's a glorious, chaotic reminder of gaming's endless possibilities!
Right, so another week in the digital ether, and if you're anything like me, you've probably been wondering what bizarre concoctions the gaming wizards have been stirring up. Well, fair dinkum, it's been a bloody cracker, mate. We've got John Carpenter's signature horror-action, a classic horror remake, and even a match-3 game where you can literally combine three digital puppies into a mythological beast. Seriously, sometimes I think game devs are just trying to out-weird each other, and I'm absolutely here for it.
First off, I've been tinkering with some of the indie delights that popped up earlier in the week. If you fancy a bit of tower defense with a subterranean twist – think *Dome Keeper* but with its own vibe – then *Iter-8* is one to have a gander at. It's got that satisfying loop of digging deep, gathering resources, and defending your turf from… well, things that want your turf. Always a classic setup, isn't it? What happens if you dig *too* deep? That's the Jeff-question, always.
Then there's *Thysiastery*, which someone (a rather clever bod at RPS, apparently) dubbed an "anime *Legend of Grimrock*". Now, I'm a sucker for a good dungeon crawler, and the idea of an anime aesthetic fused with that grid-based, first-person dungeon delving? Sign me up! Though, a quick warning: apparently, it's quite easy to accidentally make a blood sacrifice of all your warrior's vital fluids to an ancient god. Bit of an occupational hazard, I reckon. One minute you're slaying goblins, the next you're a hushed, drained husk. Sounds like a Tuesday, doesn't it?
And for the roguelike deckbuilder aficionados – and let's be honest, there are more than a few of us – *Pluto* is out there. Now, I know what you're thinking: *another* roguelike deckbuilder? But this one has something truly unique: incredibly gnarly wizard fingers front and centre. I mean, we've had Slay the Spire, we've had Monster Train, but have we had such *prominent* digit-based sorcery? I think not. It’s the little things that make you go, 'Aha!'
Moving into mid-week, we saw *Spacefleet: Heat Death* attempting to sell itself as 'The Expanse meets Mount and Blade'. Now, I love both those things, but my first thought was: 'Are we putting horses in spaceships now? Because, mate, horses make terrible astronauts.' But once you get past my gentle skepticism about equine space travel, it sounds rather intriguing. An open star system, trading, bounties, fleet building – it's the classic space opera sandbox, and there's always room for one more, especially if it brings that 'make your own story' vibe.
For those who prefer their space adventures with a bit more… larceny, *Galactic Vault* has you covered. It's a space bank robber simulator, fighting robots to loot corporate holdings. While it might not have the pure immersion of some of the genre giants or the quirky flair of *Void Bastards*, it’s got that roguelike space robbery kick that gives me a frisson of excitement. There's something inherently chaotic and fun about taking on a faceless mega-corp, isn't there?
And, predictably, another simulator rolled in: *Ranger's Path: National Park Simulator*. One day, job simulator makers will run out of careers, but today is not that day. You'll be picking up litter, telling rowdy visitors to 'steady now,' and hopefully dealing with the *enjoyable* exploits of one Yogi Bear. Seriously, if Yogi isn't in there trying to steal picnic baskets, I'll be mildly disappointed. It's the kind of game that sounds relaxing on paper, but I bet there are hidden challenges that'll make you want to go rogue yourself.
Wednesday brought us *The Liar Princess And The Blind Prince*, which sounds like something straight out of a dark fairy tale. You lead a prince through dangerous woods, shapeshifting between a sweet princess and a scary wolf. The wolf, naturally, is there to wail on anything that threatens the young monarch. An intriguing mechanic that promises a blend of vulnerability and brute force. I'm always keen to see games that twist familiar archetypes into something fresh and visually stunning.
Thursday, and oh, Thursday. If I had all the power, I'd simply demand time after time that game developers make new versions of John Carpenter's *The Thing*. But alas, developers must have free reign, so I'll make peace with *John Carpenter's Toxic Commando*. A four-player co-op shooter from the folks who gave us the *Left 4 Dead*-like *World War Z*. It's got Carpenter's name on it, so you're hoping for that gritty, practical-effects-era horror vibe, even if it's blasting hordes of baddies. Fingers crossed it's more 'Escape from New York' and less 'Ghosts of Mars'.
Then there's *Stellar Wander DX*, which while perhaps not aiming for the massive scale of an *X* series, still offers a galaxy at your feet. You're a pilot, making your fortune as a trader or bounty hunter. In my book, mate, there's always more room for spacefighter games. That feeling of zipping through an asteroid field, dodging lasers, and making a tidy profit – it never gets old.
And we saw *Collector's Cove*, which looks a bit like *Spiritfarer* mashed with *Viva Piñata*. You sail a floating farm that attracts different creatures to your bow. Now, don't go expecting the same exploration of grief as *Spiritfarer*, mind. This seems more about the cozy management and collection, a chill vibe for winding down after a day of fending off toxic commandos.
But if you *do* want an exploration of grief, and a bloody terrifying one at that, *Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake* landed. This is, as the title may give away, a glorious remake of 2003's *Fatal Frame II*. And what a game it was. Helping those twin sisters escape a ghost-filled village, armed only with a camera obscura, was genuinely chilling back in the day. A proper psychological horror with fantastic atmosphere. If you missed the original, or just want to relive the scares in glorious modern detail, this is a must-play.
Finally, Friday brought some real curveballs. *Dyping Escape* is a horror game where you improve your typing skills. Yes, you read that right. An ethereal set of eyes tells you what words to type, and you just… follow its orders. What could possibly go wrong if you follow the cryptic instructions of a disembodied voice in a horror game, eh? It's like *Typing Of The Dead* got a sinister, experimental upgrade, and I'm morbidly curious to see how many misspellings lead to immediate doom.
And for the pièce de résistance, the game that made me genuinely cackle: *Mythmatch*. It's a match-3 game set in mythical ancient Greece, and I am *pleased to report* that if you combine three dogs, you create a Cerberus. Three-headed hounds summoned via gem matching! This is exactly the kind of unexpected, delightfully absurd mechanic that makes me love gaming. Who needs another Candy Crush clone when you can summon hellhounds? This is the kind of experimental joy that reminds you why games are brilliant.
Lastly, *Piece By Piece* is a puzzle platformer where you assemble levels from jigsaw pieces. It looks delightfully brain-bend-y and is presented in a nice, neat package. Perfect for a Friday afternoon when you want to unwind but still feel like you're solving a cosmic riddle.
What a week, eh? From the depths of creepy dungeons to the vastness of space, and from the terror of ghosts to the sheer glee of summoning a three-headed dog. The digital wizards have been busy, and honestly, it makes me genuinely excited for what strange and wonderful things they'll conjure up next.
*Original reporting and insights for this summary were provided by Julian Benson for Rock Paper Shotgun, published on March 9, 2026. You can find the full article
Tags: PC Gaming, Indie Games, Horror Games, Remakes, Match-3
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun