The Thing

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 68 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 68
  3. Negative: 3 out of 68
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. R.J.M.
    Mar 25, 2004
    10
    This game kicks Ass. the action is Sweeeeeet. it is so easy and FUN to play. I have finished it 4 or 5 times !
  2. Rodkrieg
    Apr 3, 2020
    10
    A real scary and nostalgic game, i love the atmosphere, it was an awesome game.
  3. TheVoice
    Jun 17, 2003
    5
    The graphics can be improved. Also, the game is too scary for me as the player has to explore dark and spooky areas which I have phobia doing so.
  4. Gaz
    Oct 27, 2002
    3
    The game overall in my opinion is poor. The graphics are ordinary and the whole concept is based around sending wave after wave of monsters and soldiers after you. There is only 2 types of soldier and seemingly 3 types of "Thing", rangin from critters, medium things and "end of level baddie things". What I don't like is how the soldiers fire endlessly at you, never run out of ammo The game overall in my opinion is poor. The graphics are ordinary and the whole concept is based around sending wave after wave of monsters and soldiers after you. There is only 2 types of soldier and seemingly 3 types of "Thing", rangin from critters, medium things and "end of level baddie things". What I don't like is how the soldiers fire endlessly at you, never run out of ammo and even drop ammo when they die. How is this possible?? I got bored of this game after around an hour and totally regretted purchasing it. Anyone reading this interested in buying the game should look in Amazon.co.uk as I will be selling it very low cost. Very disappointed.… Expand
  5. Nark
    Oct 11, 2010
    9
    Personally I loved this game. It's a great Third-Person Shooter, though it is hindered by a few small problems. A great rise in difficulty towards the end and a lack of quick-saves and quick-loads (it's a console port, go figure) make you have to start from the start of the level (unless you found a save point, which means every time you die you have to quit to the main menu to load to thePersonally I loved this game. It's a great Third-Person Shooter, though it is hindered by a few small problems. A great rise in difficulty towards the end and a lack of quick-saves and quick-loads (it's a console port, go figure) make you have to start from the start of the level (unless you found a save point, which means every time you die you have to quit to the main menu to load to the save point). The scripted thing outbreaks and the whole "puke 'n fuses" business (as seen in SpoonyOne's review). Other than that I've played through it about 3 times now and I love it.… Expand
  6. MikeK.
    Sep 18, 2002
    8
    It's pretty good, level design are kind of short and corny...but its really cool when you have people who are with you and help out. The third person view is nice to look at but terrible to kill stuff, and the auto aim is dumb.
  7. JonC.
    Dec 9, 2003
    7
    Great game with the notable exceptions of almost everyone you meet in the game is a thing. Hardly anyone is human. And for those of them that are human. what becomes of them at the end of the game? We only get to see Blake being rescued by McCready. What about the actual humans!?!?!? A disappointing incomplete ending.
  8. NightWo1f
    Feb 20, 2003
    8
    Ok, I've played through half the game so far. If you like good scares, play at night with all but a background light (so you can see controls) on and the sound up, this game will screw you up. ;) Gameplay is good, the only bad point being in third person without a crosshair to aim with. First person gives you a crosshair, but is too difficult to hold down as you try to move. The Ok, I've played through half the game so far. If you like good scares, play at night with all but a background light (so you can see controls) on and the sound up, this game will screw you up. ;) Gameplay is good, the only bad point being in third person without a crosshair to aim with. First person gives you a crosshair, but is too difficult to hold down as you try to move. The levels are fine, and quite difficult if you're playing on hard. Ammo can be scarce, which adds to the tension when you can hear something 'BIG' nearby. Graphics are fine, nothing special here. Sound is just plain dang creepy. During some cutscenes there's a glitch where characters are talking, but all you can hear is a heartbeat. Why? This game is worth $30 bucks and some late at night play. Parents, do NOT let young kids play this or be prepared to have to put up with some nightmares or tripping over them cause they're sleeping outside your door.… Expand
  9. JasonM.
    Aug 20, 2003
    9
    Game is great. The updates i had to make to me machine were not. I havent had any other problems with it other than that.
  10. [Anonymous]
    Jun 29, 2003
    7
    It is a very good game and is very creepy and freeky the grapics are awsome but the downside is that the things are almost impossible to kill and i like that you get to control your own team.
  11. JMantis
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    Despite the fact that this game has numerous plot holes in it's story, some odd game play situations and sometimes corny voice acting, it remains till this day a very atmospheric game that's very fun to play.
  12. TheRubixGamer
    Jun 21, 2013
    5
    These movie games tend to pretty bad but this one is actually pretty good! It's not perfect and there are some rather silly "things" in the game like the pointless junction boxes and the fact that your teammates are really dumb. The aiming system is really annoying and does take a while to get used too. The gameplay is rather fun as the enemies are quite challenging to fight in fact thisThese movie games tend to pretty bad but this one is actually pretty good! It's not perfect and there are some rather silly "things" in the game like the pointless junction boxes and the fact that your teammates are really dumb. The aiming system is really annoying and does take a while to get used too. The gameplay is rather fun as the enemies are quite challenging to fight in fact this game is really god damn difficult at times. The story is very simple but the bad guys plan is a bit silly.

    Overall if your looking for a good survival horror type game you should pick this up as it is quite cheap.    … Expand
  13. iddqd4
    Jan 27, 2018
    8
    Экшон по культовому фильму, зима, холод, напарники и зловещее нечто.
  14. Demon2017
    Jun 18, 2022
    7
    Одна из моих самых любимых игр, которую я прошёл огромное количество раз. Жаль, что подобных проектов сейчас не выходит и приходиться вспоминать подобные игрушки, которые всегда будут радовать нас.
  15. Genek13
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    This game has very unique atmosphere, with sense of terror.
    It's very good as an action game and also as horror title.
    Hopefully they will make a remake of this one.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best PC Game of 2002
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2002
27
#27 Most Shared PC Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Pregaming
    60
    It's like the design team started designing a good game, complete with the groundwork for the fear and trust system and then decided to throw it all to the wind and turn the game into some sort of half-cocked Half-Life clone, except without the playability or shock value of that title.
    Read full review
  2. Game Over Online
    85
    Excellent, moody and atmospheric, and at some points downright creepy.
    Read full review
  3. ActionTrip
    80
    The game is fairly short. The overall impression was also reduced with those sound bugs and camera issues I mentioned. Still, the excellent visuals and squad-based gameplay compensate for all of that and they make The Thing a truly entertaining product.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »