Developer Wrong Organ, known for its narrative-heavy horror title Mouthwashing, is forging a dramatically different path with its next game, Carcass Clad. Unveiled at the PC Gaming Show, Carcass Clad is a multiplayer tank game that shifts the studio's focus from storytelling to cooperative gameplay.
In Carcass Clad, three players will each assume a distinct role to pilot a tank called Yksiö through the city of Vhorgorod. This move away from narrative dominance comes after the team felt they had sufficiently explored the walking-simulator side of horror with their previous titles, How Fish Is Made and Mouthwashing. "We don’t want our next game to just live in its shadow. So we’ve decided to swing hard in the opposite direction," said gameplay lead Jeffrey Tomec. The studio aims to deliver its characteristic charm and atmosphere through a gameplay-led experience, emphasizing a desire to unpredictably surprise players.
The game's title, Carcass Clad, refers to the armor plating on enemy vehicles, which are described as half-dead conjoined farm animals. This mirrors the thematic depth found in Mouthwashing's title, suggesting that the name carries a meaning beyond its literal interpretation.
While player characters will have defined personalities and backstories, the game will not center on their individual narratives. Writer and art director Johanna Kasurinen drew comparisons to Left 4 Dead, noting that while lore and character interactions will exist, the primary focus remains on the gameplay within the tank. The team opted for named characters to foster a more engaging crew dynamic over anonymous avatars.
Gameplay within the Yksiö tank is designed around asymmetric functions with weighty, physical controls. The driver navigates the vehicle, the gunner, Erkki, operates the 158mm cannon and turret, and the commander provides navigational direction and situational awareness from the cupola. Success hinges not only on individual station management but also on effective communication between crew members. Currently, players will spend the majority of their time inside the Yksiö, though the possibility of moments where the crew can exit the vehicle is still under consideration.
Kasurinen explained that while Mouthwashing deliberately minimized references to the outside world to maintain a claustrophobic narrative, Carcass Clad will feature a more defined world outside of Vhorgorod. However, the scope for detailed narrative elements within this larger world will be considerably smaller, presenting a different kind of writing challenge compared to their previous work. Both projects have been distinct and demanding in their own ways, with narrative being paramount in Mouthwashing and gameplay taking precedence in Carcass Clad.
The success of Mouthwashing has placed Wrong Organ in a position to pursue more ambitious and unique projects. The studio has expanded its team, a luxury previously difficult to imagine. This financial stability allows Wrong Organ to focus on bold creative endeavors, free from the pressure of relying solely on the immediate success of its next project. The developers expressed gratitude for the opportunities and connections made since Mouthwashing's release and look forward to continuing to deliver new gaming experiences.