Carcass Clad: Co-op Tank Horror from Mouthwashing Devs

During a visit to the Gamescom indie area, I experienced the upcoming title firsthand. The game places three players inside the claustrophobic cockpit of a rusty Soviet-era tank, each assigned a specific role: Gunner, Commander, or Driver. The objective is straightforward but demanding: destroy an enemy tank before it destroys yours. However, the path to victory is fraught with mechanical complexity and interpersonal tension.

Gameplay lead Jeffrey Tomec explained the studio's intent to move away from their previous work. “We wanted to make sure we tried something entirely new, and weren't just stuck in the box of painful walking sims,” Tomec said. While Mouthwashing was difficult due to its narrative and psychological depth, Carcass Clad is difficult in terms of pure gameplay execution. The horror element stems from the collaborative stress: “The horror in this game is in trying to work with your friends and yelling at them for not doing their job,” Tomec noted.

The in-game communication system simulates the audio distortion of being inside a tank, featuring loud background noise from treads and motors, crackly audio output, and low-quality voice transmission. This forces players to communicate clearly despite the technical interference, adding another layer of friction to the cooperative experience.

As the Gunner, my responsibilities included loading artillery shells from rotating internal cylinders, disposing of spent shells, manually calibrating shell distance, repairing damaged internals, and aiming through a periscope. All of these actions are controlled solely with a mouse, requiring precise and deliberate movements. A single mistake, such as rotating a cylinder incorrectly or missing a target, can be exploited by the enemy tank. The complexity of the role is compounded by the need to coordinate with two other players who are managing equally stressful tasks.

Executive producer Kai Moore and Tomec emphasized that the game is not designed for casual play. “A game for everyone is a game for no one. We’re okay with it being less accessible to absolutely everyone; we wanted it to be something that isn’t just booted up to have on in the background,” Tomec stated. The game demands full attention and active participation from all three players, creating a high-stakes environment where teamwork is essential for survival.

During my test session, we managed to destroy the enemy tank, though our own tank was also heavily damaged. The victory screen appeared briefly before the technical loss was registered, but Moore insisted, “It flashed up a victory screen! We won! Don't worry about it!” The experience highlighted the unique blend of mechanical precision and cooperative chaos that defines Carcass Clad.

The game features a simple yet expressive art style, reminiscent of the character designs in Mouthwashing, with low-poly models that convey emotion effectively. The setting, a war-torn Soviet city littered with tanks adorned with grotesque decorations, provides a dark and atmospheric backdrop for the intense gameplay. Carcass Clad is currently in development and is expected to be released on PC in the future.