Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is the latest release from Strange Scaffold, the developers known for titles like El Paso, Elsewhere, Clickolding, and I Am Your Beast. With a diverse array of games in their portfolio, each new title leaves me curious about what unique experience awaits. This time, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 stands out as one of their most bizarre outings yet.
This game presents itself as a match-3 narrative experience, and the playful title (a humorous nod as there are no prior installments in this fictitious series) suggests it’s far from ordinary mobile gameplay. I first encountered CRDM3 during a Steam Next Fest demo, and its unexpected twist immediately captured my interest. The characters are self-aware, acknowledging their existence within a video game shaped by the developers’ constraints.
Initially, the game immerses players in its absurdity. As J.J. Hardwell, an agent from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Super Science (ATS), I am bombarded with lighthearted jokes. J.J. exhibits a touch of cowardice as he approaches the titular mansion, nervously wishing, “Please, God, do not let me find any dinosaurs.” Little does he know, he’s in for a dino-filled adventure.
Right from the start, the game embraces its goofy tone. One area, dubbed Clown Alley, is filled with comically watermarked stock photos of clowns. An evil version of J.J. appears, self-healing in a “malevolent manner.” When I’m faced with a decision to move forward, J.J. unwittingly makes progress in a skill called “Bad Choices.” While humor can enhance gameplay, too much of it may risk overwhelming the experience.
Fortunately, the frantic, comedic pace mellows as the story unfolds. Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 shares a progression system comparable to Metroidvanias. As I solve puzzles, engage with quirky characters, and make unfortunate decisions, I earn new traits that open up additional pathways. Sometimes, revisiting previous areas unlocks new routes.
Combat in the game revolves around turn-based match-3 mechanics. J.J. has several tools at his disposal, including self-heals, shoulder charges, and stress-reducing abilities, which I utilize by matching and collecting symbols. The objectives in battles vary; sometimes, I must face a T. rex head-on, while other times I’ll throw pies at a pterodactyl dressed as a clown or navigate through a laser barrage from a hostile computer.
As I progressed, I found myself less captivated by the humor and more intrigued by the candid dialogues and reflections on game development embedded within the game. For instance, the previously mentioned evil J.J. was initially intended as a threat if I ignored the stress meter—now a remnant lurking in the game’s code. J.J. can also discover notes exchanged among the developers, revealing their candid frustrations over delays such as waiting for art assets amid demands for conceptual revisions.
In an industry where burnout and layoffs are rampant, it’s hard to ignore the realities of game development. The struggles behind crafting each title—often with many ideas and drafts abandoned—are omnipresent.
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 cleverly weaves its narrative around these themes, presenting a fictional backstory for its franchise while joking about the presence of bugs and “hiding away in derelict code.” Developers are portrayed as almost mythical figures, and I find myself navigating this incomplete world as a half-fleshed protagonist with limited background and motivations. Interestingly, when the game crashed at one point, I paused, almost expecting the narrative to continue—only to realize it was just a technical fault.
Despite its comedic undertones, the game manages to maintain a lighthearted vibe while addressing the complexities of development. The grounded components serve to offset the overwhelming humor, making it feel deeply human. This is a project born from passion and adversity, reflected in the developers’ experiences. I initially came for the dinosaurs, but I stayed for the developers behind the game.
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 was released on April 22 for Windows PC. The game was reviewed on PC using a code provided by Strange Scaffold. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships, which do not influence editorial content, although commissions may be earned from purchases via affiliate links. More information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
