The Third Pig is a proof-of-concept game that falls into what I’d call the “run-and-hide” style of survival horror. Inspired by The Three Little Pigs, you play as the third pig, the last surviving sibling after Mr. Wolf and his mysterious accomplice kill your brothers. Your role is to escape your own home, which has become a trap, using your wits to solve various puzzles.
Drawing from the golden age of the genre, The Third Pig embraces fixed camera angles, tank controls, and a Silent Hill inspired inventory system. Its black-and-white aesthetic isn’t just for style, it cleverly makes key interactive objects stand out. It’s a subtle but effective touch that ensures players never miss a crucial item while still demanding keen observation to solve its puzzles. The game strikes a great balance, challenging but fair, never holding your hand, yet rewarding those who pay attention.
At first, I thought the wolf-stalker dynamic was inspired by Clock Tower or Haunting Ground, but it turns out that PopsArcade was actually influenced by Tomás Esconjaureguy, the developer behind Cannibal Abduction.
That said, this mechanic isn’t quite as fleshed out as in the games I initially mentioned. Escaping from Mr. Wolf is as simple as hiding in an outhouse or the upstairs attic. Strangely, he won’t huff, puff, or blow the outhouse down instead, after a few seconds, he simply loses interest and walks away.
In some respects, this makes him feel less like a true threat. However, if he traps you in a corner, escaping becomes nearly impossible, effectively turning it into an instant death scenario that forces you to restart from the beginning.
With an estimated playtime of 30-60 minutes, The Third Pig is a short but effective way for the developer to cut their teeth. I really enjoyed the voice acting at the beginning, and there’s even a cameo from eurothug4000, which I wasn’t expecting but absolutely loved. I’d love to hear more of them in a sequel. Now that the groundwork is laid, I’m keen to see what they do next. Keep an eye on them for future updates: @popsarcade.bsky.social
If anyone wants a copy of The Third Pig I will personally buy it for you (it’s free):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3316090/The_Third_Pig/
