\u201cFreeze!\u201d shouts our protagonist, J.J. Hardwell, who in exploring the titular creepy mansion finds himself in a green room which has the statement piece of \u201cT-Rex Head in a giant jar of green liquid\u201d. \u201cYou freeze! I\u2019ve got a gun!\u201d responds the tiny Dinosaur \u2013 named Dino Guard Wally \u2013 holding a pistol that is only slightly smaller than the dinosaur itself. \u201cOh my God you can talk.\u201d responds J.J. and, naturally, we begin a match-3 puzzle battle between the two of them. Welcome to Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em> is the world\u2019s first \u201cMatchroidvania\u201d, by which we mean it is a match-3 game that also takes the \u201cstart again with new knowledge and abilities to unlock new parts of the map\u201d element of a metroidvania. It\u2019s also very much a comedy, which is inspired by classic survival horror games, and an RPG now I come to think about it. You know what, let\u2019s watch the trailer together, it\u2019s easier.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 1<\/em> or 2<\/em>, did I miss those?\u201d Well, no, until very recently neither existed \u2013 Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 1: Re-Raptored<\/em> from Pedalboard Games is actually in development right now \u2013 so you\u2019ve not missed anything. CRDM3<\/em>, in the universe of the game, exists as an intriguing sequel to the critically acclaimed original Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion<\/em>, and the much more divisive big swing that was Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 2<\/em>. Again, neither of these exist. I\u2019m sort of getting ahead of myself though, because what you\u2019re probably now asking is \u201cChris, mate, how did this game happen then? Come on now.\u201d Well, don\u2019t let me tell you, let\u2019s ask the developers!<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had a few projects that come from my love of a specific mechanic, or angle on a mechanic.\u201d says Studio Head Xalavier Nelson Jr. \u201cAnd then there is a \u201cbit\u201d that I can\u2019t let go of and over time I realize those two things can co-exist in the same space.\u201d That angle on a mechanic was something Xalavier had loved about Puzzle Quest<\/em>, the tantalizing idea that with a match-3 mechanic, you could really do anything.\u201cYou could negotiate with a guard via match-3, you could lock-pick a door!\u201d It was taking this concept and just running as far as he could with it that unlocked Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI had also, for years, wanted to make a game called Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em>. When the lightbulb went off and I realised this game could be brought to life with this mechanic I really believed in? Suddenly it coalesced and something existed thanks to the talents of many people over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n Here at Strange Scaffold we tend to make tightly scoped games which in turn means we can work with smaller budgets and shorter than usual development times. CRDM3<\/em> however, has a longer development history than other titles. \u201cLike I Am Your Beast<\/em>,\u201d \u2013 Xalavier Nelson Jr, Studio Head \u2013 \u201cthis was a Strange Scaffold project that got cancelled like, two or three times.\u201d Getting Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em> up and running was not easy, with the team being told \u201cnobody cares about match-3\u201d during one pitch meeting. This, along with other projects like Bass Reeves Can\u2019t Die<\/em> being cancelled had left the game, and the studio itself, looking at a bit of a darker future.<\/p>\n The success of both El Paso, Elsewhere<\/em> and I Am Your Beast<\/em>, however, had begun to turn things around along with the support of publisher Frosty Pop. And what could make for a tightly scoped, shorter development cycle better than a game that had already had some work done on it? When Colin McInerney, CRDM3<\/em> Co-Lead, Content Designer and Writer, stepped into the project, \u201cThere was two years of development on three different versions of this game\u201d so, to say there was a Task ahead of them would be an understatement.<\/p>\n \u201cA bunch of that code ended up being weirdly load bearing\u201d explained Dan Pearce, Lead Programmer and Designer, \u201cit ended up being if I take these variables out that we\u2019re not actually using, none of the stuff that has just been developed is going to work properly.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, while at first this seemed like it could be like diving into a web, having Dan join the game after development on I Am Your Beast<\/em> finished meant that you had someone who knew how everything worked! The dream of all game development! This in turn led to the rest of the team being able to navigate development at a greater speed.<\/p>\n The team was also incredibly fortunate that back in 2022 Background Artist Judith McCroary had already created a whole bunch of stunning artwork that was ready to populate the various rooms you can explore in the mansion. \u201cOur inspirations then were more click-based games, in the early iterations it was more roguelite.\u201d But they still had a solid visual identity in place, \u201cwe wanted to keep it painterly, because we already had the character artist Marianee Canales, and she had already established a lot of that look.\u201d And when it came time to expand the idea of the Mansion as a \u201cResident Evil\u201d-like exploratory space, again, Judith absolutely nailed the look everyone was imagining.<\/p>\n Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em> was a labour of love, from a studio known for throwing a lot of passion and heart into their titles. Honestly, to tell you too much more about Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em> would spoil it, so, I won\u2019t! I will say this, however. Of all the Strange Scaffold games, Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/em> is my personal favourite.<\/p>\n We have put out some wonderful games, but none have encapsulated the weirdness, the humour, the confidence and the open heart that I see in the studio quite as much as CRDM3<\/em>. It has the \u201cokay, I\u2019m gonna try one more run\u201d addictiveness packed with laughs, a wonderful soundtrack and beautiful artwork. I doubt many would expect to feel very emotional at the end of a game called Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3<\/a><\/em>, but there I was on first completion \u2013 proud and overcome with emotion. I can\u2019t think of a higher recommendation than that.<\/p>\n![\"Creepy](\"https:\/\/xboxwire.thesourcemediaassets.com\/sites\/2\/2025\/09\/CRDM3-Xbox-Wire-Image-1-4dace792770708367151-1900x1268.jpg\")
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