Remote Control lets you command a human proxy on a derelict spaceship — by typing every single order

Remote Control is an upcoming indie game from Canteen where you guide human proxies through an abandoned spaceship called The Pelican entirely by typing commands. No button presses, no d-pad — if you want your proxy to move forward, turn left, or inspect a crate, you type it out. A demo is available on Steam now, with a full autumn 2025 release planned.

Before each mission you pick a proxy from a roster that tracks their likes, dislikes, and completed missions. The catch: most of your previous proxies are already dead — your fault — so the pool is thin and the pressure is on. Once a mission starts, the game plays like a dungeon crawler crossed with The Typing of the Dead. Proxies can get sick and die, environmental hazards litter The Pelican, and something — or someone — else may also be aboard. Lose too many proxies and it's your job on the line, not just theirs.

The typing mechanic is the whole point. Rather than abstracting your input behind a button, Remote Control makes you perform the same physical action as the character you're controlling — type "move forward" and you both move forward, in a sense. It's deliberately more laborious than a thumbstick, and the developer leans into that friction rather than apologising for it. The Typing of the Dead comparison is apt: that 1999 Sega arcade oddity built a cult following precisely because its absurd input method became the game's identity, and Remote Control seems to be chasing something similar with a horror-tinged sci-fi wrapper.

Remote Control doesn't have a firm release date beyond autumn 2025. The Steam demo is live now if you want to test your typing speed — and your nerve — before committing.