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My time with the game has been enlightening. There are several flaws that I came across like the ability to see or remember Animon’s attacks. This is just one of a few things I hope they’re able to fix besides the issue with the controller choices I’ve encountered. I played on both the PC and on my Steam Deck and got to say that I rather play it on my Steam Deck. For a game like LumenTale: Memories of Trey, it feels more comfortable playing it in handheld mode. There is also the ending that felt kind of lackluster that almost killed my motivation to try to continue my completionist route. Again I hope this does get resolved over time. However, it is Beehive Studio to make the changes and we have a lot of time for change to happen. I give LumenTale: Memories of Trey the Thumb Culture Gold Award
Solarpunk is definitely something of an acquired taste. Whilst I do wish there was more of a structure to it, I did enjoy just building and exploring at my own pace. Some of the creations I’ve seen online are truly fantastic, and have given me inspiration to return to my various bases and improve their looks! Ultimately, what you get out of Solarpunk relies entirely on the player. Yes, due to the handcrafted worlds, there isn’t an infinite amount to see. But, as I’ve said, not every game needs to be infinitely replayable. This is mechanically rather simple, but still scratches that itch of creating things from bits and bobs. Therefore, Solarpunk receives the ThumbCulture Silver Award!
It turns out that Moonsigil Atlas was an enjoyable foray into a different format for the genre. At the end of the day, however, there just doesn’t feel like there’s a whole lot there. There are three characters with their own card sets, artifacts for variety, and a variety of cards overall. But it seems like something is missing to give it the depth it needs. Still, definitely a Thumb Culture Gold Award winner!
The game managed to pique my interest and even entertain me for more hours than I thought it would. The game developers did their best to create a variety of missions with a storyline that feels intriguing. Outside of that, the game feels rather lifeless, with very few cars on the Autobahn, very few NPCs to interact with, and even fewer activities to break up the routine. Unfortunately, due to the game randomly and abruptly crashing a couple of times, I can’t possibly give Autobahn Police Simulator 3 a positive review. Furthermore, the game lags and stutters constantly, despite the low specs requirements. Autobahn Police Simulator 3 receives the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Savara is a good little game that will definitely be comfortable in the library of rougelike fans. It’s a good game and there isn’t anything wrong with it. It just always doesn’t do much to make it a stand out game in a pretty packed genre. I really have been enjoying this game but I found myself just wanting a little bit more from the game. Ultimately, I have to give Savara the Thumb Culture Silver Award. As mentioned, it’s a good game but it doesn’t do enough for me to be really excited by it.
Incantation is okay, but it begs the question of why it needed to be made. The story keeps a steady pace and doesn’t drag on, but playing through can feel rather dull. Since the encounters are heavily scripted, and for the atmosphere, it never really feels present in the whole game either. No buildup, nothing. The upside with Incantation is that I never had any technical issues. So, for me, I think the game deserves the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
At the end of the day, FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol is not a bad game, it just feels a bit clunky to me. The core concept is actually pretty fun, and since it’s quite cheap, just a bit over 10 bucks, it may be worth a shot if you are super into detective-style games and want to check it out for yourself! Just make sure to change the hint setting if you want a challenge, so you don’t end up stuck in easy mode like me. If you can look past some of the awkward mechanics and the AI images, this can be a decent little afternoon game, or something to keep you occupied after work for a day or two. All in all, I am giving FORENSIC – M.E. Protocol the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
After loving Spellgarden Games’ ‘Sticky Business‘, I had very high hopes for Thrifty Business. Maybe I went in with too high expectations as Sticky Business was a game that sucked me in for hours on end and constantly had me engaged. By all means, Thrifty Business is a wonderful game and Spellgarden have done an amazing job at expanding their exceptional game catalogue. It offers so much as a game and has plenty for a player to do but the waiting for the day to finish took me out of the game a little bit. Other than that this is a really good game and is very much deserving of the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Ultimately, I enjoyed my time with Speed Freeks. Mostly… It’s hard to be too critical of the lack of solo content and game modes, especially for the price. There is fun to be had here, especially with friends. Plus, the creation utilities work surprisingly well using a controller, and was something I didn’t even expect to be included in the console version. The love for the 40k universe is on display in full force; there’s no doubt about it. Franchise veterans will absolutely get a kick out of burning rubber as a bunch of Orks. That aside, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is still a competent vehicle combat game with some genuinely good ideas. It’s just a shame there isn’t more of it. So, with all that said, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks receives the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Voidling Bound is honestly a great game with some very creative combat for each voidling I collect. Getting gold eggs from time to time and hatching some unique voidlings even a completely god one. Eventually, I got to play each species at least once, but always returned to the same ones that have great combat mechanics. So, if you like creating the strongest little helper to help save the world and making glass cannons or tanks. Then pick Voidling Bound when it releases. You can say you shouldn’t be avoidling a good time. I give Voidling Bound the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar is clearly a labour of love, which is obvious from the thought and effort that went into it. It may have certain shortcomings, but they pale in comparison to how much of a blast I had with the game, making me excited for what the studio may come up with next. It’s for this reason that I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
I don’t normally like to skip the Longevity section, but there really isn’t much I can say here. The answer is: I have no idea. I have absolutely no idea how long the game would keep you occupied if it actually worked as intended. I’m sorry. To get to the final thoughts, in the current state that the game is in, the mixed review score on Steam is entirely justified. It has a solid foundation that blends some fun ideas together, but it desperately needed more time in the oven. Between game-breaking progression bugs that leave you sitting AFK for ages, technical issues and just some very needed tweaking of the details, it is just a frustrating experience right now. If the developers can patch the game into a working state, it might be worth a look. Until the core gameplay loop actually functions though, I can’t really recommend this one. The game has potential, and if you look at the trailer, it actually does look fun. I believe if they had let it cook a bit longer, it could have been at the very least a Silver Award game. But sadly, this is just nearly unplayable. I’d give it the Broken Award, but since it is technically playable, even though you can’t really progress, it doesn’t really qualify for that either. I will instead give Service Area Simulator the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
I had a blast with Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, and I’m not through with it yet! Its wonderfully charming art style is incredibly endearing, and the performance is consistently solid. Overall, it’s just a very fun, chill game. I’d highly recommend this to series veterans, or to newcomers who want to try something unique. It’s so easy to lose track of time playing, which, for what it’s worth, is some of the highest praise I can give. Try it out; you may be pleasantly surprised at how engaging it (and the rest of the franchise) can be! Therefore, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Rune Dice is really an enjoyable game that I’m surprised doesn’t have plans to go on mobile phones like BALL x PIT. It’s honestly a game you can fight the urge if you don’t want to do the adventure in Pen and Paper. Or you’re wanting to play pool with a more square appearance. My only grip with the game is really just the music being too reparative to cause my brain to desync. I’ve actually bought this game for a few friends that I play DnD with and they really enjoy the game as well. Here’s to hoping this concept will evolve just like the dice that grow with each collision. I give Rune Dice the Thumb Culture Gold Award
I was disappointed with everything Hollowbody had to offer. The story was underwhelming, combat was worse than janky, and there was no real build up at all. You spend a large amount of time just walking, and although there are enemies, they can mostly be bypassed with only a few being needed to be killed. The puzzles are okay, but even they feel that mid-way and near the end they just gave up. Since some of the puzzles later on are all just next to each other, when the apartment complex had you checking out different floors for items. For such a short game, I expected a bit more depth to the actual story. I don’t think I could really recommend Hollowbody to anyone, so I am giving it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Each new hurdle Swan Song introduced felt like another hurdle Amber had to face through her sickness. It also felt like the hurdles Tristan and Edith also had to face, as family sickness affects everyone. Business Goose Studios clearly shows they understand this and presents this game with grace and empathy. I would recommend anyone to take the time to listen to and play a very real story, which Swan Song is. As stated, this is a gradual story with easy-to-solve puzzles. If you have a little patience, this could be a wonderful exposé into a realistic narrative. For that reason alone, I would award Swan Song a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi is a game that you can play if you want to see some redesigns for certain demons and gods. However, playing it has small issues that the AI issue alone is to blame. The map in-game is another enemy you wouldn’t think is against you until you reach a split path. Sometimes, you’ll have a good look at what lies ahead. While another you can only see two lines, but no idea which path carries more benefits. With that in mind, I feel this game is just a play until you get to the end and never touch again. This game has a lot of potential, but some of it even in this remake did not achieve the top floor, but only the middle. I give Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
The game is just rather meh, the story wasn’t really doing it for me, and the combat was okay. But most of the problems stem from the oddly long and repetitive segments. It also felt out of place with having Thompson deal with his own personal trauma, while everything was going on. I personally didn’t see anything that connected him to what he was experiencing in the hospital. More so when the player has seen what he is grieving. Sadly, without giving spoilers, It Reaches just comes across as odd in a few areas. And with the amount of motion blur and stuttering I have already mentioned. I am giving it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award. If the various issues are resolved, then maybe it’s a silver.
Hacked: The Streamer is a valiant effort by a new team, but it unfortunately falls flat. The narrative is convoluted and uninteresting. Gameplay is minimal and borderline unnecessary. And the game deliberately hides its actors, the most important part of an FMV game, behind Discord calls and AI art. There are signs of an interesting premise, but the delivery is wholly lacking. That’s harsh criticism, I know, but that’s because I can see the glittering of a solid game beneath all the ugly rubble. May this be a learning experience, and may their next project be an improvement. I give Hacked: The Streamer the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Pragmata has made me remember the joys of raising my nephew and then making a person like me want to raise a child of my own. This game like God of War, The Last of Us! and The Witcher 3 has the same element of storytelling. That family is important, and that when raising them to cherish their time and growth. I enjoyed this game and would be surprised if there was ever some kind of sequel that came out of it. If I had anything to grip about when it comes to the game, it would be the lack of fast travel. Sure you can go from the shelter to the any accessible you’ve unlocked. But the fact you can’t go between one ladder location to another from it is pretty insane. I give Pragmata the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.