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Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 was really an enjoyable experience that anyone can get into. Its got easy understanding of how the button and combats work, so it’s beginner friendly. With the fact that we get to experience the game as if it’s the anime is wonderful in my eyes. Then again, it is CyberConnect2 we’re talking about here. A team who wholeheartedly respects the source material to make sure not to cut out the important and minor scenes in the show. Yet, with how much of the story we’ve already gone thru the game, I’m worried for the last game. Since the Infinity Castle arc will be short with the last bit even shorter, I wonder what they’ll pull out of their hats when the time comes. I give Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
As of right now, the game still feels a bit bare-bones, if I’m being brutally honest. There are only two boards to choose from, with minimal customization options, and I do mean bare minimum. Likewise, the avatar has surprisingly few options for personification. In a world where players enthusiastically throw money at companies through microtransactions just to add small personal items to their little digital characters on a screen, it is baffling how little content there is. Descenders Next is a fun game that I can see myself coming back to in the future. That is, when the game developers have added a bit of variety to the play modes, and more creative customization options beyond a black hoody or an open purple jacket (literally the only two options). The game has got some great potential, but something is missing, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Developers RageSquid need to put in a bit more razzmatazz, add sauce, that extra something something. Right now, it’s missing attitude, or a personality, even. The game is good, I would love for it to be great! For now, the Descenders Next deserves a Silver. The Thumb Culture Silver Award, that is! But I still believe there is room for this game to improve and eventually get the Gold Award.
Playing Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate was enjoyable since I watched the trailer for this expansion. I literally let out a death scream and said, “I can’t believe Bungie pulled me back in!” I’m excited to see what the Renegade part of the expansion is going to be like. Yet, I don’t know if the story is going to be canon in the Star Wars universe or not. Wait … is the Force going to be considered a subclass at this point? Only time will tell. The the only question I have to ask is, will this new overhaul on the original system make or break this franchise. I give Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate the Thumb Culture Gold Award
I wish One-Eyed Likho leaned a little more into the horror aspect of things. Such as more attempts at scaring the player. But overall, the story telling was excellent and did really well with keeping my attention. Especially with the tales and puzzles within the game. I had some minor frame drops when entering a new area of the Refectory. But nothing that ruins the experience. Puzzles are fun and don’t require you to know all the world’s knowledge. Smith and Tailor are enjoyable as characters, and Morteshka has done a great job of bringing them to life. One-Eyed Likho deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award for successfully breathing life into an old tale. I would have given it a platinum, but as I already mentioned, I wished there was a little more horror. Since that’s what grabbed my attention when playing the demo.
Occlude is an enjoyable, challenging-yet-beatable, puzzle game. It doesn’t shy away from telling you to expect to find it difficult. Equally, it encourages you to continue forward in the face of setbacks. The mechanics and general rules of play are easy to pick up, and the differing rules of each Ritual can be deciphered with trial-and-error. The story elements didn’t fully engage me, unfortunately, and felt like decoration to stop the game being simply a procession of levels. However, if you do play and want to explore more of the narrative, there may be additional secrets to discover, perhaps using the ‘Evidence’ that’s being released slowly on the Steam Community page. After all is said and done, Occlude is a tight, well-polished experience. I’d recommend this to players who enjoy a challenge where logic and deduction skills are essential. Occlude receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award. Happy dealings!
Let Them Trade doesn’t try to revolutionise the genre, it refines it into something approachable, adorable, and endlessly satisfying. It’s the kind of game you can play with a hot drink on a rainy afternoon, giggling at squirrel antics and smug kings as you expand your mellow little empire. It’s rare to find a game that’s this polished in tone, this generous in spirit, and this delightful to look at. Plus when that game includes a squirrel named Mr. Nuts whispering tax advice into a king’s ear, it deserves recognition. Let Them Trade gets the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is just an amazing addition to the series. The fact they kept this hidden from us for so long until the Nintendo Switch 2 direct is amazing. When I saw that we were getting another entry into the AI series, I nearly fell out of my chair with excitement. I hope the developers go on to make a fourth game or by some miracle this series gets an anime like Danganronpa did. I give No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
To be honest, before installing the game, I wasn’t sure it would be my thing. I couldn’t see how the premise could make for an enjoyable experience. As a VR enthusiast, I really should have known better. This game simply wouldn’t work as well on a flatscreen. It thrives on atmosphere and immersing the player—things that just aren’t possible with a TV or computer monitor. But that’s exactly where VR shines. It’s a completely different medium and as such, needs developers to take risks on new ideas for gamers to experience something truly different and Cave Crave VR does that exceptionally well. I award Cave Crave the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
While it has its fair share of graphical and mechanical debris, Everdeep Aurora is an endearing little story of trying to find home and a sense of togetherness when the world is falling apart. Quests may be imbalanced in terms of rewards, but the characters are charming. The map lacks definition, but the stripped-back colour schemes are atmospheric. You won’t know where you’re going, but you’ll lose yourself in the sensational soundtrack along the way. Therefore, it digs up a Thumb Culture Silver Award from the deep!
For such a short game s.p.l.i.t had a massive impact. This game really is a memorable experience and, in case you missed it, I really want more of it. I want to know more about the other techs, memory harvesting, and the world we’re thrown into. Mike Klubnika really has done a lot with a small game. It’s incredibly unique and captivating. The way that the heavier topics are dealt with are simultaneously dread inducing but well dealt with. The only issue I had with it was that I wanted more. This is a great addition to any library whether you love horror games or are looking for entries into the genre. s.p.l.i.t was instantly a Thumb Culture Platinum Award game.
Well, I feel confident when I say WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers will be a great challenge for Souls-like fans. Learning combat and utilising spells was the main focus for me. I loved swapping out armour and adjusting my build so next time I won’t get one-shot by the best this time. And that has happened to me. Unlike other games, where I’d have my shield or dodging was much easier in comparison. The level areas in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers feel a little too mazy for my liking. With some sections feeling too much the same, although this isn’t the actual case. My best example of this is the Avarian Woods. There are a lot of slow elevators in the game, which becomes annoying, more so when trying to get back to a boss room you just lost. This is a little bit of a rant. But! A massive problem I had was the lack of axes in the game. I have used the second axe the game gives you since I got it. And after all the bosses I’ve beaten and areas I’ve explored, there hasn’t been another damn axe. I got four long swords, five dual blades, and four spears. The DLC weapon I received is classed as one, but gameplay wise naaah, nothing. In the end, despite the axe problem, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is an excellent game with a beautifully crafted world. Excellent combat that forces you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to try new approaches. So, to maybe no one’s surprise, I’ll be awarding it the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature is a charming and content-rich addition that brings the fantasy genre into a grounded, eco-friendly light. It doesn’t try to reinvent the game, but rather deepens it with new systems that encourage exploration, creativity, and storytelling. Whether you’re a builder, a legacy player, or someone who just wants to give their Sim a pet hedgehog made of moss (true story), there’s something in these woods for you. Is it for everyone? Probably not. If you prefer high-tech careers, fast city life, or ultra-modern aesthetics, you might find the flower crowns and crystal groves a bit too “woo-woo.” But for players who enjoy fantasy, natural beauty, and slow-paced immersion, this DLC is a woodland dream come true. So go ahead, grab your hiking boots, stock up on acorn tea, and prepare to get lost (in a good way). Nature has never felt so enchanting. The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature gets the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
At the start, I was interested and loved how Necromancer’s Tale sets up with building your character. But once past the prologue, I was starting to lose my patience. Most of the time I spent was running around trying to find what to do next. The journal offers a broad hint of what to do, but doesn’t log previous dialogue for you to skim through. Which then forced me to return to the previous NPC, run through all the chatter and re-select my words, just for a small hint. I’d recommend a log of things your character has discovered. For example, rumours, info on characters and what they’ve said to be logged as well in the journal. The game needs a lot of work on the UI and some of the mini-menus. Such as not having to apply my sword every time I re-enter town. Maybe add a toggle feature to holster your blade. And better ways to make money, instead of only allowing you to work once per chapter. How far I got After playing until chapter 10, it felt like not much had happened in my story. The fact that I wasn’t really feeling like a necromancer left me disappointed. I mean, one of the creatures I could control wasn’t even made by me. Story wise it is interesting, it just feels oddly drawn out for no reason. The gameplay is both too simplistic and complicated at the same time. It’s light on the combat, and enemies go between hitting you 5 times or just once, which is odd. Especially when they move closer to me from far away. All in all, Necromancer’s Tale runs okay, but in the end, I gave it the college try. I just couldn’t finish, as I lost interest after reaching the ballroom. I may continue at another time, but not now. It’s a hit or a miss for The Necromancer’s Tale, so I’m giving it the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It might be up your alley, just not mine.
I thought I’d review Fears to Fathom in its entirety because each episode is more based on your preference. But I love how the dev takes stories from the community and brings them to life for a wider audience to enjoy. Some are better than others, with episode one being the weakest. My favourite episode was Carson’s House, where we house-sat for our dad’s friend. It felt more eerie than the other episodes, and the twist got me. With each episode, you’re able to see the improvements that Rayll has made over time. I’m going to be looking forward to season 2. I’d highly suggest checking these out. That’s why I’ll give it the Thumb Culture Golden Award. The first two episodes are hit or miss for me, which lowers the rating.
I really enjoyed Unfinished Business—worth the price, and I’d love a similar yearly experience to scratch that itch. It isn’t innovative, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s perfect if you want a shooter where you don’t need lightning reflexes and a PhD in knee slides. It is my fourth directive to award RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
In summary, Hell Clock is simply a great game. It has all the mechanics that make a roguelite great – beneficial progression between runs, variety of skills and RNG elements. Then it layers in ARPG elements and skill trees for extra touch. It also provides the player with plenty of options for how laid back or difficult they want to play through the game. With these in mind and for a game that also looks this good, I could give it nothing less than the Thumb Culture Platinum Thumb Award.
Even though Streetfighter 6 has been doing the rounds for the previous two years, it holds up incredibly well on the new Nintendo hardware. Yes, it has its limited graphical settings but the game is still crisp thanks to the incredible DLSS at work. With accessible control schemes that welcome even new players of the franchise, you will enjoy every fight, every special move, and every KO. Streetfighter 6 gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The hype I had from playing the demo was definitely not let down in the full release. Powerhoof really surprised me with the direction in which they took this story and I truly loved playing it. Mick is a really interesting character and learning more about why he was a drifter was a unique experience that I’ve not really had in a point and click game. I’m so glad I got the chance to sink my teeth into The Drifter and would recommend it to anyone that was already a fan of the genre or looking for a way to step into it. It wouldn’t be fair to give The Drifter anything other than the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
As with all Sonic games, you get what you expect. Fast-paced, frantic action with a little dash of challenge. Sonic X Shadow Generations is no different. The game comes to Switch 2 with a mixed experience. Fortunately, the Sonic version of the game more than makes up for the inadequacies of the Ultimate Life Form. Sonic X Shadow Generations receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is in my opinion the best way to remaster a game. Upgrading the art style, adding a few life improvements to certain mechanics, and giving a game that was once mute a voice, was absolute cinema. I was originally worried that they were going to only put on a new splash of paint and change nothing. Yet, I’m glad I was wrong on that front. Getting to see a game I loved when I was in high school was finally getting attention is wonderful. Hopefully the attention that’ll convince ATLUS to give us the 2nd game as well, with maybe a new third game to the series? I give Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.