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Dav Pilkey’s world of Dog Man has been recreated lovingly. I’m sure he would be proud of the game. Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is platforming at its best. It’s also a lot of fun to play through. I’ve spent a few evenings playing the game along with the TC Mini Crew and it’s given me an experience that can’t be replaced. Those core memories will live with me for a lifetime. Dog Man: Mission Impawsible receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I had a pretty decent time playing through The Cabin Factory. It’s a really unique and interesting approach to the horror genre. It definitely has the ability to eventually be a contender for one of the best. That being said, the ending (which I have and haven’t mentioned) really did disappoint me. I also found that once you were in the post-game and just had endless cabins coming at you that things got really repetitive for very little reward. I really am looking forward to seeing where this game goes and I will revisit it at some point but for right now, it just didn’t live up to the hype. As a result, I have to give The Cabin Factory the Silver Thumb Culture Award.
When I first reviewed Maestro as a base game I said it was “Pure, Brilliant, Indulgent Fun” In fact I was quoted on that! The Double Jack team have somehow taken a brilliant VR game and improved upon it with even more fantastical musical masterpieces. I was already hooked on the game but the Maestro Secret Sorcery Pack has solidified it for me. I for one hope this isn’t the last pack we see either. I’d love to see more of John William’s works in Maestro, perhaps of the space opera variety? The Maestro Secret Sorcery Pack receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Completely Stretchy is just a fantastic game to switch off to and be your best sticky and stretchy self. I had so much fun playing and I am itching to get back to it. It’s been a while that a game has offered so much delight in one place like this before, for me anyway, and I revel in this silliness of this world. I can’t wait to recommend this game to everyone I know and watch them experience the same wonderful moments. I love how the game just lets you loose into this world and rewards your curiosity. Based on the fact I had a massive smile on my face watching the trailer and was in hysterics playing Completely Stretchy, I happily reward this game with a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Murky Divers is supposedly playable in solo mode. It might just be because I suck at the game, but I heavily advise against this. The submarine has a lot to manage, and although it’s not demanding, trying to run away from the oncoming threats like the Leviathan and Kraken makes it challenging. I wasn’t able to check sonar, quickly swim to the engine to move the sub, then once again swim quickly to the wheel. It might just be a skill issue, but when it’s done solo, it just wasn’t fun. However, when I was joined by the TC crew, we easily organized and operated the submarine. With the submarine conquered we came across another issue. When arriving at the expedition, we could barely survive due to how aggressive the monster was. Often these beasts were blocking the entranceway of the building we had yet to enter. Which became a chore. Add to that our wanted levels were nearly full after two missions, meaning the ocean police were gunning for us, it all became a bit tedious. I had fun with Murky Divers, I did, but as mentioned above, it removes the fun when you’re just getting trapped or killed instantly by a giant ghost fish time time and time again. Maybe others might fair better than me, or maybe I’m better suited for Lethal Company. With all that, I award Murky Divers the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Ballionaire is a charming game that is here for a good time, not a long time. It doesn’t ask too much besides wanting you to have fun. Doesn’t matter if that’s a fair weather visit, or if you get the infamous “one more run” feeling. The presentation is immediately fun and delivers a carnival-like atmosphere. The gameplay reinforces this, but also offers a surprising challenge. Exploiting synergies are the key to success! As a full package, Ballionarie personally resonated with me as a reminder what the joy of playing games is. Even if it’s sometimes frustrating, and would benefit from accessibility improvements. Ballionaire profits from earning the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Shop Simulator: Supermarket is like most sims I’ve played lately, doing the same mundane thing over and over. In the end, it comes down to preference for what occupation might spark your interest. Issues that did appear were small and a quick restart fixed it. Gameplay is okay and you can kill time by easily with it. I think making the game multiplayer definitely helps make it fun. You can bring your own bitchy gossip and work place drama to life to really help with the immersion. In conclusion, Shop Simulator: Supermarket is what you make of it, I can’t say I hated or loved it. Time to scan it with the Thumb Culture Silver Award and shelve it with the rest.
I really enjoyed my time with Short Trip. It was not as short as I had feared. The time I mean. The game itself is very short. I was quite weary going in that I would play once and be done. Instead, this slow play game left me feline relaxed. It’s beautiful and tranquil. Just as intended. I do wish there were some cosy achievements in it. Not even just ones for getting high scores in Scheduled mode. Things like “Completed a Journey” or “Took your time” just to lean into the unwinding and cosy vibes that are present. We all like being told we’re doing a good job. And Short Trip is a great little game that I wouldn’t be surprised to see on some positive vibes and mental health gaming lists. Who could say no to a game that costs less than £2, I was gifted the game for review, but I would pay £2 an day for the amount of joy and relaxation the game brought me. I award Short Trip the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The Thaumaturge has been on my radar for a while. With everything outlined above and much more that wasn’t spoken about due to story spoiler reasons, it definitely reached the high expectations I had. Dare I even say it surpassed them! Yes, the game has it’s flaws however they do not take away from the main experience. Which at it’s core, is absolutely amazing. I will happily be awarding The Thaumaturge the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Despite the minor bugs that I experienced, there wasn’t a single moment where I wasn’t having fun with this game. It was a spooky breath of fresh air that twisted horror into something that I haven’t seen in other games. The infection of the real world added another layer of tension which made everything feel that much more intense. How far can an infection spread between video games? I’m very excited to see what comes next from Rat Cliff Games! I can’t wait to play whatever mind-bending horror they release in the future. I knew within the first hour of playing Among Ashes that the only award that it deserved was the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
From my first time playing Railroads Online, the game’s steep learning curve and lack of in-depth tutorials could make it intimidating for new players. While the single-player sandbox gives you time to learn and improve, it is truly the multiplayer element that gives the game a fun community-driven side to it. Railroads Online receives the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
MySims Cozy Bundle has certainly taken me back to the days of hiding my DS under my pillow when I was supposed to be asleep. It is a great addition to the Switch line-up, and I am excited to see if there are any more MySims games EA will bring back as well. I think for the price, you honestly cannot go wrong. If you are considering MySims Cozy Bundle then I implore you to buy it as soon as possible! I will be award MySims Cozy Bundle the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
Overall Ravenswatch has definitely scratched my recent overbearing itch for roguelikes. With a great cast of characters, amazingly crafted art and an addicting gameplay loop, it brings a fantastic roguelike experience. The little details really bring together a great game which made me come back time and time again, just one more run, I said for the next 5 runs. Whoops. With everything taken into consideration, I will be granting Ravenswatch the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. What a fab little game! Really lived up to the hype after the previous roguelike by Passtech Games!
Loco Motive isn’t just a game; it’s an experience—a hilarious, heartfelt, head-scratching romp through a murder mystery with more twists than a railway track. Yes, the pacing can be slow, and bugs like Don disappearing might momentarily derail your fun. But the witty writing, stellar voice acting, and replay value make up for it in spades. So, don’t miss this one if you fancy yourself a detective, love a bit of slapstick, and appreciate a good jazz track. Robust Games and Chucklefish have struck gold—or should I say platinum? This one’s a Thumb Culture Platinum Award, without a doubt. Now, what are you waiting for? Grab your detective hat, board the Reuss Express, and solve this mystery together. And don’t forget—comment below with what excites you most about Loco Motive!
Petit Island is a short but heartfelt little adventure that emphasises the power of memories and how the simplest things can inspire so much joy. It has its share of flaws and some areas could use more depth, but you’ll still walk away from it feeling pepped up and fuzzy inside. And hey, sometimes that’s all you need! A Thumb Culture Silver Award goes to this paw-sitively idyllic little getaway!
Capcom has taken one of the most iconic games of previous generations. Then put it in a mixing bowl with hi-res graphics, beautiful textures and impressive voice acting. Then they have baked that in the oven for around 8 years. What we are left with is a great renewal of life to the old classic. The beautiful Re Engine creates some great visuals, increasing immersion and making Frank look incredible! Thankfully with all the fancying up of the game, it hasn’t lost its fun factor. Fighting zombies with a kid’s foam sword has never been so much fun!
With plenty of fish and plenty of stock to invest in, Aquatic Store Simulator ensures hours of playtime for anyone who decides to add it to their library. I prefer simulator games when there is a multiplayer element, especially when there is so much that needs to be done. That being said, you can see that there’s a lot of care that has gone into creating this game which is both enjoyable and educational – I didn’t know how much went into taking care of goldfish! Its approach to a simulator game feels much more in-depth in comparison to those that are also available. It’s the perfect next install for any simulator game fan! Overall, I have to give Aquatic Store Simulator the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The game itself costs £21. Would I buy it? No. I actually think the price point is a bit high for what it is. Yes, it is a fully voice-acted point-and-click game. But when I think of games such as Stray Gods, that have simple mechanics but a phenomenal voice cast, that isn’t enough. In terms of being a story driven, film-noir detective point-and-click adventure, Chicken Police: Into The HIVE! does just that. Perhaps too much by the book. I wanted to have fun with this game. Come on it’s animals doing people things, of course I did! I had visions of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Zootropolis mixed together into a perfect point-and-click game. But that’s not what I got. In forming their vision, I feel as though the developers lost their sense of fun along the way. I award Chicken Police: Into The HIVE! a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Overall I Am Future is what it claims to be – a cozy apocalypse survival game. Along with that though come some pitfalls common to others in the genre, including balancing resource management, rewarding progress, and automation. Some quality of life improvements, to help with the tedium of resource gathering and automation feature, would do wonders for the game. Needless to say, if you enjoy the genre this game is worthy of your time to check it out. I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
I was dubious about Bounce Arcade when I first checked out the store. It looked basic and too simple to be immersive. I stand (I’m currently sitting) here now in front of you (through the screen) and hold up my hands (in between typing) to say I was wrong to have judged the game so soon. The game is difficult in some areas but at every turn, I was greeted with an experience that kept me hooked. If you are looking for a hint of nostalgia with a fun casual experience then this one should be on your wishlist. Bounce Arcade receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.