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Like a bowl of soup, The House of Hikmah is a satisfying blend greater than the sum of its parts. It takes a hearty stock of engaging story and builds upon it, with beautiful graphics, challenging puzzles, and atmospheric music. And while you may encounter occasional glitches, nothing should be too hard to swallow. In fact, it’ll likely leave you wanting a second helping. I greatly enjoyed my time in The House of Hikmah and I believe you will too. I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award and my personal recommendation.
There are an overwhelming number of games hitting early access or simply releasing under the radar. Occasionally you find something that feels familiar but fresh that you didn’t expect. I came in expecting more of the same but was pleasantly surprised at the draw it had on me. Grind Survivors is available on multiple platforms as a full release. If you’re looking for a new bullet-hell to sink your teeth into, it’s well worth your time picking up. It offers a variety of loot, builds, characters and ways to modify runs to suit the playstyle or build you want to focus on. I’m definitely going to have to go with the Thumb Culture Platinum Award for this one.
All in all, Hozy is a very cozy game that provides a fun and relaxing experience, perfect for a comfy afternoon. Even though the game is a bit short, the vibes are there and the attention to detail makes every minute worth it. If you are looking for a fun little game to switch your brain off, this is definitely a cute one to pick up. If you want a more custom experience, maybe wait for the teased updates to release, but even right now, the game is already worth giving a shot! Today, I am giving Hozy the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
So with a lot of updates this year to the Franchise, do they refresh it enough for you to buy the newest version? I think so, especially if you are a wrestling fan. The QoL updates bring a nice added extra to the game and gives us a nice indication of how the future is with WWE 2K. Personally, I can’t wait for the next version of the game. Maybe we’ll get 500 superstairs in the opening roster? who knows? WWE 2K26 receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Beyond Words is a game that was so much more addictive than I anticipated. Sure, it can be frustrating when the tiles aren’t in your favour, and the crazy scores to beat seem unattainable if you weren’t lucky with the right boosters. But it’s still an incredibly enjoyable, casual game that anyone can pick up and play. Therefore, we’re awarding Beyond Words the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
To start off the gameplay is way too basic, even by modern standards. You go here shoot some basic enemies, then proceed to drive for ages with no real danger, to only shoot again. Later on even gun fight sections seem to drag out a little too long, which after the first 3 hours I wanted to drop the game. There are a couple of mini-games to break the flow, but even they are far and few between. We don’t get to explore the world and the world itself is lifeless. For the story it was just terrible and a filled with a bunch of silly deus ex machina moments. The plot couldn’t decide what it wanted to do, and chacters never get the development for you to actually care for these people. MindsEyes ending was extremely disappointing, and with the boring and even worse post credit cutscene, I was glad the game was over. Only positives I could say, is that I didn’t suffer one bug that ruined or broke my game. So with all that, I am giving MindsEye the Thumb Culture Bronze Award. For the price they are asking, I would look somewhere else.
Dragonkin: The Banished is an action RPG that is genuinely enjoyable, for a time. Slaying countless dragons whilst constantly upgrading your gear is a satisfying gameplay loop. A less-than-engaging narrative and lack of customisation do dampen the experience somewhat, but this won’t be the next game you’ll be spending months playing. As it stands, Dragonkin is a title I would recommend, but perhaps wait for a sale. However, if you have a readily available co-op partner, then this is a fun fantasy romp that is infinitely more enjoyable with a friend. A Thumb Culture Silver Award is handed to Dragonkin: The Banished.
If you enjoy games like Balatro and Nubby’s Number Factory then I highly recommend checking out RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike. It has a certain amount of charm that combines visual style and engaging and rewarding mechanics. If nothing else, it is at least easier on your wallet (and more exciting) than playing a coin pusher in real life. I’m definitely going to have to go with the Thumb Culture Platinum Award for this one!
The biggest complaint I have for Crimson Desert is definitely the control scheme. It just feels awkward. Holding R1 to perform a full combo, instead of individual prompts really throws me off. And not being able to lock onto enemies besides when holding block doesn’t help. It ruins the whole flow of combat. Tie that with blocking not working as intended most of the time, then get ready to be mauled a lot. Overall the world is rich with life and vast, but the janky controls do ruin it. I did slowly get use to them but only enough to get by, but it still feels off to me. Crimson Desert has a lot of fun ideas, but they come across as unfinished. Take the multiple characters for example. They don’t offer anything for the actual game-play besides a preference for the player. But even then you are forced to stick with Kilff mainly due to what seems the world being made for him. Such as puzzles and armour. Another big issue comes from the storage in Crimson Desert. And what I mean by that, is there really isn’t any for the player. Yes we can sell goods, or donate to the camp. But I feel as if we should be able to store produce for cooking, and ore for levelling gear. This should have been a bare minimum feature. I know I haven’t mentioned the story, this is because I honestly don’t have a clue beyond the fact the Graymanes, were slaughtered and that there is an imbalance of good and evil. Crimson Desert has so much I couldn’t fit it all in this review even if I wanted too. There is just that much depth to the game. Update dropped, so Final Thoughts part 2. While playing Crimson Desert, an update did drop fixing some issues, like the storage problem. And man does it help a lot. The combat hasn’t changed much, but I have got somewhat use to it more over time. I hope they allow us to switch it from holding down R1, to simple singular prompt. And that they fix the camera style while fighting bosses. I will give credit, where it’s due, I have enjoyed the world of Pywel. But there is just so much that should have been checked before release. So if you can deal with the awkward jankyness, then you should love it. But personally, I flick between loving and hating it. But in the end, I am giving Crimson Desert the Thumb Culture Gold Award. However, I can see why some people might suggest a lower rating.
I enjoy the steady pace with All Will Fall, but I still struggle a lot with the game. This I know this will improve over time, but getting water for my colony was the hardest so far. Building structures to reach new areas also becomes a challenge. Due to some areas being small and wood supplies dwindling early on. But I love that I always learn something new with each attempt I do. It is a fun game but nothing I have not seen before. It is just another premiere. All Will Fall gets the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It’s fun but nothing breathtaking so far.
MHS3 is a great game for anyone who wants a slightly chill version of Monster Hunter after the nice teleporting Rathalos. Sure it’s a single player experience, but know that it’s a cozy more laid back version of Monster Hunter. I honestly felt like I was doing the world a favor with not only bringing back extinct creatures. But assisting with creating new combos or creatures with some pretty useful skills. It helped a lot with certain invasive monsties which get more difficult with each species. I give Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
NUTMEG! A Nostalgic Deckbuilding Football Manager delivers a version of football that feels miles away from the modern game and most games built around it. In a space packed with monetisation and corporate fluff, this keeps things clean. No microtransactions or no weekly promos draining the fun. Just a genuinely fresh spin on the beautiful game, mixing deckbuilding with football management in a way that feels both clever and focused. Every moment carries weight, whether you’re banking on that tiny chance of a red card, fluffing a last-minute penalty, or pulling off a massive signing. It’s not flawless. The randomness will test your patience at times, no doubt. But here’s the thing, it never feels cheap. It feels honest. And that goes a long way. Sumo Digital have nailed something special here. As a reviewer usually exclusive to PS5, this being my first PC review says a lot, and I doubt anything will top it. Personally, I hope the game gets a console release, as so far this is my personal game of the year. Because of that, NUTMEG! A Nostalgic Deckbuilding Football Manager earns the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. Less is more, and there’s absolutely no need to go to VAR on this one.
At first, Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor really hits that sweet spot. Sodor feels comforting, the sights and sounds are exactly what you want. There is a simple joy in pretending you are a very useful engine with everything under control. Even as things start to fade, I still found myself enjoying parts of it. There is a charm here that keeps you going, even when it feels a bit rough around the edges. It just about does enough to stay on track, and I was glad to take the journey. That said, the cracks do start to show. The gameplay never really evolves and the world feels a little underdeveloped. It’s stuck between being a proper simulation and a simpler experience. It is enjoyable in small doses, but it never quite pushes itself as far as it could have. It’s a nostalgic ride that doesn’t quite go the distance before stopping short, but I’m still glad I climbed aboard. And so I am giving Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
The Coin Game is not a deep game, but it is a fun game. The game seeks to emulate the classic arcade experience and build a world around it, and I can strongly say that it succeeds. It builds on its core gameplay loop with a wide variety of activities, environments, and game modes. It uses neat tricks and solid design principles to bypass its graphical weaknesses and create delightfully atmospheric locations. And above all else, it completely captures the feeling of blowing your weekly allowance on games of chance and saltwater taffy. The Coin Game didn’t challenge me, or move me to tears (except when I missed the final block on Stack’Em). What it did was make me smile. It made made me feel like a kid again. And for that I can confidently give The Coin Game a Thumb Culture Gold Award. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Dunko cards to grind.
Milestone took a risk, and I respect it. The combination of arcade racing, combat and anime storytelling is bold. When everything lines up, it feels brilliant. However, it is not flawless. The campaign drags, the writing feels hammy, and the chaos can sometimes outweigh the skill. Best case scenario, Screamer becomes your go-to “one more race” game. Something you dip into regularly, chasing better times, messing around in custom events, or battling your friends in split-screen. Worst case, it burns bright, burns fast, and ends up as that game you were obsessed with for a while before moving on to something else. Even so, in a time when so many games are chasing the live service carrot, it is refreshing to see something this loud and different. I will always take a game with personality over another safe, forgettable one. For this, Screamer earns the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Marathon feels like a solid game that was built more for PvP than PvPvE. Despite trying to promote a semblance of teamwork with the proximity chat, you’re just more likely to get killed than get help killing that difficult bot. It also has a deep storyline and lore that I would love to explore, but am having a hard time following along between bouts of dying. If you’re into highly competitive FPS games and are looking for something to scratch that extraction itch, this may be for you. Marathon is deserving of the Thumb Culture Silver Thumb!
As with pretty much all the other Pokopia reviews out there, I am loving this game. There is so much to do and spend time doing, crafting items for all the Pokémon as per their requests or even just decorating your own home. You will not be bored playing through Pokopia. So don’t delay, if you haven’t picked up Pokopia yet, then what are you waiting for? It feels like the complete game. Pokopia recieves the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
New Super Lucky’s Tale feels like the culmination of Playful Studios journey with the adventure. From its original release as Super Lucky’s Tale (back when the logo still had an apostrophe) in 2017 to now, New Super Lucky’s Tale has never looked better or played as well. There are technical shortcomings that still hold New Super Lucky’s Tale back in the past. But they are issues that shouldn’t persist in a game of this scope running on hardware as powerful as the PlayStation 5. As a fan of the genre, this game categorically delivers on the core platforming action and fun. It successfully obscures the unfolding cataclysm of humanity in the process, reminding us of the simple pleasure to be found in picking up coins as a cartoon animal in a cape. And for that New Super Lucky’s Tale gets the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Although short, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War leaves its mark on a classic franchise with its fun chaotic levels. Gun-play is fun, and getting to play as the bugs was a nice touch, although a rather simple experience. I did feel as if there weren’t a lot of swarms and I wish there was. But the game is great regardless, with you really feeling like a hero. And the fact that the whole game itself is meant to be just another form of in-world propaganda is just brilliant. I highly suggest picking up Starship Trooper: Ultimate Bug War. It really deserves the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
If you want a hidden-object experience where story and detection go hand in hand, with playtime that’s beefy, and leaves you smiling from ear to ear, Lost and Found Co. needs to be at the top of your list! Bright and endearing with enough whimsy to shake a sparkly tanuki at, it’s a must for any hidden object fan and will prove impossible to put down. Therefore, Mei’s shrine receives the offering of a much-coveted Thumb Culture Platinum Award! It’ll look perfect by the bubble pool!