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So Paw Patrol Dino World isn’t perfect. It’s a little rough around some edges. However, it is a lot of fun to play, especially for a Paw Patrol fan like me. My biggest gripe is the length of the game, being only 4 hours it does feel a little like you get shortchanged. If you enjoy the Paw Patrol world, then it should definitely be on your radar, especially if you are just introducing young children into the world of gaming. Paw Patrol Dino World receives a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
NHL 27 has provided me with a lot of fun, especially when you consider I was not really a hockey fan. It took me some time to figure out what the hell was going on and multiple ‘icing’ fouls before actually understanding what it meant. However, when I did eventually figure out how to play the game and realised the button configuration was similar to EA SPORTS FC, it became fun. As I’ve said multiple times throughout this review, I am not a seasoned veteran when it comes to the NHL franchise. Therefore, this review may lack a bit of detail when trying to compare it with it predeccessors. However, I do sometimes think a review from someone who is ‘not in the inside’ is just as valuable! With that being said, I will be awarding NHL 27 with the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I had fun with Doggy Don’t Care, and I’m looking forward to what Rohan Nowall makes next. The game has a creative concept with Charlie the dog causing chaos everywhere he goes. The surprisingly creative levels and puzzles sucked me in and kept me playing. The visual design was very good and made up for the not-quite-as-strong audio. There is plenty more for me to see and revisit in later playthroughs. And I’m looking forward to 100%-ing the game with those 25 achievements, which is rare for me. I am pleased to give Doggy Don’t Care a Thumb Culture Silver Award! I hope you enjoyed the review, and if you’re feeling nostalgic for other sim games, check out the review for Retro Arcade Shop Simulator.
I really enjoyed Earth Must Die. Whilst not every joke landed, the game is so jam-packed with them that it got countless laughs out of me. With a star-studded cast, gorgeous visuals, and some clever puzzles, this is a Point and Click game that everyone should play! Therefore, Earth Must Die receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Well Dweller is honestly a beautiful game and I highly recommend playing it for its amazing story and not too stressful of a time when fighting. My only gripe with the game is with the shop and trying to bulk buy trinket spaces. Other than that, the game made me smile, laugh, angry and sad my entire experience. I doubt Kyle would read this, but thank you again for making another great game. In a time where a good chunk of us are alone and family is far from us, the game helps us remember that family is worth fighting for. And if your child likes plucking bird feathers out of pure psychotic joy…TO THE BRIG THEY GO!I also like harvesting food, plants and eggs to use to eat or make more. Plus, finding different vendors who sell skills, books and other great items while exploring made me want to search for more stuff. I give Well Dweller the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Elden Ring was my game of the year back in 2023 and it’s been really nice to go back and experience the adventure all over again. Will I still predominantly play on the console? Absolutely but being able to experience the game on handheld so that I can loudly swear on train rides? That sounds like perfection. The obvious limitations of the Switch paired with the general issues I have with Elden Ring has knocked the game down to achieve the Thumb Culture Gold Award. It’s still one of my favourite games and it’s definitely worth adding to your game library!
Hazard Pay comes from a one-person studio based near Germany’s Black Forest. The developer Arran describes the location as “a good balance, a technical life anchored by a forest a few minutes away.” That description feels surprisingly fitting for the game itself. There’s a lot happening beneath the surface. Everything comes together in a way that is well thought out rather than chucking at a wall and seeing what sticks. I really enjoyed my time as an agent of IPT in Hazard Pay. It fully deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is gripping right from the get-go. A well-paced, emotionally charged story, a unique and fleshed out time mechanic, and a dark, fascinating world all combine to make something genuinely brilliant. If you have any interest in RPGs, you absolutely must check this one out. Arguably one of the best games I’ve played this gen. Therefore, The Blood of Dawnwalker earns a rare, well-deserved Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
I can’t wait to spend more time with Graveyard Keeper 2. It truly feels like a natural continuation of the original game with additional mechanics (I didn’t even mention the battle events!) alongside familiar ones. Make sure you say hi to Larry the Skull and the Donkey too! A beautiful life sim game with an insane amount of depth, it couldn’t be anything less than the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
I was a big fan of the original Moonlighter, and I’m pleased to say that Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault did not disappoint. Although there are some bugs still present, they weren’t enough to take away from the incredible amount of enjoyment I got out of this game. Whether you’ve played the first Moonlighter or not, there’s a good chance that any roguelike fans will really enjoy this one. I’d bet my shop on it! Therefore, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction is a game but not one I can fully back or recommend anyone to honestly. With the previous projects that Soda Game Studio game, has mixed reviews stating that the game is unfinished. So, I cannot in good conscience say this game is worth the buy. But, you’re all your own person and you have free will to do what you want. Unlike the aliens in this game who get their freedom and tech taken away for our entertainment. I give DIG Raiders: Anomaly Extraction the Thumb Culture Bronze Award
Retro Arcade Shop Simulator was actually pretty relaxing even though I thought it would be stressful. The aim of the game is simple and there isn’t any kind of issues that would hinder you like bills for the electricity and delay to receiving orders. Again, the only issues I had was the AI working my cafeteria not understanding who to serve first. And if you’re really in a hurry to make money, just raise the prices of either the game, tokens and/or anything in the cafeteria. I give Retro Arcade Shop Simulator the Thumb Culture Gold Award
V Archive: Tidy Up Together is a cute little addition to the tidy up genre that is emerging on Steam. It interests me a lot more than the fantasy games that seem to be the focus of this genre but unfortunately there were a couple of things that just let it down. Ultimately, I’m giving TV Archive the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It’s definitely a good game and I did enjoy playing it. There just isn’t much you can do with this genre to make it stand out.
Beast of Reincarnation is honestly a great game, with a beautiful concept. It just feels that it needs more time to cook, but we get what we get. Though there were issues where the button input keeps changing. Even when I placed it for PlayStation controller in mind. Hopefully with some time and some updates, I can see wanting to return to this game with a better PC. I hope this doesn’t discourage GAME FREAK from continuing to do other projects like this to allow them to spread their wings. I give Beast of Reincarnation the Thumb Culture Gold Award
Ultimately, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North – Legacy Edition (what a mouthful) is exactly what it says on the tin – an action RPG set in Middle Earth. Aspyr have done some quality of life updates that really help game such as the on demand character swapping. However it also still falls short with things such as a lack of manual save. This means that War in the North gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award. A good little RPG that deserved a new lease of life but is missing some needed QOL updates. Check out our other PC reviews here to find more games for your steam library.
After being completely underprepared for just what was waiting for me in Low Budget Repairs, this game easily establishes itself as a silly but fun simulation game. I’ve got to give Low Budget Repairs the Thumb Culture Gold Award. Aside from a couple of frustrating moments with controls, which, again, I think might be intentional, this game was super enjoyable. I’m very please to have picked this game up after having it on my wishlist for a while. Super excited to see what comes next from this dev!
I have been pleasantly surprised by Emergency Room Simulator, especially when I saw the mixed reviews on the Steam store. While there are small changes and improvements that I would like to see, there is the basis of a decent Emergency Room simulator. And, as I said previously, I love a simulator. I will be keeping a keen eye on the development of Emergency Room Simulator, and it will be added to my rotation of games. Therefore, based on all this information, I am going to provide Emergency Room Simulator with the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Mortal Shell 2 is an excellent game that creates its own identity, despite technically qualifying as a Soulslike. Since it doesn’t require any knowledge of the original, it isn’t a stretch to say that jumping directly into Mortal Shell 2 is the way to go for newcomers. The developer’s still releasing updates to tweak the difficulty and fix some graphical issues, but the game is still a blast to play through. It’s for this reason that I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
If you already own EVERSPACE 2 on PC, PS5 or Xbox and are happy playing it there, I wouldn’t suggest buying it again purely for the graphics. But if you’re someone who loves the idea of being able to pick up a game like this and play it anywhere, the Switch 2 version makes a very convincing argument for itself. For me, that’s the biggest achievement here. EVERSPACE 2: Galactic Edition is a big, ambitious space RPG that really shouldn’t feel this comfortable running on a handheld. Yet somehow it does. I am so impressed that I’m giving it the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
At its heart Meat Grinder is just a simple simulator with just a pinch of darkness to it. But the story wasn’t too bad, although it is really just at the beginning and end. I had fun serving the customers, but wish there were more upgrades or something to actually work towards. Or maybe some hidden lore/secrets to uncover, the room is there. All in all though it’s a fun game, so I’m giving it the Thumb Culture Silver Award.