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Whilst it may have taken a little while and a couple of patches to get my review out. Stars In The Trash was always on my mind as a game I enjoyed. From the nostalgic graphics to the incredible animations, Valhalla Cats have hit the jackpot with this one. I just hope that they keep doing this sort of game and bring us more cats. Stars In The Trash receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
With whimsical art style, some cooky characters and a mystery so mysterious I still don’t really know what’s going on, I had a really good time with Follow The Meaning. It’s short but sweet and is different from most point and click adventures that I’ve played. It would be the perfect addition to mystery fan’s library. I’m giving Follow The Meaning the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I feel like saying I enjoyed Dynasty Warriors: Origins is an understatement. The game is excellent and really brings back the same feelings I had as a child. Battles are way more epic than I imagined, even after playing the demo. Combat flows really damn well and makes pulling fun combos enjoyable. Using the different weapons brings a fun style of gameplay without seeming like a chore. My only minor complaint is that I sometimes felt levelling up weapon proficiency could seem like a chore. I confess, personally I don’t use the squad/army tactic skills enough, but that’s more on me. The overhaul of everything makes it feel like a brand new game without saturating what it used to be. My biggest source of enjoyment so far in the game (and easily the part that had me grinning stupidly) was the battle at Hulao Gate. It’s exactly how I pictured it in my mind when playing the older entries of the franchise. Tie that all in with an amazing soundtrack and simple yet fun level design, and I am awestruck. Now, I know it sounds like I’m preaching from a gospel, but honestly, if you love the franchise, I feel you will love this addition. And if you’re new to it, then you’re in for a great experience. That is why I’m awarding Dynasty Warriors: Origins the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
I am a fan of cozy games and when I first saw the video for Batography I knew I would enjoy it. I perhaps didn’t realise how much I would enjoy it though. Even writing this review I have stopped writing and dipped back into the game. Deciding to get just one more photograph, or trying out an idea that flashed into my head about where on earth that last mooncake is! The art is pretty, the music is a vibe and there was just enough puzzle my brain felt engaged without overly busy. My only gripe is that I want more. (If you’re reading this, SporkTank, please, please give us BaTWOgraphy.) I would love to explore the forest a little bit more or maybe even venture more into the city. But I realise that in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a real gripe at all. I award Batography the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
With an awesome track list, and a straight forward gameplay loop. Let’s Sing 2025 will quickly win the hearts of gamers who just enjoy singing. You could be the talk of every family party, especially if they enjoy karaoke. You could even take your Switch on holiday, and allow people to connect using their smart phones. You can literally sing anywhere! Let’s Sing 2025 receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Shattered is a game that I honestly believe all Quest 3 owners should have in their library. It’s both mesmerising and mind numbing at the same time. The only proviso I would add is make sure you enjoy puzzle games. Otherwise your time with Shattered will no doubt be short lived. Shattered receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Gameplay-wise, it’s fun and what you expect of a classic shooter. the weapons feel too samey and don’t look to have a difference in damage. My biggest issue is the lack of detail on level design. Most of the time it feels like I’m running through nothing but corridors with little to nothing to do. I didn’t finish the game because of being soft locked out of the exit on the Warehaouse level. I had the key but the door just wouldn’t open up even after restarting the level and playing back up to that point. Mekkablood: Quarry Assault’s levels are very much a maze, and the coloured corridors ended up messing with my eyes. There just wasn’t enough there for me to enjoy Mekkablood, and with the level design. That’s why I’m giving it the Bronze Award.
If you couldn’t tell by my review above, Road Maintenance Simulator 2 – Winter Services is not a good game. Through the years writing for Thumb Culture I’ve encountered games in Early Access that have more content than this game. Perhaps the gameplay is better on console, but for PC it just seems to be mostly broken and unplayable. Therefore, I have to award Road Maintenance Simulator 2 – Winter Services the Thumb Culture Broken Thumb Award. A sad day indeed.
With interesting stories and plenty of coffee to go around, Café Paris is a chill simulator game that will fit right into any simulation fans Steam library. Personally, it’s not something that I am going to be playing religiously. If I have no idea what I want to play, it’s definitely a good filler game that you can hop in and out of without feeling like you need to catch up. As a result of that I’m going to give Café Paris the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
The Spirit of the Samurai has a great art style, but the story itself needs fleshing out. I had a few major issues with input lag throughout the game, which led to many pointless deaths. The combat is okay, but I found the combo system useless and the same for leveling up. I didn’t really use the bow either, as most of the time it felt like I had to be near the enemy. I really hated the checkpoints in this game and more so in the end-game area. If you die, you go all the way back, which was annoying. Especially when you have to fight across a bridge before fighting a boss. Some areas go on for too long, especially with waves of enemies. Chisai’s segments are cute but felt like they could be removed from the game and it wouldn’t change anything. The biggest thing to really tick me off was the final boss fight. I had horrendous drops in the frame rate when against him. The boss himself wasn’t hard, but frames would screw me over when attacking. The game seems a lot more on the artsy side for me compared to the actual gameplay. I find it deserves the Thumb Culture Silver Award, maybe after a couple of updates to fix the frames and controls it could be bumped to a gold.
My feelings are mixed on Universe For Sale. As a point and click game heavily focused on narrative, it has an understandably light touch on gameplay. I enjoyed the mini-games, particularly the re-wiring activity in the market. The universe creation was my favourite aspect of the gameplay, though this was slightly marred by my buggy experience. In terms of the story, it’s serviceable. But I feel like sometimes certain elements were not explored far enough, and I was perhaps overly confused on my first play through. Especially in regards to the sequence of events. The art throughout the game is the most outstanding element. In fact it’s perhaps reason enough on its own to check the game out. Ultimately, Tmesis Studio’s first game has put them on my list of developers to keep an eye on. Universe For Sale signals that this team have the ability to create gorgeous games. They have some interesting world-building ideas floating around that just need a little more refining and some more room to shine. This talented group have a bright future, and I’m excited to see what they will move onto next. Universe For Sale receives a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
I thought that Empire of The Ants was going to have a lot more gameplay centred around the building of the colony. Now, don’t get me wrong, commanding armies against other bugs/insects is fun. But when I think of ants, I think of them as an entire colony. The combat is fun and engaging, although slow, especially when units are moving to a location. However, the ant we play should also be more a part of the action and not just use buffs. I do like the movement of the controlled ant. As the story starts off simple, I definitely say keep playing and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It becomes rather fun and interesting, and when it did, I was hooked. I was surprised to learn that Empire of The Ants was also based on the book, which I looked into further, and honestly, I was intrigued. I’m awarding Empire of The Ants the Thumb Culture Gold Award. It’s a good relaxing RTS.
Overall, 10 Dead Doves is a wonderful and weird experience, that constantly keeps you on your toes. You never really know what to expect, whether it is a vivid dream sequence or a Saw-like test that’s timed. As someone who struggles to play horror games, 10 Dead Doves does a perfect job pacing the horror with perfectly timed comedic relief, lulling you into a sense of safety only to surprise you again. The gameplay isn’t overly complex, which works well as it allows the story to shine. The voice acting is commendable and fits the overall tone of an early 2000s horror movie, combined with an original score making 10 Dead Doves a fully-packaged game made with passion. I award 10 Dead Doves the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Emergency Call 112: The Attack Squad is probably one of the worst sims I’ve played. The level is three maps repeated which is boring. The stamina bar kills the whole thing since it’s useless (unless being a burden is its function). Some missions are both stupid and pointless with one just being you walking around a building to grab a spider. The whole thing just feels like a cash grab and the A.I. sounding dispatcher isn’t something I like as well. I would have rather had silent text. I’m giving it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award, Although I wouldn’t suggest grabbing this game.
Flint: Treasure of Oblivion isn’t without its flaws. The lack of a map showing where you are on it, the occasional bugs, and the reliance on dice rolls might put off some players. However, the game’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The comic-book storytelling, atmospheric music, and pirate-themed adventures make it a must-play for fans of the genre. Savage Level have created a world that’s as charming as it is challenging, and while it might not be smooth sailing all the way, the journey is well worth it. So grab your dice, recruit your crew, and set sail. This is one treasure you won’t want to leave buried. With its engaging presentation, tactical depth, and sheer pirate charm, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion earns itself a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Home Sports is a delightful entry into the mixed reality gaming space that may not redefine sports gaming, but it successfully bridges the gap between nostalgic fun and future innovation. This game is a must-try for Meta Quest 3 users seeking an engaging, family-friendly MR experience. There are many VR sports games but this title deserves a chance or two for everyone. I award Home Sports the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The gameplay itself is okay and does its job at entertaining you with various weapons. I renovated the church rather quickly, which is a little disappointing, because I wish there was more to do with it besides confessionals. The exorcisms are fun unless attempting to beat Parson’s time, mainly because I’d get caught on the smallest thing. And my currently equipped gloves would keep switching out, making me lose time. I never fully understood the story, apart from Olok wanting his powers back and to get home to his Batoom. The story was just weird and a mess. Priest Simulator: Vampire Show primarily focuses on the dry humour, rather than making the gameplay better. Which is ultimately it’s downfall. Personally, I am just not a fan of this type of comedy. Maybe it is funnier in Polish, but not so much in English. Now, I’m giving Priest Simulator the Thumb Culture Silver Award simply for the fact that the game runs fine, and the gameplay is somewhat decent.
Blood on the Thames is one you have to experience for yourself to get a true feel of what’s on offer. I’ll certainly be playing on, savouring every reveal and twist the story has to offer. There is a lot of narrative to get through, which may deter some gamers who relish action and fast-paced games. The story plays out over time instead of suffocating you with narrative exposition all in one go. The game reveals random weirdness over time. For example, it has scenes of computer coding, alluding to a simulation type backstory. Overall it’s a solid point and click murder mystery. I award Blood on the Thames the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Since starting Enigma of Fear, I just haven’t put it down. The levels are well designed, back-tracking does become annoying, but with the amount of fun I had, it’s easily forgiven. I love the puzzles in the game that really challenged me, such as the statues. Lupi is adorable, and the cast is great. Although I’m not a huge fan of Agatha’s voice. The music fits the scene and really helps set the tone. The game is just so interesting and captivating. Enigma of Fear is going into my replay pile, right with Crow Country. Gameplay is fun and engaging, but I do wish there were less notes. I understand developers use them for world building, but I wish they would try other ways. Such as videos or just another cinematic. I appreciate this is more a pet peeve of mine with games in general rather than just this one though. The teams at Dumativa, and Cellbit achieved something great here. Now, honestly, the only thing mystery I have is, why isn’t anyone playing or talking about Enigma of Fear more? Enigma of Fear is fully deserving of the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Go Home Annie is fun with some interesting aspects but the story, while straightforward, feels like it’s missing key parts. One being the bounding with the two side characters you can talk to. I feel like we should have more interactions to better develop them. The actual SCPs are great, although it feels like they take a backseat in the game. The puzzles were enjoyable, especially the house ones with the four rooms. The car segment went on too long honestly and the driving was a little clunky. A few bugs occurred during my play through where the map wouldn’t load, leaving me in a black room. It was easily fixable by loading a previous save, but it happened a couple times. Now, Go Home Annie is a fun short mystery game with little twist, but as a game based in the SCP Universe. Personally, I found it lacking, but for more adept SCP lore lovers, you might think otherwise. If you love the SCP Universe, this might be up to your alley. I’d also recommend checking out SCP: Secret Files. I’m giving Go Home Annie the Thumb Culture Silver Award.