Thumb Culture
HomepageThumb Culture's Reviews
Before this review ends, I just want to showcase the amount of work that went into Accessibility. High Contrast mode allows players to customise the colour of the pitch to grey. It also gives options for teams, balls, and referees to be transformed into bold hues, making it easier for visually impaired players to differentiate teammates from opponents. This is the first competitive multiplayer PvP game to offer such a feature. Players can also disable shadows for teams and the stadiums, improving visibility and clarity. EAFC 26 is a well-rounded evolution rather than a revolution. However, bolder change will not occur until the old generation versions are retired. Meanwhile, Authentic Mode brings a more tactical approach, thereby offering fans a deeper, more immersive simulation. In addition, Pro Clubs and goalkeepers see major improvements. Although issues such as Ultimate Team monetisation and repeated trophy designs persist, they are minor blemishes on an otherwise polished experience. Overall, it is a solid, enjoyable entry that will appeal to both newcomers and long-time fans. It not only delivers refined gameplay, but also improvements across each mode, along with accessibility features that set a new standard. For players seeking a tactical, responsive, and visually stunning football experience, EA Sports FC 26 fully deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Katanaut is a great and challenging addition to the roguelite space. However, apart from the setting and faster-paced combat and difficulty level, it doesn’t do much to distinctly separate it from similar titles. It does check that Steam Deck library box for me though and will remain on my deck for some time to come. Definitely deserving of our Thumb Culture Gold Award!
SHUTEN ORDER was honestly under my radar until Stu gave me a heads up about it. The game having so many different genres that falls on each Minster member which I completely love about it. Going from a survivor game to a slight dating sim really was breath taking for me. It keeps itself separate from any other game in the same genre wheelhouse. Basically, the game has it’s unique charm and story that will either have you already guess the plot of each attempt or open up more of the game’s lore to you. Honestly, when you learn that everyone is a █ █ █ █ █, God is really █ █ █ █ █, and that God’s power is █ █ █ █ █ █ █. It feels good getting all that off my chest. Either way, this game is really worth the pick up and see if you will also figure out who the murderer is. One piece of advice, always check the setting to see if auto-save is active or not. Because auto-save will literally be your godsend. I give SHUTEN ORDER the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
To put it simply, Arctic Awakening was really boring. The story does little to improve as the player completes each episode. Never do I feel that Kai is actually bothered by anything going on, but instead he comes off bored himself. With each episode feeling like it gets worse and even when uncovering information, it left me feeling like nothing actually happens. Big government facilities, why are they here? Who cares? What happened here? Ah don’t worry this doesn’t need explaining. The ending plays off like it was added in last minute with even less explanation, especially with the random reveal. This might be due to me not selecting the decoder that translates drones for Alfie, but nothing really gets expanded on, and that annoys me. On the gameplay side, it’s what you’d expect of a walking sim, but only thanks to a good few moments such as the cliff climbing or elevators. Even then I would be forced to replay a scene as Kai wouldn’t be able to move. Another large bug I came across was me finding a massive area you could fall through. In fact you saw it in the gif in the previous section of this review. This wasn’t just a small layer issue. This bug causes the player to fall to a later segment of the game and then become stuck. Which doesn’t exactly make you want to continue playing. In the end Arctic Awakening suffers with a dull story, one-dimensional characters, and dragged out scenes. So it’s the Thumb Culture Bronze Award from me.
Frostpunk 2 feels like a true sequel to the first game. Although the basic mechanics aren’t too different, it’s bigger and more complex, albeit at the expense of the more personal feel of Frostpunk. It can be unforgiving and cruel, and may leave you feeling like an evil doer at times, but this gripping strategy title is definitely one to play. So, with all that said, Frostpunk 2 is getting a much deserved Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Class of Heroes 3 is a curious relic: part love letter to classic dungeon crawlers, part frustrating reminder of how far the genre has come. Its charming art, rocking battle themes, and customisable teams are offset by stiff character portraits, clumsy movement, punishing restarts, and quest design that borders on opaque. For seasoned JRPG fans who relish grind, strategy, and a taste of Japanese gaming history, this remaster is worth a cautious enrolment. For newcomers or those expecting modern conveniences, consider auditing rather than committing to a full-time schedule.
Discounty is one of those games where you can easily lose a few hours just by repeating the supermarket mechanics. I have adored this game, from the start of my time with it and I’ll continue to enjoy it even after writing this review. I’m always looking to up my stats. Discounty gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Gears of War: Reloaded walks a fine line between simply honouring an old-school horror shooter and making a video game worthy of modern gaming. The game aims high and could quite possibly be one of the best remasters I’ve ever played. Sure, nostalgia hits hard, and this review is slightly biased, but game developers The Coalition created something special here. They have left the classic duck-cover-shoot combat system intact, while greatly improving the game’s graphics. Sharper visuals, smoother controls, and a higher frame rate all make it feel like a modern game without losing its brutal, rugged, gory, dystopian, old-school soul. Gears of War: Reloaded is worthy of Thumb Culture’s Gold Award!
What more could one ask for from a game like this? Experiencing the true stone life has never been more convenient and accessible. You are being given exactly what has been promised to you. For just £2.49, you too could experience true zen. Stone Simulator truly deserves a solid Thumb Culture Gold Award. The G in Gold stands for Game of the Year.
Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids definitely feels like it could be one in a series of games. But this being just the first, I would say it is worthwhile checking out. It runs well on PC, Steam Deck, and is available for PS5 and Xbox. It’s a beautiful 3D action adventure with a flair of strategic management. If anything, maybe more focus on keeping up with your strategy could be in order. Maybe that’s just me. Definitely deserving of the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Overall, I absolutely love this game. Every day is packed with things to do. You really always have something to keep you busy, which I really love about this game. In a lot of farming games, by the time year 2 hits, I often find myself skipping days right after I watered my crops. Not here though! I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of all that the game has to offer. The addition of voice acting was a fantastic surprise. I love all the quality-of-life improvements and the overall gameplay loop is just so fun. The game really knocked it out of the park for me. It is easily one of my favorite games that released this year. Honestly, I don’t have anything to complain about. I’ll probably even take on the grind for 100% completion just because I can’t get myself to stop playing! What more can I say? Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar absolutely deserves the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
Maki’s Adventure isn’t perfect, but it’s brimming with charm and ambition. From its inventive shark mechanics to its side-quest-driven exploration, it offers more depth than many games twice its size. Technical hiccups and underwhelming boss design hold it back slightly, but these are forgivable in light of its creativity and heart. For those seeking a short, satisfying indie title that blends nostalgia with originality. Take your time to explore, and don’t forget those side quests; you might discover that it makes all the difference. Maki’s Adventure gets another Thumb Culture Gold Award
The open-world side is really barren and empty regardless of the amount of enemies scattered around. Like, I am grateful, since the focus on collecting mech parts requires large groups of enemies. But there isn’t anything in the actual world to break up the constant fighting. Maybe I haven’t played enough games in the mech genre to truly give my opinion, but Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion ends up feeling hollow. Combat does well to look flashy but comes across as oddly empty. I spent most of my time just firing missiles or chasing enemies who would strafe without actually attempting to fight. Bosses on the other hand stick to two sections, stupidly easy, or needlessly hard. Without trying to spoil the game. The best examples I could give are Void and Legion. Void just kinda floated there without doing anything, with occasionally popping off some weak projectiles. While Legion would spam the skill Mirage all while beaming you with lasers, that’s damage output is ridiculous. Sadly Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion gets the Thumb Culture’s Silver Award from me, although fans of the other game might enjoy it more.
Although it’s not the most in-depth cleaning sim I’ve played, it does well to still be a fun game to relax with. Collecting the Ragamuffins, and creating their own little areas in your home, help provide some breaks from cleaning. Gameplay is smooth, and I didn’t have any major bugs happen, however, the level called The Collector seemed to not award me the S rank. Even though I’ve cleaned and removed everything that was needed four times. I found the maps becoming a little too samey (besides the levels you do revisit) which leads to Monster Mop up needing more variety. All in all, the game is simple, fun, and a great game to start for your own little ragamuffins. So it gets the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It would have been gold, but like I said it’s simple and lack some unique look levels.
Catto’s Post Office is a cute adventure that could do much more if time allowed. This game would have been a platinum for me if there was just a bit more to it. That, by no means, is me saying this game is bad. It was a really cute little break from horror and games where you need to be able to think before you can do anything. Sometimes all you need is a short game to take a breather, and this game is perfect for that. More than anything, I just want to play more of it! I’m giving Catto’s Post Office the Thumb Culture Gold Award — a game definitely worth its price point!
Sengoku Dynasty has many positives going for it, so much so that I’ll absolutely carry on playing after I’ve finished reviewing it. There are, unfortunately, several issues that stop this from being a must-play title. Despite that, seeing your settlement slowly expand, crops grow and ripen, and planning what to build next is a rewarding experience. If you can look past some of its rough edges, there’s a decent survival/city building game here! So, with all that being said, I’ll be giving Sengoku Dynasty the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Mafia: The Old Country is a compelling addition to the series, offering a narrative set in a rarely explored era. Its linear structure allows for a focused storytelling experience, and its visual and audio design create an immersive atmosphere. While the gameplay mechanics may not be ground-breaking, they serve the story well. The game’s compact length ensures that it doesn’t overstay its welcome, providing a satisfying experience without unnecessary padding. For those interested in the Mafia’s origins, Mafia: The Old Country is a title worth experiencing. Its delicious mix of storytelling, atmosphere, and character development makes it a series standout and a well-deserving recipient of the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
All in all, Whimside is a charming little game that is great for what it is and absolutely delivers on what it promises. The art is adorable, and the sound design is great. While it might not have a ton of content and I would love for some more late-game objectives, it is still a fun little game to have running while you are busy doing other tasks. It is currently on sale for £4.39 until August 21st, and honestly, for that price, it is absolutely worth checking out if this is your kind of genre. All in all, I will be giving Whimside the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The Fantasy Finds DLC is a great addition to an already great game. People who purchase it will absolutely love what it adds to the game. Two Point Museum: Fantasy Finds DLC receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
With the big machines taking to the small screen, you are in for a treat. WWE 2K25 Switch 2 Edition plays incredibly, and that alone is a feat of engineering. Add to it the comparative options and modes, you’re getting a great version of the game. Now, whether £60 is a bit too steep for you to pay, that is a decision for you to make. WWE 2K25 Switch 2 Edition receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.