Thumb Culture
HomepageThumb Culture's Reviews
Ultimately, I enjoyed my time with Speed Freeks. Mostly… It’s hard to be too critical of the lack of solo content and game modes, especially for the price. There is fun to be had here, especially with friends. Plus, the creation utilities work surprisingly well using a controller, and was something I didn’t even expect to be included in the console version. The love for the 40k universe is on display in full force; there’s no doubt about it. Franchise veterans will absolutely get a kick out of burning rubber as a bunch of Orks. That aside, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is still a competent vehicle combat game with some genuinely good ideas. It’s just a shame there isn’t more of it. So, with all that said, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks receives the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Voidling Bound is honestly a great game with some very creative combat for each voidling I collect. Getting gold eggs from time to time and hatching some unique voidlings even a completely god one. Eventually, I got to play each species at least once, but always returned to the same ones that have great combat mechanics. So, if you like creating the strongest little helper to help save the world and making glass cannons or tanks. Then pick Voidling Bound when it releases. You can say you shouldn’t be avoidling a good time. I give Voidling Bound the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar is clearly a labour of love, which is obvious from the thought and effort that went into it. It may have certain shortcomings, but they pale in comparison to how much of a blast I had with the game, making me excited for what the studio may come up with next. It’s for this reason that I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
I don’t normally like to skip the Longevity section, but there really isn’t much I can say here. The answer is: I have no idea. I have absolutely no idea how long the game would keep you occupied if it actually worked as intended. I’m sorry. To get to the final thoughts, in the current state that the game is in, the mixed review score on Steam is entirely justified. It has a solid foundation that blends some fun ideas together, but it desperately needed more time in the oven. Between game-breaking progression bugs that leave you sitting AFK for ages, technical issues and just some very needed tweaking of the details, it is just a frustrating experience right now. If the developers can patch the game into a working state, it might be worth a look. Until the core gameplay loop actually functions though, I can’t really recommend this one. The game has potential, and if you look at the trailer, it actually does look fun. I believe if they had let it cook a bit longer, it could have been at the very least a Silver Award game. But sadly, this is just nearly unplayable. I’d give it the Broken Award, but since it is technically playable, even though you can’t really progress, it doesn’t really qualify for that either. I will instead give Service Area Simulator the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
I had a blast with Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, and I’m not through with it yet! Its wonderfully charming art style is incredibly endearing, and the performance is consistently solid. Overall, it’s just a very fun, chill game. I’d highly recommend this to series veterans, or to newcomers who want to try something unique. It’s so easy to lose track of time playing, which, for what it’s worth, is some of the highest praise I can give. Try it out; you may be pleasantly surprised at how engaging it (and the rest of the franchise) can be! Therefore, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Rune Dice is really an enjoyable game that I’m surprised doesn’t have plans to go on mobile phones like BALL x PIT. It’s honestly a game you can fight the urge if you don’t want to do the adventure in Pen and Paper. Or you’re wanting to play pool with a more square appearance. My only grip with the game is really just the music being too reparative to cause my brain to desync. I’ve actually bought this game for a few friends that I play DnD with and they really enjoy the game as well. Here’s to hoping this concept will evolve just like the dice that grow with each collision. I give Rune Dice the Thumb Culture Gold Award
I was disappointed with everything Hollowbody had to offer. The story was underwhelming, combat was worse than janky, and there was no real build up at all. You spend a large amount of time just walking, and although there are enemies, they can mostly be bypassed with only a few being needed to be killed. The puzzles are okay, but even they feel that mid-way and near the end they just gave up. Since some of the puzzles later on are all just next to each other, when the apartment complex had you checking out different floors for items. For such a short game, I expected a bit more depth to the actual story. I don’t think I could really recommend Hollowbody to anyone, so I am giving it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Each new hurdle Swan Song introduced felt like another hurdle Amber had to face through her sickness. It also felt like the hurdles Tristan and Edith also had to face, as family sickness affects everyone. Business Goose Studios clearly shows they understand this and presents this game with grace and empathy. I would recommend anyone to take the time to listen to and play a very real story, which Swan Song is. As stated, this is a gradual story with easy-to-solve puzzles. If you have a little patience, this could be a wonderful exposé into a realistic narrative. For that reason alone, I would award Swan Song a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi is a game that you can play if you want to see some redesigns for certain demons and gods. However, playing it has small issues that the AI issue alone is to blame. The map in-game is another enemy you wouldn’t think is against you until you reach a split path. Sometimes, you’ll have a good look at what lies ahead. While another you can only see two lines, but no idea which path carries more benefits. With that in mind, I feel this game is just a play until you get to the end and never touch again. This game has a lot of potential, but some of it even in this remake did not achieve the top floor, but only the middle. I give Kazuma Kaneko’s Tsukuyomi the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
The game is just rather meh, the story wasn’t really doing it for me, and the combat was okay. But most of the problems stem from the oddly long and repetitive segments. It also felt out of place with having Thompson deal with his own personal trauma, while everything was going on. I personally didn’t see anything that connected him to what he was experiencing in the hospital. More so when the player has seen what he is grieving. Sadly, without giving spoilers, It Reaches just comes across as odd in a few areas. And with the amount of motion blur and stuttering I have already mentioned. I am giving it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award. If the various issues are resolved, then maybe it’s a silver.
Hacked: The Streamer is a valiant effort by a new team, but it unfortunately falls flat. The narrative is convoluted and uninteresting. Gameplay is minimal and borderline unnecessary. And the game deliberately hides its actors, the most important part of an FMV game, behind Discord calls and AI art. There are signs of an interesting premise, but the delivery is wholly lacking. That’s harsh criticism, I know, but that’s because I can see the glittering of a solid game beneath all the ugly rubble. May this be a learning experience, and may their next project be an improvement. I give Hacked: The Streamer the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Pragmata has made me remember the joys of raising my nephew and then making a person like me want to raise a child of my own. This game like God of War, The Last of Us! and The Witcher 3 has the same element of storytelling. That family is important, and that when raising them to cherish their time and growth. I enjoyed this game and would be surprised if there was ever some kind of sequel that came out of it. If I had anything to grip about when it comes to the game, it would be the lack of fast travel. Sure you can go from the shelter to the any accessible you’ve unlocked. But the fact you can’t go between one ladder location to another from it is pretty insane. I give Pragmata the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
So where does Adorable Adventures rank in my games I’ve played this year. I’ll be honest, right at the top. Its been a lovely change of pace, something calm and explorative. Something that leaves a smile on my face, something that draws me back to play more. With so many cute little moments that I think will stay with me, its a wonderful story that is simply perfection. Adorable Adventures gets the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
As someone who didn’t play the game when it originally released, or even touch other versions, I was presently surprised with what I experienced with Myst. The puzzles aren’t stupidly hard, and when I cracked most of them it left me feeling accomplished. Although the story did feel lacking at the start, even after reading the four books we get. My mind was quickly changed, and left wanting more and can’t wait to start playing the sequel Riven. Would I say Myst holds to the test of time? For sure If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend you check it out when you can. But I do confess that I used a guide for the tunnel puzzle, that one is probably the most difficult puzzle the game has. So with all that I am giving Myst the Thumb Culture Gold Award. Here is hoping Riven offers the same great experience.
I think I preferred the world of Riven as a whole compared to Myst. Exploring multiple islands, that are all interconnected offers a much more natural flow, rather than going back to a hub world. But Myst’s puzzles felt a little better. Riven, does provide a lot more story, and emphasis on exploring but a lot of the time this can become quite jarring to play-through. In the end though I did have fun and I can see why both Myst and Riven are loved. The animal totem puzzles was the one that probably ruined my mood the most. I will be giving Riven the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I would say a lot of praise would most likely go to the world and item design. But story wise Necrophosis was okay, nothing amazing, but nice to understand. Gameplay is simple and offers you a liner style with puzzles for you to do. These puzzles aren’t particularly hard. I was under the impression that there were two different endings. Throughout the game it mentions continuing or breaking the cycle. But after playing, I don’t see anywhere in Necrophosis where the player would make any actually choices. The Subconsciousness level also does little to add anything to the overall story, although it was fun to play. If you are looking for something very eye-catching, then definitely pick up Necrophosis. Or maybe if you enjoy the Lovecraft Mythos. But if you are after more of a story heavy game this may not be for you. So I’m giving Necrophosis: Full Consciousness the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Directive 8020 is frustrating because all the right ingredients are in place, but they never fully come together. The paranoia, mistrust, unsettling body horror and occasional bursts of genuine tension all hint at something special. When the game commits to its identity, it delivers some of the strongest moments Supermassive has produced in the series. However, the central setting lacks personality, and some characters rarely leave a lasting impression, holding the experience back. The stealth mechanics also fail to develop, limiting the overall tension they are meant to create. There is still plenty here for Supermassive fans to enjoy. The branching choices lead to entertaining moments of panic, and the latter half of the game does show flashes of the tense sci-fi horror experience it is aiming for. Directive 8020 is a solid sci-fi horror adventure built on strong ideas. These ideas never fully evolve into something exceptional. Despite this, it delivers enough tension, intrigue and cinematic spectacle to comfortably earn the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
If I had to sum up NITRO GEN OMEGA in one word, that word would be “cool”. Its effortlessly stylish aesthetics and flashy animations took me back to watching shows such as Gurren Lagann or even Megas XLR. Nostalgia aside, though, this is an entertaining and often challenging RPG that doesn’t hold your hand. This is a very rewarding title that, despite a lack of an engaging story, had me hooked for the majority of the time. Some pacing issues aside, I’d highly recommend giving this one a try. There’s even a demo available, so what have you got to lose? For it’s stylish aesthetics, engaging gameplay, and everything else mentioned, NITRO GEN OMEGA receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
After I entered the 3 biome in Scale The Depths, it was becoming a little too repetitive for me. I enjoy fishing games, and the game-play loop isn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t up my alley either. Controls are simple, even more so If you stick to just using the mouse. And each environment adds something a little different. But it became stale too quickly with having to work towards the knife, rod, and hook, etc. I’m giving Scale The Depths, the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It’s okay, just not up my street.
Thick As Thieves, as it stands, is less of a game and more of a highly polished paid demo. Everything is decent, but nothing is spectacular. The core stealth loop is solid, but balancing around randomised co-op and a lack of combat removes some of the deeper gameplay and narrative systems that really make stealth shine. The art style is charming, but not especially memorable. The audio design is decent, but can be mostly ignored thanks to the more convenient X-ray system. And the game’s total content is too sparse to really be considered a full game, but large enough to not warrant a “demo” title. I enjoyed my short time with it, and I believe it could become solid down the line. However, as it stands, Thick As Thieves is more of a promise of a game. For now, I’ll be giving it the Thumb Culture Silver Award and my continued attention.