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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.
It’s worth mentioning that Weird Beluga is a small development team. The amount of passion and effort that has gone into Duskfade is clear from the offset. It’s a callback to the (in my opinion) greatest gaming generation in the best possible way. Importantly, though, it still feels like a modern title. Despite the combat being a bit on the simple side and the opening hour’s worth of story being a bit all over the place, Duskfade is a game well worth playing. Especially if you’re a fan of the PS2 era! Therefore, Duskfade receives a timely ThumbCulture Gold Award!
Yellowcreek Stories: The Cabin Watcher doesn’t do well when trying to build suspense. After the initial first couple of tasks, everything just moves so fast. Hell, even the killer does not do what the title says and even “watch” the cabin. He just goes for it. The price tag seems a little steep for something that isn’t even an hour long. So I’m going to give Yellowcreek Stories: The Cabin Watcher, the Thumb Culture Bronze Award. If it is a first episode, it wasn’t one that pulled me in.
I was rather disappointed with the stories of Creepshow, as they were all, well, terrible. The first storybook had some okay moments, but just like all the game it lacks a little build up. Our overall story with the four kids is non-existent and had me scratching my head thinking what the hell. And what really ticked me off was just short the stories were. I, personally, haven’t consumed any other form of media when it comes to the Creepshow series. But these creepy tales come across as just bare bones, or that they are using this game to show proof of concept. Gameplay is minimal, but that is okay due to the main focus being the stories, but I did expect a little more for a point & click game. If they make another Creepshow game and turn up the horror and improve on future tales, then I will buy. For now, however, Creepshow gets the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
The Sinking City 2 impressed me immensely. I was unsure at first if I’d like the drastic change in gameplay, but those uncertainties were quickly put to rest. If you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror, or horror games in general, this is definitely worth a look. Frogwares have stepped out of their comfort zone with this title, and the gamble has definitely paid off! Therefore, The Sinking City 2 receives the ThumbCulture Gold Award!
ReStory is a cosy game that takes cosy to the next level. It’s easy to get into, and it’s easy to pass the time with. It creates that itch where you spend your day thinking about it and can’t wait to get back to it. Giving ReStory the Platinum Thumb Culture Award was an easy decision to make. I’ll be playing this game for the foreseeable future, and I’m sure I’ll keep going back to it as my fallback game when I can’t decide what to play.