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Overall Ravenswatch has definitely scratched my recent overbearing itch for roguelikes. With a great cast of characters, amazingly crafted art and an addicting gameplay loop, it brings a fantastic roguelike experience. The little details really bring together a great game which made me come back time and time again, just one more run, I said for the next 5 runs. Whoops. With everything taken into consideration, I will be granting Ravenswatch the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. What a fab little game! Really lived up to the hype after the previous roguelike by Passtech Games!
Loco Motive isn’t just a game; it’s an experience—a hilarious, heartfelt, head-scratching romp through a murder mystery with more twists than a railway track. Yes, the pacing can be slow, and bugs like Don disappearing might momentarily derail your fun. But the witty writing, stellar voice acting, and replay value make up for it in spades. So, don’t miss this one if you fancy yourself a detective, love a bit of slapstick, and appreciate a good jazz track. Robust Games and Chucklefish have struck gold—or should I say platinum? This one’s a Thumb Culture Platinum Award, without a doubt. Now, what are you waiting for? Grab your detective hat, board the Reuss Express, and solve this mystery together. And don’t forget—comment below with what excites you most about Loco Motive!
Petit Island is a short but heartfelt little adventure that emphasises the power of memories and how the simplest things can inspire so much joy. It has its share of flaws and some areas could use more depth, but you’ll still walk away from it feeling pepped up and fuzzy inside. And hey, sometimes that’s all you need! A Thumb Culture Silver Award goes to this paw-sitively idyllic little getaway!
Capcom has taken one of the most iconic games of previous generations. Then put it in a mixing bowl with hi-res graphics, beautiful textures and impressive voice acting. Then they have baked that in the oven for around 8 years. What we are left with is a great renewal of life to the old classic. The beautiful Re Engine creates some great visuals, increasing immersion and making Frank look incredible! Thankfully with all the fancying up of the game, it hasn’t lost its fun factor. Fighting zombies with a kid’s foam sword has never been so much fun!
With plenty of fish and plenty of stock to invest in, Aquatic Store Simulator ensures hours of playtime for anyone who decides to add it to their library. I prefer simulator games when there is a multiplayer element, especially when there is so much that needs to be done. That being said, you can see that there’s a lot of care that has gone into creating this game which is both enjoyable and educational – I didn’t know how much went into taking care of goldfish! Its approach to a simulator game feels much more in-depth in comparison to those that are also available. It’s the perfect next install for any simulator game fan! Overall, I have to give Aquatic Store Simulator the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The game itself costs £21. Would I buy it? No. I actually think the price point is a bit high for what it is. Yes, it is a fully voice-acted point-and-click game. But when I think of games such as Stray Gods, that have simple mechanics but a phenomenal voice cast, that isn’t enough. In terms of being a story driven, film-noir detective point-and-click adventure, Chicken Police: Into The HIVE! does just that. Perhaps too much by the book. I wanted to have fun with this game. Come on it’s animals doing people things, of course I did! I had visions of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Zootropolis mixed together into a perfect point-and-click game. But that’s not what I got. In forming their vision, I feel as though the developers lost their sense of fun along the way. I award Chicken Police: Into The HIVE! a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Overall I Am Future is what it claims to be – a cozy apocalypse survival game. Along with that though come some pitfalls common to others in the genre, including balancing resource management, rewarding progress, and automation. Some quality of life improvements, to help with the tedium of resource gathering and automation feature, would do wonders for the game. Needless to say, if you enjoy the genre this game is worthy of your time to check it out. I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
I was dubious about Bounce Arcade when I first checked out the store. It looked basic and too simple to be immersive. I stand (I’m currently sitting) here now in front of you (through the screen) and hold up my hands (in between typing) to say I was wrong to have judged the game so soon. The game is difficult in some areas but at every turn, I was greeted with an experience that kept me hooked. If you are looking for a hint of nostalgia with a fun casual experience then this one should be on your wishlist. Bounce Arcade receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
EXOcars aims high and so far so good on the delivery. The proof will be in the post-launch laps, with the community needing to embrace the game to drive it home. With stunning graphics and brilliant physics, the game really does deliver in pretty much all areas. EXOcars receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
The Sims 4: Life and Death is a brilliant addition to the game, blending dark humour with heartfelt storytelling. While it has a few flaws, such as limited depth in ghost levelling, its overall gameplay is fantastic. For fans of occult themes or those seeking a fresh challenge, this expansion is a must-have. The Sims 4: Life and Death receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Just Dance VR is a fun and accessible game for everyone that’s enjoyable and a good workout. The game offers a promising start to the franchise within VR, but there is definitely room for improvements. This is a good experience for newcomers to jump into. Compared to long-time fans who will enjoy it, but also wish for a larger setlist and more innovative features. For this reason I award Just Dance VR a Thumb Culture Silver Award
Wall Town Wonders never set out to be this all-encompassing experience. What it set out to do is give you a relaxing and peaceful game to play. I used this game to unwind after a long day. Spending some time in my own living room, but having these small buildings poking out of all sides is just an absolutely joyous experience. Did I mention the game is full of joy?! Wall Town Wonders receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
As an RTS novice and a semi-skilled typist, I found my skills called into question playing Touch Type Tale. The game prides itself on being difficult, so go into it expecting to be pushed to improve constantly and learn. There’s enough content to entertain you for a long time, even more so if you can get friends involved. The best of the game was on show when it was experimenting with the scenarios and mechanics. I think there’s probably more that could be explored with this concept too. If you like the sound of a fast-paced RTS that’s going to keep you on your toes, even at middling difficulties, then this game might be the one for you. Touch Type Tale receives a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
In all honesty, [REDACTED] has really surprised me. I was incredibly sad after finishing Callisto Protocol, whereby I was left wanting more of the carefully and beautifully crafted world. [REDACTED] turned that sadness into room by room run addiction. I never knew I needed to return to the Black Iron Prison in a completely different way than first intended. With everything Striking Distance Studios have brought forward this time round, [REDACTED] has made it’s mark and sits in my top games for 2024. I SALUTE YOU SOLDIER! I award [REDACTED] the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Vertigo Games have outdone themselves with this one. A great addition to the series and to the Metro Universe overall. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last VR game that we get from the Metro! Metro Awakening VR receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
So what does all this mean? Well, it means that Dumb Ways: Free For All is an absolute joy to play. It is a lot of fun and I only played Solo due to the lack of friends playing the game. It left me with a smile on my face. Granted I’m old enough to remember the original song, but still. Dumb Ways: Free For All receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this game looks pretty simple on first look. Especially as it leans so heavily on the much-used neon retro graphics style. However, as you progress through the game you will discover the puzzles could give the challenging ones from games such as Portal a run for their money. And maybe even surpass them! If you love your fourth-dimension, out of the box challenging puzzle platformers, give this game a go. I loved every minute playing this one! I award Beta MAX the prestigious Thumb Culture Gold Award!
DIG VR is a great game, and the first ever digger game developed exclusively for the Meta Quest. With a tonne of fun to be had, you can be assured that Just Add Water and Wired Productions have recreated something here. Something that will keep you coming back for more and more. I just hope that there’s a possibility for post-launch content. And if there is ever another press event, I want to go this time! I am very pleased to award DIG VR the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Great God Grove delivers laughs, head scratches, and godly drama. Despite its quirks and frustrations, it offers a fresh twist on apocalyptic tropes with charm, humour, and empathy. The colourful world and genuinely odd gods will linger in your mind longer than expected. I bestow upon Great God Grove the Thumb Culture Silver Award. Godspeed, brave postie—go save the Grove!
Mindcop brings a wonderful and gripping detective experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously which is a great intuitive mix. The demo had me gripped and the full game did not disappoint. It did feel slow at times however I for sure cannot wait to play through the game multiple times and experience more and more of the dialogue. Maybe just using this time to play the minigame one too many times. I am so glad to see a game that was well thought out with an immersive story full of witty humour and conversational gems. The art style itself is very fitting and give it that noire feel which is perfect for a detective point and click adventure. I really hope Andre Gareis keeps developing diamonds like this! With everything Mindcop has offered and presented, I will be awarding Mindcop the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!