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I’m aware I’ve made a few complaints and nitpicks about Atelier Yumia above. Truth be told, I’ve struggled to put the game down. There’s so much going on, it’s difficult to cover it all. I’ve not even spoken about the energy meter that in theory limits how much exploration can be done and Synthesis you can perform. For me, it never really became a blocker. I’ve also avoided talking about the story and characters because I never like giving these details away in a review. Just know I’ve found the characters and the interpersonal relationships and stories to be charming. Despite not feeling like I want to, or need to, engage with all its mechanics, I’ve had enough fun purely with the exploration, the characters, and the story. I’m not convinced that the other Atelier games would closely match the vibe of Yumia, but I’m definitely willing to give them a chance based on my experience here. As a newcomer to the series, I’d be happy to recommend people could start with this entry and see how they feel about it before exploring further games. For existing fans, I don’t know how this matches up to series favourites. I more than happy to Synthesize Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist Of Memories & The Envisioned Land a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Rise of the Ronin was the best breath of fresh air I needed when it comes to feudal Japan and sword fighting. Playing a game where it’s a mix of Dark Souls, For Honor and a splash of Shadow of Mordor. I would be recommending this game to those who love Japan’s history and sword fighting, but just on the PS5. The reason is that this game killed my 3070, and I’ve had to regress to continue playing the game. I would have tested it on the Steam Deck, but I’m not willing to lose that too. So, play this game on the PS5, but if you don’t have one, you can play it on PC. Just make sure it’s a Super edition or a 4080 just to be safe. I give Rise of the Ronin the Thumb Culture Gold Award
If you are a fan of the genre and enjoy games with more blood flying around than a transfusion centre then there’s plenty of fun to be had with Cookie Cutter. Control is responsive and fluid, and the game comes to life in its later portions. Once the power is in your hands, letting rip with a flurry of blows or skewering an enemy with your stratoblaster is a real hoot. For me, though, the spikes in difficulty and the slow opening hours required to get Cherry into a place that was satisfying left me with mixed feelings. For the majority of its runtime, Cookie Cutter skirts on the edge of greatness. Lacking one original twist or idea to elevate it from the pack. Overall – I give Cookie Cutter Overkill Edition the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
At only thirty-minutes of gameplay, Spilled! was honestly a nice cosy game to wind-down with. There is no doubt this game is visually high quality. The calming music and soft, dare I say ASMR sound effects made the entire game really enjoyable. I do however have two small quality of life suggestions. The first being to improve the scoopers so that they hold bottles a little better. The second would be to add a cute little horn for the boat. Honestly, even without these I would have given this game our highest award but it felt just that little bit too short. I wish it had a little more play-time! For just being a charming and fun little game Spilled! gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award
So Two Point Museum launched with a lot of hype following it. Thankfully I can report that the hype was real. It is an insanely fun game, even with the Middle of the TC Mini Crew telling me where to put my Sonic claw machine! Speaking of which, the Sonic content was an excellent pre-order bonus for the game. I would love to see more of this explored. Both I and Middle were excited to see the buzz the statues produced amongst our visitors. I challenge you to play this game without a smile on your face. You really can’t! It brings so much joy to watch your guests wander around the different museums, interacting in amazing ways. This award is really easy. Two Point Museum receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Now whilst this game isn’t going to be for everyone with a Quest 3 headset, the people that will gravitate to this are the original Farming Sim fans. Those who enjoy big machinery and driving them at slow speeds. It’s immersive, it’s fun, and it’s a joy to play. Farming Simulator VR gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
So how do you sum up that this is probably the best wrestling game I’ve played in a long time? Yes, even when compared to the Smackdown Vs Raw era. With so many game modes to play, as well as more event types than I’ve ever seen, WWE 2K25 brings you the ultimate in Wrestling experiences. Giving you the experience that you’ve been wanting for many years. 2K Sports have really hit the top rope with this one. The only thing stopping me from giving this the highest award is the micro-transactions within the game. However, I know there are many people out there who enjoy this feature in games. And so WWE 2K25 gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
There’s no denying the exceptional quality of Split Fiction. It’s easily going to be one of the best games of 2025 and an awards season shoo-in. However I feel that it lacks the wonder and joy found in It Takes Two, which made that game one-in-a-million. The absence of mini-games and a reduction of relaxed exploration is likely intentional to drive home the oppressive nature of the main story. But this definitely removed some joy from the experience for us. I would have also liked to see some more variety in the chapters. Perhaps the side stories could have been the authors’ brief forays into different genres, introducing other elements such as horror or romance. I’ve not mentioned much about the overarching story itself, the characters, and the overall writing. This is probably the weakest area of the game, but it’s not terrible by any stretch. I remember having similar complaints about characters beginning unlikeable in It Takes Two towards the start of the story, but again it serves to build the same feelings in the players as in the characters. Ultimately, though, as a co-operative adventure, Split Fiction is another fantastic delivery from Hazelight Studios. One that will provide entertain and fun for friends as well as couples who enjoy gaming together. The developers continue to have huge ambitions when it comes to building these titles, and I’d love to see it continue for many years to come. Split Fiction earns a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
As a debut release, Sorry We’re Closed exceeds every expectation. Joining Michelle on her adventure to free herself from her breakup is an adventure I will never forget. I couldn’t stop playing and I’m excited to find out what the other endings hold for me. It is a very worthy addition to any horror fan’s library. As a result, I have to give Sorry We’re Closed the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Overall, I think The Rise of the Golden Idol is a brilliant game. I was immediately drawn into playing the game based on its visuals alone. However, its gameplay hasn’t disappointed. There are a couple of tweaks that I would like to see. But in terms of overall enjoyment, The Rise of the Golden Idol is near the top of the list. In addition to this, there is so much more to look forward to with the DLC packs. We have already had a sneak peek with The Sins of New Wells which continued the eeriness of the series perfectly. The Rise of the Golden Idol and The Sins of New Wells DLC receive the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I got the chance to relive an experience that I enjoyed several years ago and go under some new tools and a fresh coat of paint. Foreign Gnomes made some amazing additions to their game for map/fight builder, speed runners and casual players. Yet, with all this, I feel like they did drop the ball on only one thing, being the manual input codes. I would understand that not having the codes being easy to revisit due to the story. But, at least they give us a key to the arena for easy access. So, play it on PC or on Steam Deck if you have one, because boy oh boy will eyes be on you if they can see what you’re playing. Though, don’t break out the fight stick unless it’s necessary! I give Everhood 2 the Thumb Culture Platinum Award
With the bugs already mentioned out of the way, my thoughts. The new Focus Mode in Monster Hunter Wilds makes combat a little easier for taking down monsters. I mainly used it to help fill my extract gauge for my Insect Glaive while fighting, since I usually use the Great Sword. Combat itself reacts well and monsters reacting to hits/parts breaking off provide great indicators for when monsters are near death. One minor issue I had with Monster Hunter Worlds was going back to camp to get a mission, then heading back out. This is different with Wilds as I can now return to camp on foot (if close by) and simply walk/ride back out to gather materials and fight monsters. Making the flow of the game much more enjoyable. The story itself was boring and honestly, I wasn’t really a fan of the characters besides one. And that was Rove the WudWud. He was just such a chill and funny little creature. Some fights feel a little unfair at times. But for someone who’s played the franchise longer, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a walk in the park. Hopefully, over time, the game does get more optimised for those who are having the issues. But if you’re like me, who loves seeing a variety of beasts and what they can do? Or is simply looking for a fun cooperative game which isn’t a competitive shooter, I’d highly recommend picking this game up. That’s why I’m awarding it the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Honestly, after completing ORDER 13, I was disappointed. There was no set-up, no story as you journey deeper into the warehouse. And even worse, the actual ending of the game doesn’t exist. ORDER 13’s store page says there is a mystery to uncover, but it was non-existent in the game. The warehouse didn’t seem to change when I died, and the only things that are truly random are the orders you receive. The cat, whose happiness we have to maintain, has no reason for being there either. I wish I could have spoken more positively about the game, but there really isn’t anything in the game worth mentioning or that stands out. And anything positive was I’ve already said in the graphics & audio. Sadly, I’m gonna have to give it the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Overall, I would’ve liked a bit more with Mini Market Design. I enjoy the core of the game, but like I have said previously, if they were to merge with their other instalment, I think this would take the game to the next level. However, it is not a very expensive game, with its price point being £8.09. I think for that price, you can’t be too annoyed with what’s on offer. If you are into “cosy” games, then this is definitely one to check out and have a feel of the game for yourself. I will be awarding Mini Market Design the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Besides having 5 game crashes during cutscenes, I completely enjoyed my time playing as Majima again. Not since Yakuza 0, have players been able to play as him. In fact this is the reason why I designed my ship with the sign of the Grand cabaret! Being able to choose his hairstyle from zero again was another great touch for me. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is honestly a great pirate game in this dry age of pirate games. And having Majima be the centre of focus was the best choice I can ever see. I give Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii a Thumb Culture Platinum Award
Rugby games are difficult to release. It’s not the most popular sport out there, but it’s got its core popularity. Big Ant Studios have hit the ground running with their first Rugby Union game and I hope that there are many more to come. Rugby 25 receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I had a good time playing Knights in Tight Spaces, especially as deck builders are a genre I don’t play often. While second fiddle to the gameplay/combat, the fantasy setting and story were engaging. The combat making up the crux of the game was immersive, thanks to the various strategies available and the hundreds of cards. With an array of approaches, KITS will easily keep you occupied for hours. This is, of course, helped by the unique visual style and engaging soundtrack, which bring more flair to the game. I genuinely look forward to seeing what Ground Shatter develop next. I’m thrilled to give Knights in Tight Spaces the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
I would highly recommend this game as it’s a good chance to get into the older games and I will never complain about the original Tomb Raider series. I think this might open the door for a remaster of Tomb Raider Legend and Underworld. Whether they actually need one or not is a different matter all together but I am very grateful that Aspyr decided to remaster these classics for newer consoles. Honestly, I did consider giving this game the platinum award simply because it’s brought back the Serpent Rogue music. However with the inconsistencies in graphics and bugs that weren’t present in the original games I can’t do it. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Turbo Overkill is a high adrenaline throwback to first person shooter origins. It sets itself apart from others though in its cyberpunk, vibrant atmosphere and curious weapon and body modification systems. If you haven’t picked it up already on PC, maybe the console port is more your style. Turbo Overkill definitely earns itself the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 starts to scratch the itch that recent similar games just couldn’t. The mystery and setting leaves me feeling nostalgic for a time when I was very young. Just don’t expect the story to move at a mile a minute. The game’s pace glides along at a steady rate. Not much is revealed, but it’s up to Tape 2, coming in mid-April, to finish what this game has started. It’s going to be a long wait but in the meantime, I am happy to give Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 a Thumb Culture Gold Award.