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Akimbot is the best fix I’ve gotten to fill the void from the last Jak & Daxter or Ratchet and Clank games. From Exe style of destroying other bots, to Shipset crazy antics. These bots are everything to me. With the nice dodging mechanics and the change of pace every level will have you on your toes. Even the hacking mini-games change so much that you’re lucky you get the same one thrice. I can’t wait for the next game Evil Raptor will make with the experience they’ve gained from Akimbot.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a fantastic game. Not only play but to show off what is achievable on consoles and PCs in 2024. Highly polished, great game mechanics, awesome graphics and sound, crossplay throughout, PVE, PVP, and campaign capabilities as well as a serious amount of cosmetics and lore to get involved with. What is there not to love?
What more is there to say? If you’ve played the previous games and enjoyed them, you can expect more of the same great stuff here. If you’ve not played Cat Quest I or II, this can be a great place to jump in. Thanks to how the story has unfolded across the 3 games there’s no set linearity to the events. Therefore they can be played and enjoyed in any order. I can’t wait to see what The Gentlebros cook up next for The Apawcalypse.
If you are after a polished experience that is full of charm then Crypt Custodian is definitely worth your time and money. There is so much care and passion jumping right off every scene that makes this metroidvania an easy recommendation, not only for old hands with the genre, but also players who’ve never tackled this beloved style of game.
Overall, Shoulders of Giants: Ultimate is a solid entry to the roguelite library in my book. The gameplay loop may feel somewhat repetitive at times, but that’s kind of how roguelikes and roguelites are generally built. With only some minor frustrations, the game provides plenty of variety in both structure and building your character to suit your style.
There are a lot of positives to say about Monster Jam Showdown, and I hope reading this review gives a taste of what your experience will be. Having experienced the trucks in action I was able to appreciate the work that Milestone has put into this game. The effort to lovingly recreate the monster trucks in digital form. The love they have shown to the brand by putting all the different liveries into the game. All the while delivering a fun and exciting experience for the whole family to enjoy and take part in. In all my time reviewing games, this game has given me the most amount of smiles and the most joy.
Overall, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a delightful game that would resonate well with any age group. It’s a game that allows you to relax, unwind, and fulfil your dreams of being a little witch, working hard to fulfil her dreams, alongside learning lessons about life and building long-lasting friendships. It feels like a love letter that combines fans of Studio Ghibli and cozy games together in one neat package. This was a project made with love and care by gamers for gamers. Which is apparent by the immense support of their Kickstarter page. Whilst the flying mechanic could be smoother, it was a joy to experience. It also highlights a gap in the market of 3D games where you can freely fly around, uninterrupted. The main deterrent for players to not pick this up is how short the game is in comparison to the price. The game is still in Early Access, but some players may want to wait to see how it develops further.
Across the Obelisk is a standout title in the deckbuilding genre. It offers a deep and satisfying experience that is both challenging and rewarding. The game’s blend of strategy, tactics, and deckbuilding makes it a must-play for fans of roguelite and deckbuilding games. If you’re looking for a game that offers variety and keeps you returning, Across the Obelisk is worth your time. Its rich world, engaging mechanics, and deck-building make it a game that you can sink hours into. Overall, Dreamsite Games and Paradox Interactive have crafted a game that will captivate and challenge players for a long time.
House of Golf 2 is a fantastic mini-golf game that allows you to simply have fun. With amazing holes to play through as well as the fantastic setting that you get to enjoy them in, you will quickly find new and wonderful ways to get the golf ball from A to B. If you want something to play that is friendly, casual and enjoyable by the whole family then Starlight Games have certainly nailed it.
With what is possibly one of my favourite VR experiences, Something Random have created an absolute winner. Toy Trains VR lives up to the hype, it delivers on every element of the game design and the devs should be commended for making such an awesome game!
Racing isn’t a genre of game I’d usually associate with the term ‘thoughtful’. This isn’t to say they aren’t well thought out – more that they provoke a player’s reflexes and timing more than anything else. You focus on the next turn coming, not the third. Phantom Spark bucks this trend, however. I found myself invested in each track, willing my Spark to make a turn just tight enough to speed through, to shave a thousandth of a second off my time. If I came into this looking to redeem my eight-year-old self, I failed. This game isn’t a successor to Wipeout Pure. Instead it’s a great time trial game in its own right; stylish and smart. If you like racing games, you should give it a go.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles is an anime game adaption I hope can get others onboard. Although as a fan of the anime, the game contains some things I wished it didn’t, I know these were included as something needed for the story. There are also the huge leaps of time we go through in the game that had me questioning the order in which we played certain events. I wished the developers had instead placed us at other points in time and had the two arcs at another juncture, so cannon events were not spoiled. Luckily I’ve been reading the manga and light novels to know when certain events happened, but not everyone would have done that. Overall this game was a fun and joyful experience for both me and the missus. I would love for other game studios to use this game to improve themselves. If there are any developers reading this that are hoping to make an anime video game adaptation in the future, please learn from these mistakes. Don’t do this kind of story cutting. The anime fans will be grateful!
Just Crows Things has been a breath of fresh air and a great addition to my “turn off brain” list of games. You can simply enjoy flying through the sky. Or live your best chaos crow life by dropping items or flaming poops on anything and anyone. The only thing the game made me wish for, was more of it. Some co-op options to make crow chaos alongside friends would be amazing too. I would recommend anyone to play this amazing game.
Arcade Paradise VR feels like a natural adaptation from flat-screen to VR. A great job has been done utilizing the PSVR2’s features like haptics and adaptive triggers to enhance immersion. While this VR version will likely be more enjoyable for fans of the base game rather than newcomers, Arcade Paradise VR remains a unique and immersive experience. It offers some of the best gameplay you’ll find in the simulation management genre.
Hellbreach: Vegas is hands down the most fun I’ve had playing a zombie FPS in years. I cannot wait to get some more friends on board to spend some late nights having some old school fun. It has multiple game modes, several different maps, and unlocks to boot. I’m proud to award it the Thumb Culture Platinum Thumb Award!
Creatures of Ava is a peachy little pep tonic for those who crave exploration and discovery of a whole new world. The creatures are charming, the world is rich and stunning and the character interactions are first-class. While it may not be the deepest or most complex adventure out there, it warms the heart and delivers cosy adventuring in a way you don’t necessarily expect. And at 12 to 20 hours long (depending on your completionism tendencies), it’s the ideal length for adventuring. Neither too short nor too bloated. If you’re looking for the next Pokemon or Palworld, you won’t find it here. But what you will find is cosy fun and a journey that will leave you with a smile on your face and your cockles warmed.
Into the Pit was a top-notched horror experience. The game lets the high detailed cinematics do the talking and isn’t reliant on jump scares or loud noises for the fear factor. The creepiness of the Abomination itself had me saying “Naaah” out loud. The overall gameplay is simple, although I did find on the fifth night some button prompts wouldn’t work now and then. As I previously mentioned, I haven’t read the book of the same name. I did, however, look into if this game follows the story to a T, and from what I could find there are some differences. Having previously had no interest in checking out the books, playing Into the Pit has made me want to read them, just so I can compare the stories. In the end, what surprised me the most was how great this small three hour game was. I really hope that Mega Cat Studios adapts the other short stories from the books for more visual splendour, creepiness, and scares.
DarkStone Digital has created a horrifying, wonderful experience with The Mortuary Assistant. Aside from the issue with some of the controls in the tasks, the move from PC has been seamless. The vibes are immaculate, the game is really intriguing and there is so much to uncover that I’m excited to play through everything all over again just to see the different endings. Even with the issues with the controls, this game was one of the best single player horror game experiences I’ve had in a while. Because of that, The Mortuary Assistant is receiving the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
There are things I would have liked to have seen, but there is no doubt what the team at BearBoneStudio have produced is incredible. Minds Beneath Us should absolutely be the next game you buy. It provides a fresh and interesting story. One you will not be disappointed with. And that is why I am awarding Minds Beneath Us a Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
I really enjoyed the investigations in Nobody Wants to Die, but I felt that one crime scene I will name the “Red Room” was a bit too dragged out. The way you can rewind time was excellent and reminded me of the game, Remember Me. Nobody Wants to Die, has fun dialogue and intriguing story to tell, while successfully doing the classic Noir-style. I wouldn’t mind a little action with some gunplay, but that’s just me nit-picking. Honestly I wish I could rewind time a play for the first time again! And for that reason I’m awarding Nobody Wants to Die, the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.