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People will complain that it's just another Far Cry game and it's the same as all the rest. Well, the clue is in the title mate! If you like Far Cry games, you will LOVE Far Cry 6. If you don't like them, then don't buy the game. It's that simple and it doesn't give you the right to complain about them. I don't like avocados, so I don't eat them. That way I don't complain about them. Same thing. Anyway, the game is bloody brilliant so go and buy it now! The story is engaging throughout with a few twists. If you spot warning signs early on, it will keep you guessing and the twist will sometimes hit you when you least expect it. If you like explosive gameplay, great casting, and a vast world to explore then Far Cry 6 is a must. We have a winner of the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
Although I really enjoy Killsquad, it is not without its shortcomings. It has all the groundwork for an amazing game ahead. But without a better loot system, more diverse zones, and some tweaking of the gameplay overall, it will fall short of its full potential. Thus I award Killsquad the Thumb Culture Silver Award. Here’s hoping for a long life after launch. If you enjoyed this review, be sure to check out my previous reviews here.
Even though Nuclear Blaze is a short game, it is fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game and the challenge it gave me at certain points. Congratulations to Sébastien at Deepnight Games for creating such a masterpiece as the debut game from his new studio. I will leave you with the reveal trailer below and of course, Nuclear Blaze has earned the highly deserved Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Coffee Noir is well written and presented. Plus, the mix of genres is unusual. It kept me fully engaged at all times, to the point where several hours had passed before I noticed. If you’re a fan of either detective fiction or business games, then Coffee Noir is worthy of your attention. I award Coffee Noir the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
All in all, Farming Life is not a bad game. Unfortunately, for me, I personally preferred other farming sim games. But please don’t let that sway you away from this game. It is a good game and Pyramid Games has done a solid job on this. It does have some good little features in it which does keep it fresh from other titles. I give Farming Life the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Overall I enjoyed playing Youtubers Life 2 quite a bit. The setting was fun and entertaining and I found the gameplay mechanics to be straightforward, especially when done often. The loose story was engaging and I enjoyed the use of social media, streaming, etc beyond simply recording videos. There were some glitches forcing me to restart the game that soured it for me a little. It looks and sounds great and if you like lifestyle simulators, I have no doubt that Youtubers Life 2 will be your cup of tea. I give Youtubers Live 2 the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
My Final Thought is that LEGO Marvel Super Heroes on the Nintendo Switch is an absolute must for not just fans of the Lego franchise but for the Marvel Universe as well. This game was an absolute blast to play. I could quite easily play through the whole game again because it is just that good. Please do yourself a favor and pick this game up. You will not be disappointed. So it is with great pleasure to give LEGO Marvel Super Heroes the Thumb Culture Platinum Award. It truly deserves it.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Diablo II Resurrected is essentially the same game but with minimal gameplay changes such as the shared stash and auto-loot. The addition of the Lord of Destruction expansion is also quite welcome. The graphical overhaul it has been given is phenomenal. I think once the connectivity issues are sorted out then it will be the complete package and players will not be disappointed. This will definitely scratch the itch of fans until the next instalment. I give Diablo II Resurrected the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Despite its short length, I had a lot of fun with Gley Lancer. The amount of variety on hand from the start is impressive and it encourages you to experiment with different formations and weapons. I’m a sucker for 16-bit games and this one hits you right in the nostalgia feels. The graphics are great for what they are but the music just makes it for me. Gley Lancer is definitely one for my import Mega Drive collection if I can find a copy. Despite playing this on PlayStation, I can see it being a great addition to the Switch. I award Gley Lancer the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
While doing this Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions review I do look back on fondness for the game. While it does have its flaws. It’s a nice refreshing change to go back to a boxing game. You don’t have to be a fan of the Rocky franchise to play it although that certainly does help. It can appeal to any gamer with its easy-to-pick-up and play attitude. So that’s why I’m going to give Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
As I mentioned the graphics aren’t groundbreaking. The audio in the game also won’t whisk you into a world of your own. But don’t let that discourage you from playing Train Station Renovation. It’s a very relaxing game which I have sunk many hours into. It is definitely a game that can help you if you’re struggling with any mental health problems or de-stress. Kind of like PowerWash Simulator which Dan previewed here. The gameplay definitely makes up for the standard graphics and audio. I award Train Station Renovation the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
I’ve played a lot of Darius games, especially since I joined Thumb Culture and I have to say this has been my favourite one yet. The gameplay is frantic and fun and I think the capture ball and its various mechanics make the game so much better. Throw in a great soundtrack I would happily listen to whilst driving at high speed, and we have a great game. Even though some things can blend into the background a bit, the HD treatment is appreciated. I award G-Darius the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition is an absolute cracker. If you’re a fan of the XCOM series or even games like Mario + Rabbids Battle Kingdom then you are in for a treat with this game. Controlling the game with the DualSense controller is no chore. Snapshot Games has done a fantastic job of converting controls from keyboard and mouse to a control pad. With four DLCs included, including the newly released DLC 4: Corrupted Horizons this is definitely a brilliant deal. I award Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Broken Blades is a very challenging game and while I did feel quite a bit of rage, I didn’t quit. If it weren’t so overwhelming the combat would feel really fun and often it did. The visuals and audio were great and my personal highlight of the game. I enjoyed the choices and how there was risk and reward when exploring this underground world too. There is definitely a lot to the game and different approaches to experience it. Assuming you don’t rage quit, of course, Broken Blades is a fine addition to the Metroidvania genre. I award Broken Blades the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
The gameplay is still solid with some improvements, yet there is still a little room for more. The 50th-anniversary content is a real treat and the cars handle so differently from their modern-day counterparts. The career is as in-depth as it was before, maybe a little more so. Overall, this is the best version of a WRC game to date. Last year I gave WRC 9 a Gold Award, but as WRC 10 has better puddles (among other things), it also gets a Thumb Culture Gold Award, just a higher version of it. KT Racing, just iron out those little niggles, and hopefully, it can be a Platinum Award next year.
I was honestly looking forward to NBA 2K22 with the real-life NBA 2020 season a write-off due to covid, I thought that this edition would have been a big jump in all areas of the game from the 2020 and 2021 editions but sadly it wasn’t. Here’s hoping that Visual Concepts will keep building on the great foundations and add something spectacular in the 2023 edition! Don’t get me wrong it is still a great game. It’s just not the jump in improvement I may have been expecting. If you want a visually stunning basketball game, a superb soundtrack, and aren’t worried about grinding away for VC points, then this is the one for you! I award NBA 2K22 the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
For me I have absolutely enjoyed myself so far, even traveling across the map to just die and start your quest over again has been fun. Each time just leveling your char that little bit more to enable you to reign supreme. I could also quite as easily lose myself constantly chopping the trees and harvesting berries, the little escape from the battle can be sometimes quite calming.Obviously, the game is new, the game is not perfect. I think when we revisit New World again after a few bug fixes and updates it would score higher than where I have put it on the board. I award New World a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
My final thought for Chernobylite is that I actually enjoyed playing the game from start to finish. It doesn’t feel like a drag at times and with a compelling story. It keeps you on your toes. But for me, it was the horror elements. Being a huge horror fan it really got my scare factor up there. So if you love a good jump scare in your video games then this is the one for you. So I’m going to give Chernobylite the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
I knew immediately upon seeing Rainbow Billy that I would have to play it. I’ve struggled to put it down. The experience has been an absolute joy and I can’t wait for more. It’s a game that has packed its world with unique characters, all with their own personalities without ever feeling shallow or padded. There’s also plenty to do and collect without it being an overwhelming or seemingly insurmountable challenge. I’m giving Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
I feel like Embr has a lot of potential for a great party/co-op game. While being easy to play it is harder to master but can provide a fun experience for friends. Single-player for me was a bright but fast-burning flame however it was still very much enjoyable. Therefore, I award Embr a Thumb Culture Silver Award.