Jason, Author at Thumb Culture

10Apr

By JasonNo Comments

iFi Zen DAC V3 Review

Few products in the world of desktop audio gear have made as much noise in the budget audiophile space as iFi's Zen series. Known for delivering excellent sound quality at a price that doesn’t scare off newcomers, the Zen DAC line has steadily evolved. Now, with the third iteration—the iFi Zen DAC V3—the company brings modern updates while keeping the spirit of the original intact. But does this compact DAC/amp combo still deliver enough value to justify the upgrade? Let’s dive in. Design & Features At first glance, the Zen DAC V3 doesn’t stray far from the now-familiar silhouette of its predecessors. The curved metal chassis still sports that premium, sturdy feel and fits neatly on any desktop without hogging space. It’s stylish enough to blend in with minimalist setups, yet distinc...

Gardener: Master of Trees and Flowers PC Preview & Dev Interview

3Apr

By JasonNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Gardener: Master of Trees and Flowers PC Preview & Dev Interview

Released 7th of March, Gardener: Master of Trees and Flowers is an early access sandbox botanical simulation game by solo developer Koksny.com. Also known as Wojciech Górny, he has been working on the title for four years. With a keen interest in genetics, simulation, shading, and gardening, Gardener: Master of Trees and Flowers is very much a work-in-progress game that has a surprising purpose. Something that you will find out more about during the dev interview! Grow & Flourish With an active Discord where both gamers and Wojciech are constantly feeding ideas back and forth along with new updates, Gardener: Master of Trees and Flowers has been changing nearly every day that I have logged in to play. Gameplay The idea of this time-lapse game is to successfully grow a divers...

1Apr

By JasonNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Wreckfest 2 – PC Early Access Preview

Wreckfest 2 recently became available in early access on Steam. Developers of the first Wreckfest, Bugbear, return with the demolition derby racing simulator with publishing by THQ Nordic. They feel its initial tracks and vehicles ready for playing and want to share their work with the community for further feedback as development continues. Wreckfest 2 is currently available only on Steam, with console releases with the 1.0 build yet TBD. I'm gonna wreck it! One of my core childhood memories is attending a demolition derby with my grandpa. I'm not sure if it was the loud destruction or just the fact that it was something like I'd never seen before. Regardless, any chance to play a game like Wreckfest 2 is one I'm going to take. Come to think of it, it was likely the destruction as I'm m...

Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD Review

18Mar

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Samsung 9100 PRO 2TB NVMe M.2 SSD Review

As technology begins to embrace the PCIe 5.0 platform, Samsung has unveiled its newest addition to the company's lineup of consumer SSD products; the 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD. Available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB & 8TB versions, the promise is that it will deliver double the read and write speed of PCIe 4.0, in line with the generation leap. Whether you are into using AI for content creation, multitasking, or gaming, next-gen performance is here. The first three of the bunch are being launched in April this year, while the whopping 8TB monster is set to be released in the second half of 2025. Solid State Storage Here at TC HQ, I was lucky enough to have hands-on experience with the 2TB version of the 9100 PRO PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe M.2, including an integrated heatsink. For this review, ...

be quiet! Light Base 900 FX PC Case Review

18Mar

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

be quiet! Light Base 900 FX PC Case Review

Known for their premium, quiet cooling solutions, be quiet! has a reputation for making cases that not only look sleek but also perform exceptionally well. From my previous reviews of their Pure Base 500DX and Silent Base 802 PC cases I know this brand lives up to their great reputation. Recently I was sent the be quiet! Light Base 900 FX, a full-tower PC case that’s designed to blend aesthetics, functionality, and efficient cooling. Keeping Cool and Quiet The Light Base 900 FX is the latest iteration of their flagship series. Bringing new features and improvements, designed for users who demand space, expandability, and silence in their builds. In this review, we’ll delve into the design, hardware compatibility, ease of building, and overall performance to help you decide whether it’s t...

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North – PC Review

24Feb

By JasonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North – PC Review

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North, by devs KillHouse Games, is a top-down tactical strategy game that builds on its predecessor’s foundation and offers a truly immersive, tactical, and fast-paced experience. With games that require critical thinking, teamwork, and real-time decision-making, titles like XCOM and Rainbow Six Siege have captured players' imaginations worldwide. Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is another title that seeks to deepen the tactical experience, offering players the chance to take command of an elite counter-terrorism unit. Plan, Lock & Load! Gameplay Door Kickers 2 stands out for its approach to real-time strategy. Instead of the typical turn-based mechanics seen in similar games, it tasks players with controlling a team of counter-terrorism operatives a...

5Feb

By JasonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Cat Detective Albert Wilde – PC Review

Cat Detective Albert Wilde, is the latest release from Greek-based devs beyondthosehills. Their last game was the puzzler Reky. Being a fan of the film noir genre, I had to pick Albert Wilde up and see what it was all about. If you have ever fancied playing the role of an anthropomorphic cat detective in 1930s New York, well now is your chance. "Decency and integrity are fancy words, but they never kept anybody well fed. And I've got quite an appetite" Now on PC, let's see what this "comedy noir, sci-fi mystery game that blends elements of a walking simulator and interactive novel" is like. Gameplay At its core, Cat Detective Albert Wilde is a simple point-and-click adventure game that intertwines narrative investigation with a tiny bit of puzzle-solving. Playing the role of Alb...

29Jan

By JasonNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Assetto Corsa Evo – PC Preview

As the racing game genre continues to evolve, few titles have remained as respected and beloved as the Assetto Corsa series. With the early access of Assetto Corsa Evo released on 16th January to PC, the developers at Kunos Simulazioni are poised to elevate the franchise to new heights. Building upon the solid foundation of its predecessor while introducing exciting new features and improvements, Assetto Corsa Evo is set to deliver a thrilling racing experience unlike any other. Realism to the extreme How does Assetto Corsa Evo feel at the moment? What can be expected from the highly anticipated title before its full release? Gameplay The early access roadmap currently means that there are 5 available tracks to sample along with 75 highly detailed cars. The gameplay mechanics of As...

17Jan

By JasonNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

JBL Quantum 360 Wireless Headset Review

The JBL Quantum 360 Wireless is a mid-range gaming headset designed for gamers who want to hear every detail in their ears, but don't want to pay a massive price tag. This headset will cost you £79.99 from the JBL website. Featuring Quantum SURROUND, you have the main features that you expect for a gaming headset however it falls short of offering ANC, QuantumSPHERE 360, and any wired audio capabilities. When compared to the likes of the JBL Quantum 910, the 360 Wireless headset is clearly a personal preference based on price and required features. But let's take a closer look. Design The JBL Quantum 360 Wireless headset is slightly less chunky than the more expensive models. Although distinct in its shape, any lighting features have been removed and instead, a matt and gloss plas...

9Dec

By JasonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Railroads Online – PC Review

Railroads Online is a sandbox simulation game that puts you in the boots of a budding railroad tycoon during the golden age of steam. Developed by Stefan Kelnberger and published by Astragon Entertainment, the game promises an immersive experience of laying tracks, managing steam locomotives, and navigating a rugged, untamed wilderness. Railroading Your Way To The Top Railroads Online has now been fully released on PC having been in early access for the last 3 years. It is also available on PS5 and Xbox S|X. Does it deliver the engaging gameplay it promises, or does it run out of steam? Let’s find out. Gameplay At its core, Railroads Online is all about the intricate art of building and managing railroads. Many transport games do similar, however this game feels a lot different....