Alex Crooks, Author at Thumb Culture

24Jul

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

s.p.l.i.t – PC Review

Hack into the centrifuge in s.p.l.i.t by Mike Klubnika. This story-driven horror game puts you in the shoes of Axel, a man tasked with using his terminal to hack into various systems. Plan and execute a malware attack alongside two faceless technicians with an intricate hacking puzzles which focus on old school prompts. Warning: This game includes depictions of self harm and suicide which will be discussed in this review. I have tried my best but due to the nature of the gameplay please be aware there may e some small spoilers ahead! If this whole hacking thing doesn't work we're going to have to s.p.l.i.t Whilst I got to play through this ahead of launch, I have good news for you. s.p.l.i.t is out on Steam today! Gameplay At first glance, s.p.l.i.t seems like a very simple game...

17Jul

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

The Drifter – PC Review

There are not many games that I would sit up until 2am playing solo but it was impossible to stop playing The Drifter. After checking out the demo, I was super excited to get my hands on the finished product. What's even better news for you is The Drifter officially releases today on Steam! Death, death and more death? Point and click me to the sign up sheet! Gameplay The gameplay is the same as I mentioned in the preview. You point and click, pick up items and solve puzzles using your environment. The main story takes what is has already given us and elevates it further. The story took a direction that I really wasn't expecting which is why I enjoyed it so much. However, I did say in my playthrough of the demo that it didn't seem too hard. I take it back. Whilst the difficulty ...

30Jun

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Fruitbus – PS5 Review

Back in October of last year, I wrote a review for the PC launch of Fruitbus and gave it our Gold Award. The game has now released on consoles so I decided to hop back in the driver's seat of Krillbite Studios' game to see what changes had been made. Fruitbus is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S & X as well as Steam. Today I'm taking a look at the PS5 version. Fruit really does grow on trees! And bushes! And in the dirt! Fruitbus is currently on the PlayStation store for £13.49 if you're a PS Plus member or £14.99 for non-members. But just how does the console version play? Let's find out. Gameplay Fruitbus is still a game about meeting characters from your Grandma's life, foraging for fruit and creating delicious recipes for your customers....

30Jun

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Small Spaces – PC Preview

Decorating goes to the next level in Niklas Tomkowitz' Small Spaces. With nine compact apartments to transform and over 500 stylish furniture pieces to play with, we jumped into this cosy interior design sim to find out if it’s a relaxing creative escape or just another cluttered concept. Small spaces with big opportunities! Small Spaces is now in Early Access on Steam for £10.99. Is it more of a DIY SOS or dream property ? Let's find out. Gameplay Fans of build mode in The Sims will feel right at home in Small Spaces. There are three styles to choose from, each with a different size and layout of a building. The first room you decorate is a small studio to teach you the basics of placing and how to complete jobs. Each level has a checklist of items you need to complete the room, a...

11Jun

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

Ghost Frequency – PC Review

All is not as it seems in Ghost Frequency by PIT GAMES. Become a member of a paranormal investigation team and see if you can find out what really happened to you friends. We got our hands on it here at TC to see whether it was worthy of being added to your steam library. Is this game more Phasmophobia or Mystery Machine Inc? Read more to find out! Scary voices, luminescent goop and a strange figure that follows you around? Sounds like a bargain to me! You can grab a free demo or the full game on Steam for £4.29. Gameplay Ghost Frequency is a first person horror game that puts you in the shoes of Mark, a Paranormal Investigator. After a short cutscene which explains that your two friends have disappeared, you start in a house with eerie, sinister vibes. Your eye-in-the-sky Emily le...

29May

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

The Drifter – PC Preview

Follow Mick into a world of unknown as he awakens from death again in The Drifter. Powerhoof's upcoming release has players unravelling a conspiracy while trying to understand why Mick has come back to life. Whilst the game doesn't launch until July 17th on PC (Windows, Mac, Linux), we were lucky enough to get our hands on a small preview build. Watch as he drifts from one life to the next! Before you start reading you need to head to Wishlist for The Drifter on Steam. Trust me. Now you've done that, let's get into this preview. Gameplay Albeit short and simple, The Drifter drags players into a brand new world full of mystery. After waking up in a train, Mick is ready to go meet his family in his old home town but things go awry when the homeless man in the carriage with him seems ...

28Apr

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

Hanako’s Flower Shop – PC Review

Hanako's Flower Shop is the newest release from FantaJI Games which invites you to build beautiful bouquets whilst meeting all sorts of interesting characters. With a big focus on story, the game explores tales of grief, happiness and more as you learn about your family history and the people living in the village with you. Pick a couple flowers and have Hanako tie them up with a nice bow Currently available on Steam, you can grab Hanako's Flower Shop for £11.51 thanks to an introductory offer! Let's see how much this game packs in for a relatively small price. Gameplay What seems like a normal shop game is actually so much deeper than that. The game sets the tone with backstory and side characters, highlighting different emotions you're going to face as you play. The story sta...

18Apr

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

Tranquil Isle – PC Review

Cosy meets roguelite in Tom Daly and Future Friends Games new release Tranquil Isle. Design your perfect paradise in your favourite styles as you try to earn your high score or just freely build. Tranquil Isle is currently available on Steam and you can also grab the soundtrack whilst you're there! Tranquil Islands filled with houses, taverns and more! I sunk a bunch of time into this game building my own little towns and cities but is it worth adding to your steam library? Gameplay There are three game modes to choose from when it comes to Tranquil Isle: standard, sandbox and classic. Within the standard version you will progressively unlock more buildings and islands by building and increasing the population of your world. Sandbox mode allows you to build freely and explore all o...

Fantech MAXFIT6 QMK Wireless Keyboard Review

16Apr

By Alex Crooks1 Comment

Hardware & Tech

Fantech MAXFIT6 QMK Wireless Keyboard Review

As a writer at Thumb Culture I've been lucky enough to test out a number of Fantech products including the Maxfit Air and the Aria II Pro. And today I bring you more! This time it's the turn of the MAXFIT6 wireless keyboard, the latest release from the company. I have tested it across many silly games and many boring work days to see whether it's worth investing. Tippy tap Fantech is back You can grab the MAXFIT6 for £41.00 which is relatively cheap for a mechanical keyboard but does the low price point compromise the quality? Design The MAXFIT6 is available in two colours - black and white. I received the white version of the keyboard and honestly I really love the simplicity of it all. The two transparent keys add a little bit of character without looking cheap or tacky. You can...

8Apr

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Forecursed – PC Preview

Hide and seek takes a turn in Forecursed by William Van Herck. In this action survivor you can play with up to twelve players across a range of maps and try to survive as your friend hunts you down to pass on the curse. We got the chance to get a couple of TC friends together to try out early access. Hide and seek just because a whole lot whackier You can currently grab Forecursed in Early Access from Steam for £8.50. Let's take a look. Gameplay Forecursed is madness from the get go. Even just loading into the player hub you can waste time flinging yourself across the hanger or dip into the jail to test the curse out. It's a nice little training ground that you can back and forth in with other people in the lobby to figure out the controls. That's not necessary however as the contr...