Alex Crooks, Author at Thumb Culture

1Nov

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

The Night Is Grey – PC Review

Alone in a forest and surrounded by wolves, Graham stumbles upon an abandoned home and a young girl. They need each other to survive the night and make it back to civilisation. Reminiscent of a psychological thriller, The Night is Grey is a point-and-click adventure game from Whalestork Interactive. Currently available on Steam, you can grab The Night is Grey for £13.99 Do I want to go down the scary cave or face a pack of wolves? Gameplay Upon starting The Night is Grey, you find yourself in the middle of the woods surrounded by wolves. After a quick escape, Graham finds himself at an old wooden lodge where he meets a young girl named Hannah. Abandoned by her mother, Graham feels it is necessary to lead this girl to safety, hoping to take her to her grandparents where they will h...

7 Spooky Games You Can Grab From Steam Scream Fest

30Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Features, News & Updates

7 Spooky Games You Can Grab From Steam Scream Fest

The Steam Scream 3d Fest is live from now through to November 4th and there are plenty of amazing horror games up for grabs! We've trekked through the many games that you can choose from to pull out 7 of our spooky favourites. There are some really great discounts going on this Steam Scream Fest - Check out the entire sale here. You can also grab a couple of free animated stickers from the Steam Points shop! Sons of the Forest Longevity: 14+ hours Steam ratings: Very positive Developers: Endnight Games Release Date: 23/02/2023 On sale price: £13.74 Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror ...

28Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Phasmophobia – PS5 Early Access

You know when you're 8 years old and it's Christmas and you've never been so excited in your entire life? That was me when I woke up to a key for Phasmophobia on PS5. Kinetic Games first announced a console version of their hit game back in June 2023 and since then has hit a few bumps in the road. With a full overhaul of the PC version last year, a studio fire and multiple setbacks, the console version has been repeatedly delayed. Now it's finally here, ready and raring to launch on Xbox and PlayStation. It's safe to say I'm a big fan of Phasmophobia, but with unforeseen challenges and a winding road to release does it actually live up to the standards that Kinetic Games set for themselves? Only one way to find out! I didn't sink hundreds of hours into this to be taken out by a Shade ...

25Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

Fruitbus – PC Review

Get ready to take ownership of Grandma's Fruitbus, the latest game release from Krillbite Studio! You might remember not too long ago that we wrote a news piece about this game after the official release date was announced. I've been dying to get my hands on it ever since! I'm basically Gordon Ramsey with a Fruitbus Gameplay Grandma has left you her beloved Fruitbus in the hopes that you will be able to reconnect with the locals of three different islands and invite them to one final meal. It's up to you to right your Grandma's wrongs and create dishes that will help you forge friendships and learn more about your Grandma's past. The main gameplay elements consist of foraging for ingredients as you travel around the different islands and creating recipes for customers that you find...

22Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Switch Reviews

FAITH – Nintendo Switch Review

What you are about to do is not approved by the Vatican. FAITH by Airdorf Games launched on PC in 2022 and has finally come to Nintendo Switch. The closest I've ever got to 2D VHS horror is Five Night at Freddy's so this was a whole new horror adventure for me. Before downloading the Switch release of FAITH, I hadn't interacted with the game at all. For this review I am flying blind with only my own gameplay to guide me! I need an old priest and a young priest... and maybe a guide. Gameplay Unfolding through the 1980s 'Satanic Panic', you are Father John Ward, a priest traumatised after a failed exorcism. You follow him through his slow descent into the occult and the supernatural world that surrounds you. FAITH consists of three chapters, each retelling a significant moment in Fathe...

The Spirit of the Samurai launches in December

14Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

News & Updates

The Spirit of the Samurai launches in December

Leading UK games publisher Kwalee and Spanish developer Digital Mind S.L. are pleased to announce the release date for upcoming 2D stop-motion action adventure, The Spirit of the Samurai. The game is coming to PC via Steam on December 12, 2024. Fans can experience a glimpse of this adventure inspired by Japanese mythology, as the demo for The Spirit of the Samurai will be available starting with Steam Next Fest from October 14. Prepare to defend against mythical forces Unlock the power of the Samurai Assume the role of Takeshi, a Japanese samurai who has to protect his village from the onslaught of an Oni attempting to conquer the land with his undead army. Fight against his army inspired by Japanese mythology, in a unique, brutal stop-motion cinematic adventure. Defend the Forb...

Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered Releasing Feb 14th 2025

12Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

News & Updates

Tomb Raider IV – VI Remastered Releasing Feb 14th 2025

Following the success of Tomb Raider I - III Remastered, Aspyr and Square Enix are teaming up again to bring you Tomb Raider IV - VI Remastered. It's been 25 years since we saw our girl Lara trapped inside an Egyptian tomb and the world of Tomb Raider was changed forever. Now it's time to go back, once again, and revisit the classic Tomb Raider franchise. Deep tombs, fond memories and Parisian backstreets Experience Classic Adventures Similarly to the first game, Tomb Raider IV - VI Remastered upgrades the experience of the final three games in the Tomb Raider hexalogy. Obviously, if you played the originals you know what's in store but, if not, here's what you've got waiting for you! Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation Travel to Egypt in the pursuit of the Amulet of Horus. You'll join...

11Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

Game Builder Tycoon – PC Review

Start your own gaming company in Game Builder Tycoon - the latest release from developers AM Playground and publisher Playway S.A. Choose your platform, game size and more as you take the reins and develop your own games. With plenty of areas to develop into and unlock, opportunities seem to be endless - even bankruptcy is a possibility! Game Builder Tycoon is available now on Steam for £6.80 thanks to a launch discount. However this ends on the 14th October after which the game will cost £8.50. You'll be the next Ubisoft in no time Gameplay It's now 2005 and you've decided that you want to set out into the world of game development! When you first load up Game Builder Tycoon you are prompted to choose your character, your company name and your favourite avatar. You can then distri...

Fantech World Shooter 3 & Nova Pro Controller Review

9Oct

By Alex Crooks2 Comments

Hardware & Tech

Fantech World Shooter 3 & Nova Pro Controller Review

Who doesn't love fancy new controllers when they're playing games? We got our hands on two new Fantech World multi-platform controllers and have been trying them out for the past few weeks. With a simple set up, the Nova Pro and the Shooter 3 controllers were easy to use straight out of the box - a perfect plug and play pairing that works for any type of gamer. After testing them out, there are pros and cons for both controllers so let's get into it! New additions to the Fantech Catalogue Design The Nova Pro The Nova Pro features a standard PlayStation controller layout with a responsive touchpad. Despite it's relatively low price point in comparison to a standard PS controller, it feels like a high quality piece of equipment. I received the Polaris variant of it and I have to...

Crow Country launches on Nintendo Switch

5Oct

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

News & Updates

Crow Country launches on Nintendo Switch

This scary season all visitors are welcome, as Crow Country launches on Nintendo Switch on October 16th. Delve into a true love letter to ‘90s horror games in this caw-ritically acclaimed survival horror title. Puzzles, mystery and old-school graphics. The perfect Halloween combo Experience 90s horror all over again Your arrival in Crow Country has broken a two year silence. But more than answers await you in the darkness; every bullet will need to make its mark if you want to survive against the deadly creatures that stalk your every step. Encounter a cast of mysterious characters, solve a gauntlet of testing puzzles, and piece together the horrifying truth at the heart of the park. Where is Edward Crow? And who are you really, Mara Forest? Adam Vian, Creative Director at S...