Charlie, Author at Thumb Culture

27May

By CharlieNo Comments

Best Served Cold – PC Review

Best Served Cold is a brand-new detective-themed visual novel by the independent developer and publisher Rogueside Games. It's currently available on Steam with a planned launch on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X at a later date. Serve drinks, solve cases, and make sure the cops don't shut down your illegal little speakeasy. Whodunit? Oh, this one's a good one, alright. I have not touched a visual novel game in years, but I am so happy that I picked this game up. I got really invested in the story and basically binged the game in one day, much to the demise of my sleep schedule (once again). It's not my fault! I expect a handwritten apology letter from the devs for making their game too engaging. While we wait for that, let's have a look at the game, shall we? Also, let me...

26May

By CharlieNo Comments

PC Reviews

Islands & Trains – PC Review

Get ready to create beautiful little dioramas in Islands & Trains! Developed by Akos Makovics and published by Future Friends Games, this charming sandbox game invites you to craft your own unique islands and train networks. Just let your creativity run free! The game is set to launch on Steam on May 29th. All Aboard! When I was younger, dioramas always fascinated me. They are so small, yet often so detailed it really feels like a piece of the world has been cut out, shrunk down and shoved onto a display table. So when I had the opportunity to try this game out, I was more than excited to put my creativity to the test and see if I would ever be able to build something this elaborate myself. And boy was my creativity being tested. Turns out it's not that easy. At all. Gameplay A...

Hotel Architect – PC Early Access Preview

20May

By CharlieNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Hotel Architect – PC Early Access Preview

Step into the chaotic life of being a hotel owner in Hotel Architect! Developed by Pathos Interactive and published by Wired Production, this hotel construction and tycoon management game allows you to build your hotel from the ground up and to tackle the challenging demands of your guests. Get ready to check in for Early Access today on Steam! Is Breakfast Included? I've got high hopes for this one! The game is still “under construction” but already feels very nice and smooth to play. It's got quite a bit of content already, too! I'm excited to jump into the game, especially since my knowledge of hotels in general is very limited. All I really know is the fact that even looking at the mini-bar will most likely bankrupt you immediately. Do you have any fun hotel stories to tell? What ...

8May

By CharlieNo Comments

News & Updates

Best Served Cold Is Out Now

Best Served Cold, the brand new detective-themed visual novel by the independent developer and publisher Rogueside Games, released earlier this week. Its currently available on Steam with an introductory price of £13.50. The title will also launch on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X at a later date. The game plays in an alternate history Europe. At the Nightcap bar, prohibition is a killer and so are some of your customers. Get ready to serve your best drinks and put your conversation skills to the test to solve a murder mystery! Shaken, Not Stirred As the city of Bukovie lies in strife, with labour strikes, rationing, unrest and a looming war over the peoples' heads, citizens choose not to cower in fear. Instead, they flock to the dance halls and speakeasies - this is wh...

7May

By CharlieNo Comments

PC Reviews

Cash Cleaner Simulator – PC Review

“Check it, clean it, sort it, ship it.” Cash Cleaner Simulator, developed by Mind Control Games and published by Forklift Interactive, lets you experience what it could possibly be like to have tons of cash in your hands. The game releases for PC on May 8th, with a version for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S coming later this year. Please note that this game uses AI-generated images for some phone contact icons and simple wall art. Cash Is King What, you think a bunch of money is just gonna magically fall from the sky?? Well, uh, in this game, it kinda does do that. Sure, it's not all yours to keep, and not necessarily legally acquired, but still. The sky is the limit, and you can stack your cash 'till you reach it. So, let's have a look! Gameplay Cash Cleaner Simulator has a ...

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – PC Review

29Apr

By CharlieNo Comments

PC Reviews

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered – PC Review

It really happened! The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has released! Developed by Bethesda Game Studios and Virtuos, it is available right now for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5. The base game includes all of the old DLCs that are available for the original version of the game. However, there is also a Digital Deluxe Edition that features quests for new armour and weapons, as well as a digital artbook and the game's soundtrack! By The Nine! Well, that release was unexpected! Like sure, yeah, there were leaks, but when can you ever properly believe those? Anyways! I'm so thrilled to see so much love shown to my second favourite The Elder Scrolls game — I'm a Morrowind girlie, fight me. Still, I love Oblivion with every fibre of my being, and this remaster has settled straight into my...

New Service Vendetta Harnesses The Power Of Fandoms

25Apr

By CharlieNo Comments

News & Updates

New Service Vendetta Harnesses The Power Of Fandoms

The award-winning digital media consultancy Infinitize and The Lippin Group have announced the launch of Vendetta! A new publishing-as-a-service gaming division forged to equip indie studios and creators with the marketing firepower needed to compete with industry giants. The Power Duo For Indie Devs With a focus on indie studios developing games with strong fan appeal, Vendetta offers a publishing-as-a-service approach. This division actively supports their clients with strategy, social, lifecycle marketing, product forecasting, fan-activation campaigns, and event planning. As a result, this helps studios to punch above their weight in a crowded, fast-moving marketplace. Vendetta's team draws on experience from publishers like Devolver Digital and Good Shepherd Entertainment. Their b...

Once Upon A Puppet Released On PC And Console

25Apr

By CharlieNo Comments

News & Updates

Once Upon A Puppet Released On PC And Console

The brand new puzzle-platformer Once Upon a Puppet invites you to enter a whimsical, hand-crafted world. Developed by Flatter Than Earth and published by Daedalic Entertainment, this game invites you to step into a magical theatrical realm full of danger, discovery, and unexpected transformations. It combines inventive thread-based mechanics, dual-character puzzles, and a rich, hand-animated world. Get ready to experience a heartfelt and eerie journey through a long-forgotten puppet kingdom. It's available now on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam Deck. A Switch version is set to release in early June of this year too! Who Is Really Pulling The Strings? Once Upon a Puppet's story follows Nieve, the exiled Stagehand, and Drev, the Puppet bound to her by fate. As they embark ...

24Apr

By CharlieNo Comments

PC Reviews

Synergy – PC Review

Step into a strange, unknown world. Synergy has now officially released in version 1.0 on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, following its initial early access launch in May of last year. Developed by Leikir Studio and published by Goblinz Publishing, this settlement management game, set in an unforgiving, alien environment, is a nice addition to the genre. Who Needs Sleep Anyways? Y'know the type of games where you wanna sit down in the evening and play for a little bit. After what totally felt like 20 minutes you look at the clock and it's 6a.m.? Yeah. This is one of those games. I've sank about 30 hours into Synergy so far and the biggest challenge in writing this review was that I actually had to stop playing in order to do so. To be fair, I'm not surprised. This somehow always...

22Apr

By CharlieNo Comments

PC Reviews

The Fool’s Apprentice – PC Review

The Fool's Apprentice is a brand-new cosy management game developed by The Planar Danse that just released on Steam. Take on the role of a prestigious Arcanist and try your very best to get some knowledge into the heads of your rather unskilled students, no matter what it takes. Fool Me Once… When I first saw the trailer and read about the general premise of the game, I was quite excited! Magic and management, two things that are fun on their own but now combined! Until I actually launched the game… but more on that later. For now, let's look at the gameplay, shall we? Gameplay The Fool's Apprentice tasks you with educating and managing a group of unskilled apprentices. You manage their skills, build Research, respond to multiple choice Dilemmas and more! The game is all about stra...