Jordan Rooker, Author at Thumb Culture

13Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Animalkind – PC Early Access Preview

Animalkind is a cozy crafting co-op now available in early access on PC. Play as a small, lovable quadruped summoned to a mysterious island with development and publishing by Uncommon Games. Explore the open world with the assistance of an ancient mech and develop a growing community, alone or with a trio of friends. It's only available now in early access through Steam. Animalkind of Adorable I should really have shown this game to my daughter first to see her reaction. She loves games with animals as well as crafting games like Minecraft. Just the sight of the critters I'm sure will excite her to play. But anyhow, Animalkind looks pretty cute to me too so I thought I'd check it out. Let me tell you about it below. Gameplay Animalkind is an open world co-op crafting adventure wher...

8Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Grind Survivors – PC Review

Grind Survivors is a new top-down action roguelike, bullet hell mashup by Pushka Studios. Survive your way through endless swarms of demons in fast-paced biomes, gaining experience and stacking different bonuses to enhance your weapon. Pick up loot, boost your passives, and come back gunning. With publishing by Assemble Entertainment (Sticky Business, Endzone - A World Apart), the game is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic, and GOG. Grind Those Demons! Here I am at it again. Yet another roguelite/roguelike on my plate. Thankfully, I seem to keep coming up with a fresh appetite. It's pretty likely now that anything with "Survivors" in the title gives the average gamer an idea of what's on the menu at least. Does Grind Survivors hold true? Check out my ...

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike – PC Review

31Mar

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike – PC Review

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a strategy arcade roguelite releasing March 31st on PC. With publishing by Playstack (Abiotic Factor, Balatro), developer Doraccoon brings coin pushing to a digital scale with a plethora of unique bits and bobs. You can pick it up only over on Steam. Like at the Carnival, But Better! I was always curious around the coin pusher games at the carnival. Mostly because I wanted the free tokens that would randomly fall. These days I see one on occasion at the gas station or travel center, and usually toss in a quarter or two if I have one on me. RACCOIN looks to be a more manageable for my wallet. So how does it play? Well check out the review below and I'll let you know my thoughts! Gameplay RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a coin pushing strategy arca...

23Mar

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Marathon – PC Review

Marathon is the latest IP from the creators of Halo and Destiny. Bungie joins the extraction shooter genre with this FPS, PvPvE style addition set in a failed human colony of the future. It is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox X|S. Shells Will Crack in Marathon Destiny 2 is one of my top games on Steam, Though I haven't been playing for a few expansions now. But my familiarity with worlds by Bungie have me looking forward to what Marathon has to offer. Especially since that whole artwork ordeal was settled. Now that it is here, how is it? Take a look at my thoughts in the review below. Gameplay Marathon is a first-person extraction shooter set in a futuristic timeline beyond humanity's attempt to colonize the planet of Tau Ceti IV. As a runner, your consciousness inhabits a synthe...

12Mar

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Rogue Point – PC Early Access Preview

Rogue Point is a new tactical roguelite FPS from the creators of Black Mesa, Crowbar Collective. With publishing by Team17 (a lot of games), this solo or co-op experience is available now in Early Access. You can pick it up only on Steam. Go Roguelite on that FPS Rogue Point certainly gives off a unique vibe. A cross between a tactical FPS and a roguelite was enough to interest me. But can it hit the best points of each genre? Find out in this early access look below. Gameplay A co-op, tactical roguelite FPS is the best way I can categorize Rogue Point. It combines aspects from several genres and blends them nicely into a stand-out product. With up to 3 others, start up a campaign, select your loadout and drop into various different missions against a band of thugs for hire. Rog...

27Feb

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Pure Pool Pro – PC Review

Pure Pool Pro is the latest pool simulation game by Rockwater with publishing by Ripstone Ltd. (Poker Club, Chess Infinity). Play through a generous number of modes, game types, and difficulties, with achievements and customizations to unlock. It is now available on PC via Steam or Epic, as well as for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Table I Have, Pro I Am Not Growing up, I always made sure to bring a dime to the YMCA. For this was the cost to "rent" the set of balls and cues for the pool tables. I only recall knowing to pocket the colour balls opposite of your opponent. Since then I've picked up on a few more rules and a table with my current house too. I thought Pure Pool Pro could maybe teach me a thing or two more. I will admit that I had to look up the difference between pool, bi...

Horizon Journey – PC Early Access Preview

18Feb

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Horizon Journey – PC Early Access Preview

Horizon Journey is a mars colonization survival simulator. It is being developed and published by Redivided Studios (Survive The Hill) and is now available in Early Access. You can pick it up only on Steam. Mars on the Horizon With my recent time in StarRupture, I was looking forward to checking out another exploration type simulator. Horizon Journey looked like it would be a fun one, with less focus on harvesting for profits. Games come to Early Access in all states though. Check out my thoughts on the current state of this one below. Gameplay Horizon Journey is a simulation sandbox game set on Mars during the colonization period. A few pre-existing structures are strewn about, but for the most part you're on an empty slate. The objective is as clear as with any survival game - ga...

11Feb

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

HumanitZ – PC Review

HumanitZ is an isometric, open-world zombie survival game. After a couple of years in early access on Steam, developer Yodubzz Studios is venturing into 1.0 release. Pick up the pieces as one of the few remaining humans to build, farm, explore, and survive as long as possible. It is available on Steam now with publishing by indie.io (Coromon, Dark Deity 2). The 1.0 release is live on Friday, sixth of February. How Long Can You Keep Your Humanity in HumanitZ? Zombies and survival games seem to just go hand in hand. The nice thing is that they come in all different flavors. I recall spending a number of days in zombie modes of CoD, and others in the early days of DayZ. I was curious to see how HumanitZ felt in comparison. Especially since that last zombie survival game was just... yeah. So...

14Jan

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

StarRupture – PC Early Access Preview

StarRupture is a new first-person survival crafting game now in Early Access on PC by Creepy Jar (Green Hell). Harvest resources, refine them, and fulfil requisitions from your corporate overlords as you pay off your debt. Just be mindful of the weather as it can be a bit hot... Check it out now on Steam. Game Title Is Key to StarRupture Survival games run wild these days, so it's hard to sift out the noise sometimes. Thankfully, Creepy Jar has a great reputation with Green Hell. Having a developer that knows what they're doing is definitely a leg up. See how StarRupture sizes up in its current state in the preview below. Gameplay StarRupture is a first-person survival crafting game, capable of co-op with up to four other players. You've been sent to the planet of Arcadia-7 to serv...

13Jan

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Cloudheim – PC Early Access Preview

Cloudheim is a new third-person co-op action RPG available on PC in Early Access. Noodle Cat Games, a studio founded in 2022 with a industry veterans at the helm, is both developing and self-publishing the title. You can pick it up now only on PC via Steam or Epic Games. Console versions for Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S plan to come out with full release. Explore Everywhere, Destroy Everything in Cloudheim I don't recall if it was originally a Vine or a TikTok - but one of my favorite short-form bits was of someone acting out Link going into a shop full of vases. Link destroys them all to the horror of the shop owner to collect rupees. He then leaves and returns to rinse and repeat. One of the top things I enjoy about Cloudheim is this simple mechanic. But there's more to the game t...