Kyle McGrath, Author at Thumb Culture

7Jul

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

Strayed Lights – PC Review

The self-publishing team known as Embers has developed a light-hearted action-adventure game called Strayed Lights. This game was released back in April of this year. If you want to check it out for yourself, then it's available on Steam, GOG, Epic, Switch, PlayStation and Xbox for £20.99 Hope burns bright. I'd seen a couple of screenshots of Strayed Light back in May but didn't understand what the story was about. However, the combat looked interesting. When I read that one of the tags for the game was soul-like, it piqued my interest further. Let's jump in and check out what this new Indie game offers; hopefully, this little flame will have a bright future. Let me know in the comments below what your thought about Strayed Lights. Gameplay In Strayed Lights, you play as a being of...

5Jul

By Kyle McGrath3 Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Final Fantasy XVI – PS5 Review

Return to the world of Final Fantasy in the latest entry, Final Fantasy XVI, developed by Square Enix Creative & Business Unit III. Travel through a world on the brink of ruin while wielding the power of the Eikons in this action role-playing game. Final Fantasy XVI is available right now on PlayStation for £64.99. Also for purchase is the Digital Deluxe going for £84.99 Walk tall my friends. I have only played a few entries in the Final Fantasy series, with the tenth being my favourite for turn-based combat. Final Fantasy XV is another favourite for its character development and the interesting aspect that it was more of a road trip. I found Fifteen's combat quite interesting. When I saw that Final Fantasy XVI was heading in the same direction, it immediately caught my interest, esp...

3Jul

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

Martian Panic – PC Review

Run! NYX Digital Ltd has sent Martians to invade us with help from Funbox Media Ltd. They'll be arriving June 30th this year! Luckily we can fight back in Martian Panic, an arcade shooter. It'll be available on Steam for those who love rail shooters. Get off my planet! I don't play a lot of rail shooters, and the last one I could recall playing was Silent Hill; I must have wasted a good few tokens on that. I thought I would try and give the rail shooter genre another go and thought Martian Panic would be a good start. The visuals looked fun, and the characters seemed whacky. Let me know in the comment below what rail shooters you would recommend. Gameplay There are several characters for players to choose from, such as the travelling salesman or a teenage girl who is secretly an ...

Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine – PC Review

29Jun

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine – PC Review

The development team at Headup Development has brought us the diabolical game known as Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine. Players may know Dr. Fetus as the main antagonist from the Super Meat Boy franchise. If you are familiar with the game Puyo Puyo, then players can try this new puzzle arcade with a large-difficulty twist. Where? You might ask well it's out now on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch for £7.99. A demo is also available on Steam for those who are cautious and know what the world of Super Meat Boy is like. Who knew evil could look so cute? I remember playing Super Meat Boy and never beating the game. When I saw this game released, you know what they say about the cat? I enjoy playing challenging games such as the Soulsborne games or the Nioh franchise, so why not try a puzzle ...

22Jun

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

Aliens: Dark Descent – PC Review

Released on 20th June this year, players will be exploring hives and gearing up their squads in Tindalos Interactive's new game Aliens: Dark Descent. This RTS action-adventure game is on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox for £34.99. That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over! I am a massive nerd for anything related to the Xenomorphs, from the original 1979 movie to comics. The last game I played and enjoyed with Xenomorphs was Alien: Isolation. When I heard about a new RTS aliens game, my mind rushed back to the classic PS2 game AVP: Extinction which allowed players to control the Xenomorph army. Now here's my chance to relive those memories with a modern take that seems to have drawn some inspiration from the more recent XCOM games. Gameplay The Story in Aliens: Dark Descent starts with...

14Jun

By Kyle McGrath1 Comment

PC Reviews

Amnesia: The Bunker – PC Review

I hope none of you has forgotten about Frictional Games because they've brought us Amnesia: The Bunker. This new addition to the Amnesia franchise will have players explore a World War 1 bunker. Using nothing but your wit and whatever resource you can find to survive. If you're interested in this new horror experience, It's out now to pick up on PlayStation, Steam, or Xbox Store for £20.99. Forgetting doesn't change the consequences Amnesia: The Bunker piqued my interest as it brings the new addition of fighting against whatever lurks in the darkness. I played the first instalment, called Amnesia: The Dark Descent and enjoyed the fact that players could interact with various parts of the surroundings like barrels, crates and candelabras. I also enjoyed one of Frictional Games' other seri...

24May

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

Secrets Of The Witch House – PC Review

Are you looking to shoot through monsters, demons, and other evils alongside the danger of permadeath? Then Demon Zoo Games LLC's first-ever game, Secrets Of The Witch House, may be up your alley. Secrets Of The Witch House is a procedurally generated, third-person action shooter and roguelike, setting players to kill and maim the evil that attempts to stop them from discovering the dark secrets within the house. If this sounds like your cup of tea, pick this game up soon on Steam on June 5th, 2023. The Truth May Surprise You Secrets Of The Witch House caught my eye as it's an indie roguelike and shooter game, two genres I am a big fan of. Since I enjoyed the likes of The Binding Of Isaac and Gunfire Reborn, I thought this colourful indie game would be worth a try. More impressively so, ...

Starship Troopers: Extermination – PC Preview

23May

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Starship Troopers: Extermination – PC Preview

I'm happy to check out Starship Troopers: Extermination, a new co-op online FPS with base-building mechanics. It was developed and published by Offworld Industries. They're the ones who brought you Squad, another online shooter that was released back in September 2020. Starship Troopers was released for early access on Steam this May for £20.99. The only good bug is a dead bug! Like many others, I grew up with the 1997 Starship Trooper Film and prayed for a game based on it. Offworld Industries must have heard me because now I get to fight off mass hordes of bugs. Who doesn't love taking on hordes of enemies in hopes of saving humanity, I sure do, and that's why "I'm doing my part!". Gameplay Starship Troopers: Extermination holds up to sixteen players per match, and each person ca...

22May

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

Bum Simulator – PC Review

Take control of a bum in this action, adventure, open world. Developed and self-published by the team at Ragged Games with some help from Playway S.A. comes Bum Simulator, released May 12th on Steam for £13.99 or can be picked up on sale for £6.99 at time of writing. Time to hit the streets! I've had Bum Simulator on my Steam wishlist for a few years. I was excited to wield the magical power of booze and run around with Weaponized Pigeons. Now let us hit the streets of Bumsville and see what mayhem we can cause. If you enjoyed this review then let us know in the comments below. Gameplay Bum Simulator has players take control of a Bum that wakes up on the street with no name and simply speaks in gibberish. He isn't alone as his trusty companion Carl Cartman explains that both of ...

The Last Case of Benedict Fox – PC Review

12May

By Kyle McGrath1 Comment

PC Reviews

The Last Case of Benedict Fox – PC Review

If you're a fan of the dark cosmic horror work of H.P. Lovecraft? Then check out The Last Case of Benedict Fox, created by the team at Plot Twist and published by Rogue Games, Inc. This new atmospheric hack-and-slash Metroidvania game was released on the Steam Store on April 27th for £20.99. There is more to death than we know. Let me know your thoughts on this review and game in the comments. If you enjoyed this review, then check out my review for Hunt The Night. Gameplay The players control Benedict Fox, a detective trying to uncover the mysteries of a grisly murder and the disappearance of a child. You are not alone, as a dark entity helps Fox by gifting him various powers to assist with the investigation, such as diving into the memories of the deceased and uncovering what ha...