Mike Differ, Author at Thumb Culture

15Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Aces & Adventures – PC Review

Aces & Adventures is the latest release from Yogscast Games (Golfie) alongside indie publisher Triple B Games. The game is a deckbuilding fantasy RPG where combat is powered by poker. Luckily for me, you only need to know the main combinations of hands available. The closest comparison I've played is Slay the Spire but Aces & Adventures definitely is making its mark on the deckbuilding genre. Aces & Adventures is available now on Windows PC. Aces & Adventures up's the ante in this high-stakes fantasy game I was excited to play Aces & Adventures as I'm a fan of the genre and Yogscast Games. If you're enjoying the game or excited to please leave a comment below about what you think. Gameplay Aces & Adventures takes place in Cardrasil, a fantasy land home t...

Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator – PC Review

6Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator – PC Review

From developer Cyanide Studio (Styx: Master of Shadows) and publisher Nacon (Steel Rising) is Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator. Much like the title suggests, Chef Life is a third-person management sim like Two Point Campus. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, you begin with all the responsibilities of the manager and head chef of a new restaurant. Thanks to your partner Kassim and several other NPCs hopefully you rise and earn that first Michelin star. Chef Life is available now on PC as well as Switch, Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Can you stand the heat in Chef Life or should you get out of the kitchen? Gordon Ramsay, I am not but I had a very good time playing Chef Life. I only wish actual cooking was as easy. I'd love to hear what you think of the game so comment below. G...

15Feb

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

The Art of War: Card Game – PC Preview

The Art of War: Card Game is the newest release from publisher and developer Brightdawn Entertainment (A Walk in the Woods VR). It is a non-collectable deck builder card game set in a fantasy world with Game of thrones style machinations. I immediately felt the similarities to Gwent: The Witcher Card Game so I wasn't surprised when Brightdawn cited Gwent as inspiration. As well as bringing what they felt the genre was missing and a social game like Gwent, Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh! The Art of War is available now on PC but still in early access. There is also the upcoming tabletop version later in 2023. Sun Tzu who? There's a new The Art of War in town I'd love to hear what anyone of you think of The Art of War: Card Game so feel free to comment below. Gameplay The Art of Wa...

12Dec

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Sable – PS5 Review

Sable is the debut game from developer Shedworks, a 2 man team from London partnered with publisher Raw Fury (Flat Eye, Cassette Beasts). The game is a sci-fi open-world adventure with the single player experience uncovered through exploring and solving puzzles. The titular character is a young woman undergoing a rite of passage which involves travelling across the desert planet Midden. Previously released on Windows, Xbox One & Xbox Series S/X last year, Sable is now also available on PS5. The journey matters more than the destination in Sable I wasn't aware of Sable at its original release but I was pleased to get the chance to review it on PS5. I had a very good time playing and so I would love to hear your thought. If you have played before or are thinking about it, feel free...

17Nov

By Mike Differ1 Comment

PlayStation Reviews

Broken Pieces – PS5 Review

Broken Pieces is the debut video game from the developer Elseware Experience alongside publisher Freedom Games (Cat Cafe Manager). Two-person team Mael Vignaux and Benoit Dereau founded Elseware Experience with a focus on accurate and immersive experiences. The duo have previously made various VR experiences including You and AI, based on the Da Vinci Museum and the European Commission. Broken Pieces is a sci-fi adventure game which is set in 1990s coastal France. We join the protagonist, Elise, who has been alone for over 2 weeks in the abandoned town of Saint Exil. As we explore and solve various puzzles the pieces start coming together about what had happened. Supernatural entities appear and attack and are possibly connected to some scientific research being carried out. Elise deals...

27Oct

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Gotham Knights – PS5 Review

Gotham Knights is an open-world action RPG from developer Warner Bros. Games Montréal & publisher Warner Bros. Much like the Arkham series we see these caped crusaders fighting crime across Gotham while contending with supervillains, criminals and police alike. Based on DC's Batman: Gotham Knights comic series it is a fresh take on a Batman video game with characters we know and love or love to hate. There is some controversy around the game with Batgirl's in-game bio. In this Gotham, The Killing Joke is canon including Barbara Gordon being paralysed and becoming Oracle. The in-game bio states she overcame this with hard work which has offended the non-able-bodied community. The news that Gotham Knights wouldn't be released on PS4 and Xbox One will be upsetting for gamers who haven'...

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow – PC Review

28Sep

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow – PC Review

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a horror mystery game set in rural England during the 1800s. This point-and-click adventure tells an unsettling tale about the titular burial mound and the mystery of what lies within. The game comes from indie developer Cloak and Dagger Games (Sumatra: Fate of Yandi) and publisher Wadjet Eye Games (Primordia). Hob's Barrow is available now on PC, Mac & Linux. Unearth the mystery surrounding The Excavation of Hob's Barrow if you dare... I love a good horror story and one set in Victorian-era Northern England really called out to me. I'd love to hear what you think of Hob's Barrow so please feel free to comment below. Gameplay Hob's Barrow is a single-player story-rich experience telling the tale of upper-class antiquarian Thomasina Bateman and ...

22Sep

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

You Suck At Parking – PC Review

You Suck At Parking (YSAP) is a driving sim where the aim is to go from A to B and park. However, that is not as simple as it sounds with numerous obstacles along the way, just like real-life driving. Buckle up for a high-octane experience where P marks the (parking) spot. YSAP is developed and published by indie Belgian studio Happy Volcano (The Almost Gone). And it is available now on PC and Xbox series S/X. Prove your skills at the wheel in You Suck At Parking I was excited to play YSAP after seeing the spin on the racing genre and it didn't disappoint. Let us know what you thought in the comments below. Gameplay You Suck At Parking takes the simple concept of parking a car and turns it into the most frustratingly fun game I've played in a while. While it began simply to ease pl...

Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 – PC Early Access Preview

6Sep

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 – PC Early Access Preview

Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 is a simulation game of the beloved leisure activity/sport just as the title suggests. And it is the follow-up to 2018's Ultimate Fishing Simulator. I felt from the get-go it was a faithful version of fishing perhaps to a fault. I have only experienced fishing once in real life once when I was a kid with my poor uncle and as a minor part of video games. Using fishing as the sole gameplay activity hooked my attention from the start and the experience didn't disappoint. Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 comes from developer MasterCode (Fishing Adventure) and Publisher Ultimate Games (Ultimate Fishing Simulator). The game is available now in early access on Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Xbox S/X and Windows. Will Ultimate Fishing Simul...

21Jul

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Bright Memory: Infinite – PS5 Review

Bright Memory: Infinite is a sci-fi single-player FPS set in 2036 China where you investigate a singularity threatening the world. It was made by indie developer Zeng Xiancheng of FYQD Studio with their first major release and publisher Playism (DEEEER Simulator). Bright Memory was originally released in Steam early access in 2019 as an episodic game. After success on Steam, Xiancheng was inspired to re-release Bright Memory in full rather than in episodes. FYQD Studio has found success, both in Steam early access and being awarded the Unreal Dev Grant from Epic Games. I played the PS5 version of Bright Memory and it is also available now on Windows PC, Switch and Xbox series S&X. We wrote an article on the GameSpot Play For All 2021 gameplay trailer reveal which you read here. ...