Rowen Cameron, Author at Thumb Culture

27Feb

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Game Pass Games February 2025 – Wave 2

Fittingly keeping it short for the shortest month of the year, only three titles join Game Pass in February. As one Warhammer leaves, another steps in, a second EA Sports title joins the fray and dystopian London is yours to explore. Will you be checking these out as February comes to a close? Let us know in the comments! Here is the trio of games in the Game Pass February second wave: EA Sports F1 24 Genre: Sports Longevity: 6 - 60 hours | Achievements: 50 Metacritic: 72 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: Now (Cloud, console & PC) Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Released: 28th May 2024 https://youtu.be/NnyCWsA6KSI?si=2pKTwDNicefTtMWF Feel the high-octane thrill of the track like never before in F1 24. Experience the trials of a real race weekend, from practice rou...

12Feb

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass Games – February 2025

While only a few additions have been confirmed for February on Game Pass, there are still some things to love. Not only does a popular pixel art strategy game make a comeback, but a long-awaited Obsidian RPG finally gets its release. Check out February’s first wave below: Far Cry New Dawn Genre: First-Person Shooter Longevity: 11 - 29 hours | Achievements: 50 Metacritic: 71 | OpenCritic: Fair Available: Now (Cloud, console and PC) Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard, PC Game Pass Released: 14th February 2019 https://youtu.be/6eLHk2Eug78?si=6MIS8SnWogXpP5Iy Step into the standalone sequel to Far Cry 5 and return to the fictional post-apocalyptic Hope County, Montana. Now populated with colourful flora and mutated animals, it's a volatile new world. As the unnamed “Se...

3Feb

By Rowen Cameron1 Comment

PC Reviews

Rift of the NecroDancer – PC Review

9 years after their critically acclaimed beat-busting dungeon delver, Brace Yourself Games teams up with Tic Toc Games and returns with a sequel that puts a new spin on a familiar mechanic, NecroDancer style. And here I am, an avid fan. Let’s rock! Rift of the NecroDancer fully leans into the rhythm genre and transports Cadence and co to a strange new world: ours. After dispatching a strange purple slime, crypt explorer Cadence is sucked into a strange rift which drops her into the present day. She soon discovers she’s not the only one mysteriously jettisoned and now working a day job, not to mention more strange rifts opening and turning regular folk into monsters from the Crypt. Using teamwork and sick guitar skills, Cadence and her friends must get to the bottom of this otherworldly phe...

15Jan

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass Games – January 2025

However you’ve been kicking off 2025, January Game Pass has a bunch of exciting titles to ensure a great virtual start to the year. With three day-one releases, two returning games, and a legendary action-RPG—to name a few!—we’ll be spoiled for choice! Carrion Genre: Horror Longevity: 4.5 - 6 hours | Achievements: 21 Metacritic: 75 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: Now (Console, PC and Cloud) Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard Released: 23rd January 2020 https://youtu.be/Ozknd5FBFE4?si=pzcXXq1mXg8C00BU The pixel art “reverse-horror” makes a return to Game Pass to kick the year off with a bang. Carrion lets you become the monster as you try to escape confinement and take revenge on the scientists that imprisoned you. Uncover ability capsules to learn new ...

11Dec

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass Games December 2024

December is here and we’re all well into the festive season. Whether you’re planning to party it up or snuggle up cosy, Game Pass has plenty of holiday cheer to go around with a packed first wave of games for December. Here are the seven (yes, SEVEN!) titles available in December so far: Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled Genre: Racing Longevity: 5 - 35 hours | Achievements: 47 Metacritic: 83 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: Now (on Console) Tiers: Ultimate, Standard, Core Released: 21st June 2019 https://youtu.be/WgwA1gYDb5Q?si=RtxjEweGyXL8lNbW The beloved bandicoot kart racer returns and is more juiced up than ever! Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled brings back the tracks from the PS1 classic and all other Crash racing titles. Zoom across chemical labs, ancient Aztec pyramids and ...

29Nov

By Rowen Cameron1 Comment

PC Reviews

Petit Island – PC Review

What better way to keep the chill of winter at bay than to set off on a cosy tropical adventure? Xelo Games, the Bali-based studio behind Escape from Naraka, goes from brutal action platforming to adorable relaxing exploration with the long-awaited Petit Island. Making and Reawakening Memories Protagonist Lily has grown up on her beloved Grandpaw’s stories of his adventurous youth on Petit Island. But his memories are beginning to fade and his stories are being lost, save for the bits and pieces of his old journal. With this journal as her guide, Lily sets out to Petit Island to recapture her Grandpaw’s lost memories and make a few of her own. Gameplay As soon as she leaves the airport, Lily’s adventure begins. While her poster image depicts her as a calico, you can customise her ...

27Nov

By Rowen Cameron1 Comment

Features

Game Pass Games November 2024 – Wave 2

As the November chill signals “Winter is coming!” (cue the Game of Thrones theme), the second wave of Game Pass titles gives us plenty of excuses for a warm night in with a good game. Grab your comfies and prep your download queues - here are the four new additions to November’s Game Pass line-up: Spyro: Reignited Trilogy Genre: Platformer Longevity: 17 - 34 hours | Achievements: 105 Metacritic: 82 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: Now (all platforms) Tiers: All Released: 13th November 2018 https://youtu.be/3j9o1OptMS8?si=UIwR5eoDEmvlwSyJ The purple powerhouse of the PlayStation finally glides onto Game Pass! Experience Spyro’s first three PS1 adventures remastered in full HD and brought to life like never before. Jump, charge and flame your way through unique vibrant worlds fil...

12Nov

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass Games November 2024

We may all partied out from Halloween, but November has plenty to keep us busy over on Game Pass. Get your sim and tactician heads on for the first wave of titles heading your way this month! Metal Slug Tactics Genre: Strategy/Tactical RPG Longevity: 5 - 11 hours | Achievements: 48 Metacritic: 78 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: Now (on all platforms) Tiers: Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass Released: 5th November 2024 https://youtu.be/1FvGxFI8feo?si=5EQrI5I0ptGqaI7Y A run-and-gun classic turns its hand to isometric tactics. A spin-off of the Metal Slug series, Metal Slug Tactics focuses on strategy rather than going in guns blazing. Choose from iconic series veterans and assemble a team to take down the army of the re-emerging General Morden. Mix things up with different weapo...

Steam Next Fest October 2024 – Puzzles, Police Work & Pulsing Beats

1Nov

By Rowen Cameron2 Comments

Features

Steam Next Fest October 2024 – Puzzles, Police Work & Pulsing Beats

Just like that, another Steam Next Fest is done and dusted. Were there oodles of demos? Yes. Did I play through an ungodly amount of them? Also yes. Is my Wishlist now the length of A Song of Ice and Fire? Three for three, you got me. The number of demos on offer can be a double-edged sword; I’m still getting through the last few! But what was exhibited gave gamers plenty to be excited about for the end of the year and the beginning of 2025. So, without further ado, here are five standout demos from Steam Next Fest October 2024 aka the last Next Fest of 2024: Kill The Shadow Developer: Shadow Light Sanctuary Publisher: 663 Games Genre: Adventure/RPG/Puzzle Planned Release Date: 2024 Platforms: PC A game that blends detective work, a complex story and the supernatural and throw...

22Oct

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass Games October 2024 – Wave 2

Spooky month is now in full swing and the second wave of Game Pass additions comes with it. Don your capes and fire up your mechs as three titles are available to download now! South Park: The Fractured But Whole Genre: RPG Longevity: 18 - 28 hours | Achievements: 35 Metacritic: 79 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: Now (All platforms) Tiers: All Released: 17th October 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG9vFCCkRO4&pp=ygUqc291dGggcGFyayB0aGUgZnJhY3R1cmVkIGJ1dCB3aG9sZSB0cmFpbGVy Screw you guys, I’m going home… and playing this! The stellar sequel to The Stick of Truth makes a superhero landing on Game Pass. Step back into the shoes of the new kid as they join South Park's finest crime-fighters. Which is totally sweet, you guys. Team up with The Coon, Mysterion, Human Kite an...