Rowen Cameron, Author at Thumb Culture

15Jan

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

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...

4Oct

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass October 2024 Games

While September was the month for strategy and sim fans, October 2024 has something for everyone! Game Pass has rolled out the first wave of announcements across various genres, some ready to download now. Cards, kung fu mastery or clandestine spy action: it’s all here. Here are the four new additions announced for October so far: Sifu Genre: Beat ‘Em Up Longevity: 8 - 20 hours | Achievements: 61 Metacritic: 81 | OpenCritic: Strong Available: 2nd October (All platforms) Released: 8th February 2022 https://youtu.be/jXxskvOYNU4?si=_ORorw9JpPk6jDRi Become a kung fu legend Jackie Chan would hesitate to spar with in Sifu, a journey of mastery and revenge. As the child of a murdered sifu (master), you will track down the culprit’s accomplices and their coteries, one battle at a t...

2Sep

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Game Pass September 2024 Games

We may be moving out of summer, but Game Pass September line up is set to be a scorcher with 5 new releases coming our way. Strategy and sim fans will be like a kid in a candy store with plenty of goodies to sink their teeth into. Star Trucker Genre: Simulation Release Date: 3rd September https://youtu.be/ue68N_CpVlM?si=W2rTG4RzSeyLTSAc Ever wanted to experience the trucker life but boldly go where no big rig has gone before? Now you can! Star Trucker puts you behind the wheel of your own rocket-powered truck as you transport cargo across the galaxies. You can pick up jobs hauling a variety of cargo, sometimes to hazardous places, to earn cash to upgrade your rig. But you’ll need to keep an eye on the fuel tank and the state of your components along the way. A neglected rig can le...

15Aug

By Rowen Cameron1 Comment

Xbox Reviews

Creatures of Ava – Xbox Review

My relationship with creature-collecting games is complicated. I occasionally enjoy them, but often find many aspects of them uninspired or frustrating. I left Pokemon behind in Gen 2. So when one comes along that subverts my expectations on several levels, it’s both wonderfully refreshing and a warm hug at the same time. Creatures of Ava by Inverge Studios and Chibig is that refreshing warm hug. A “creature-saver” rather than collector, you take control of Vic, a scientist tasked with saving the creatures of the planet Ava before it succumbs to an infection known as the Withering. With the help of a new friend, Vic stumbles upon an ancient staff, capable of cleansing the infection. What begins as a simple rescue and evacuation soon becomes a journey of empathy and understanding, for bo...