Puzzle

9Apr

By Parker FauxNo Comments

The House of Hikmah – PC Review

Have you ever played a video game inspired by the golden age of Arabic scientific and cultural development? Would you like to? The House of Hikmah is a 3D puzzle-platformer developed and published by Lunacy Studios, in their grand debut. Lunacy is an interesting studio: an independent, fully-remote, junior-built team dedicated to making diverse, narrative-heavy stories. Will Lunacy's ethically-sourced games nudge out a healthy space in a crowded market that can't even support Fortnite? Well, based on the experience I, a pasty white boy who is most certainly not part of the target audience, had with it, I believe they can. The House of Hikmah is a short, comfortable, well-crafted experience, like drinking a bowl of homemade soup. But what makes it so satisfying? The Key To Success ...

7Apr

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Beyond Words – PS5 Review

If you'd have asked me, "If the creators of GoldenEye and TimeSplitters collaborated, what game would they make?" my first thought would not have been Beyond Words. Two absolute childhood classic first-person shooters would have me thinking of a new splitscreen multiplayer title. Man, do we need more splitscreen multiplayer games... Nostalgia aside, Beyond Words looks like it could be one of those "Oh, just one more round" type of games! But is it? Developed by MindFuel Games, Beyond Words is an amalgamation of genres, including roguelike and word games. Is "word game" a genre? Either way, think Scrabble on steroids, and you're on the right track! Beyond Words is out now and is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S. How Would I Describe This Game? You ...

17Mar

By CharlieNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Tiny Garden – Switch Review

Tiny Garden, a cozy gardening game developed by Ao Norte and published by Super Rare Originals, has finally made its way onto the Switch on February 26th! This version includes all currently available DLCs, including the Summer Breeze Cosmetic Pack and the Supporter's Pack, adding a lot more customization to the game. I choose you! I've heard a ton of great things about Tiny Garden back when it released for PC, so I jumped at the opportunity to get my hands on the newly released Switch version! Most cozy games will eventually make their way to the Switch, but really, some ports are more "miss" than "hit". Do you have any games that you would love to see ported? Or maybe any ports that you were extremely disappointed by? Let me know in the comments! Gameplay Tiny Garden begins by ha...

3Feb

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

Rainbow Gate – PC Review

Time to play another mascot horror game. And this time it is called Rainbow Gate. This game was developed and published by 7EVIL Studio. I have not seen anything on this before so I'll be going in blind. It is up for wish listing on Steam right now, for anyone who is into mascot horrors. Horror has such a variety of colours. Gameplay We get a letter from a client who informs us that her brother has gone missing. And she believes that the police aren't looking harder enough, so she pleads for our help. The only information we have to go on is that the brother was last seen near an old toy factory. So we know how this will go. On arrival, the place is not much to look out, but quickly turns to reveal the evil that lurks. As we ended up being knocked out and now have a camcorder strap to...

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...

The Pharaoh’s Tomb: Online Escape Room Experience – PC Review

5Jan

By JasonNo Comments

PC Reviews

The Pharaoh’s Tomb: Online Escape Room Experience – PC Review

Wolf Escape Games has made a habit of dropping players into strange situations and calmly asking them to think their way out, and with The Pharaoh’s Tomb, the studio dives headfirst into ancient mystery. This is the fourth escape game in their catalogue, and having reviewed both Hallows Hill and Phantom's Hour it feels like a confident step forward rather than a simple repeat of past ideas. Swapping modern locations for dusty ruins and long-forgotten secrets, the game invites you to step into a cinematic puzzle adventure inspired by classic archaeological tales and golden-age detective fiction. Set in Cairo, 1901, you play as Sherlock and Watson, and the setup is immediately enticing. A priceless artefact has vanished, a lost heiress, clues point to Egypt, and an ancient tomb hides answ...

23Nov

By Kyle McGrathNo Comments

PC Reviews

UMAMI- PC Review

Christmas is creeping closer each day, and nothing beats wrapping up warm and relaxing with a new cosy game. For me, this comes with Mimmox's, newly released puzzle game called UMAMI. A game that will have solving 3D puzzled food served up by some adorable chefs. Make sure to play while eating something. UMAMI is out now on Steam for £11.99. Is this ne you've got on your Wishlist? Or is this brand new to you? Let us know in the comments, and tuck into this review. Gameplay UMAMI's gameplay is basically a jigsaw, but 3D. You pick up pieces that you are able to rotate. When finding the correct slot, the piece will become locked in. Which is great because I'd sometimes think the piece was in the correct spot only for it to pop off. Each level follows the theme of an adorable chef with...

11Nov

By PaulNo Comments

Switch Reviews

All Hands On Deck – Switch Review

Looking for your next couch co-op game to play with a friend or test the boundaries of your relationships? Enter All Hands On Deck, a cosy, co-operative puzzle-platformer, self-published and built primarily by a small Dutch development team, Studio Mantasaur. Released today, I'll be taking a look at the Nintendo Switch version. Lend Your Friend A Helping Hand In a Children's day care centre, plushie toys have gone missing from the toy box. It's up to two handy friends. Lefty and Righty, to track them down and retrieve them. As this is a strictly 2-player co-op title, my partner and I joined hands and forces on the sofa to mount a daring rescue. Gameplay Each player controls a hand character, capable of switching between Rock, Paper, or Scissors. You'll use these abilities to interact w...

25Oct

By MikeNo Comments

Gaming, PC Reviews

Strange Antiquities – PC Review

Strange Antiquities is the latest game from developer Bad Viking and published by Iceberg Interactive. It is their follow-up to the very successful Strange Horticulture, taking place in the same town/universe. And it is shaping up to be just as well-received. The game is a shopkeeper sim with a twist, much like its predecessor. You play as the nameless assistant thaumaturgist who is left in charge of the titular store as bizarre events occur. Set in town during an alternate version of Victorian Era England, where the supernatural is commonplace. Each day, you'll do your best to help the townsfolk as something evil stirs within Undermere, and hopefully, your knowledge will solve it in time. Strange Antiquities is available now on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. Alright, let's get to th...

23Sep

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Rita – PC Preview

If you too are mourning the loss of the NY Times mini crossword to the deplorable paywall, then maybe this will tickle your fancy. Rita by Sporktank is an upcoming, crossword solving adventure where you play as a small chick Rita and learn about your world. The demo launched earlier this month and I was lucky enough to snatch it away from everyone else at Thumb Culture! Okay so one down is... something you play? Does this cosy little adventure have a lot of promise? Or is it a failed wordsearch looking for a dictionary? Well, let me tell you everything I know about little Rita. You can try out the demo for yourself here! Gameplay The focus of Rita is the word games. You waddle around the map, collect letters and then solve puzzles that affect the world around you. Starting as a hat...