Tag: Puzzle

Looking for that next puzzle game to stretch those brain muscles? Thumb Culture has news and reviews of the newest puzzling genre games.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy – PC Review
PC Reviews

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy – PC Review

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is the latest in the Trine series, the first being released in 2009 by developers Frozenbyte. The game was released on 31st August 2023 available on all platforms. We received an invite to see what makes the game tick so we jumped at the chance. Let's delve back into the Trine universe and see what's in store! Wakey, Wakey. Rise and Trine! When Trine was released in 2009 I remember it being a well-made side-scrolling action adventure. This game however had a unique feature - the ability to control all three characters consecutively. The ability to swap from agile thief to lumbersome but tough knight instantaneously had me excited at the time. Who else remembers the previous games from the Trine series? Leave a comment below with your memories of the games....
Tenebris Pictura – Xbox Review
Xbox Reviews

Tenebris Pictura – Xbox Review

The world is a weird and wonderful place, and Pentadimensional has taken a slice of the weird and wonderful and captured in Tenebris Pictura. What do I really know about the paranormal, the fifth dimension or out of body experiences? Well not a lot, well I say that there was this one time when me and this girl were..... I think I'll leave that there. So time to strap on my big boy pants and enter the world where all is not as it seems. I'm sure that the padded cell can wait for me a little longer. Tenebris Pictura - What even does it mean? Google Translate Anyone? The look of Tenebris Pictura has definitely got my excitement levels up. It has a certain Lovecraftian feel to it that I really like. Hopefully, the gameplay will live up to my expectations. I have just drawn a huge pentagram a...
Homeseek – PC Review
PC Reviews

Homeseek – PC Review

Released 20th July 2023, Homeseek is a post apocalyptic colony sim developed by Traptics and published by The Iterative Collection - with QA credited to iXie Gaming. Homeseek is a new venture for Traptics, whose previous games were both 2D. Being an avid fan of colony sims, I've been looking forward to getting my hands on this one. June 6th - 2101 "Born, bred, and educated in underground bunkers, we emerge to stake our claim on the sparsely inhabited surface. What awaits us is a wasteland ravaged by drought and scarred by ancient wars. It may not be as devoid of life as we had imagined, but that does not make it any less perilous; end even where the barren land meets sea, the undrinkable water only taunts us more." Story First up, let's talk story. Rather than an 'everything all at onc...
Sephonie – Xbox Review
Xbox Reviews

Sephonie – Xbox Review

  Sephonie is a 3D Puzzle-Platformer that was released on the PC on 12th April 2022. Developed, and originally published, by Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka, the two-person team behind Analgesic Productions. It has recently been ported/published by Ratalaika Games and released on consoles on July 21st 2023. Created by the developers of the Anodyne series, Sephonie is a self-described “Tony-Hawk-esque” 3D platformer. Puzzle elements combine to make a relaxed, if short, experience. The game leaves an impact on players who are willing to invest time into getting the most out of it. Sephonie - A free-running match-three made in heaven Analgesic Productions has a history of well-polished fun games with a quirky edge to them. The first Anodyne game was an honorable mention at the ...
Venba – PS5 Review
PlayStation Reviews

Venba – PS5 Review

As far as cooking games go, there's plenty in the market focused solely on re-creating the mechanics of cooking in a step-by-step sequence or on time and resource management challenges. Whilst Venba is at its core a cooking puzzle game, it also brings with it a robust and emotional narrative. This is the debut release from Canadian-based Visai Studios which aim to tell intimate stories through interesting mechanics. Join me below as we take a look at one of my most highly anticipated games of 2023. Venba -  Cooking Amma What's your favourite Indian dish? Sound off with your recipes in the comments! Gameplay The game begins in the 1980s, Venba and Paavalan have recently moved to Canada due to some tension back home in India regarding their relationship. Venba has been feeling unwell...
Tren – PS5 Review
PlayStation Reviews

Tren – PS5 Review

Uncharted 4 has a scene set in an attic that is filled with nostalgic treasures from Nathan Drake's past adventures. It's a brilliant stand out moment for me in that game. Tren is also set in an attic but the sense of nostalgia, for a kid who grew up in the 80's and 90's, is even more profound. Tren - What Dreams Are Made Of Having previously released Little Big Planet 1 & 2 on PS3, Tearaway on PSVita (long live the Vita) and Tearaway Unfolded on PS4, the talented team at Media Molecule brought their ambitious project Dreams to PS4 in 2020. The highly anticipated physics based puzzle game from the BeechCorp team at Media Molecule is finally here. Launched on Aug 1st to coincide with Dreams landing on PS Plus, Tren signals the end of the line for the Guilford studios work on Dreams...
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code – Switch Review
Switch Reviews

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code – Switch Review

Fancy solving a mystery? Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, out now on Nintendo Switch, is a dark fantasy detective action game from devs Spike ChunSoft. With a mixture of humour, drama and surrealism, are you ready to unravel this single-player 3D anime story? This is my truth! While I love a good mystery, I have never really played any recent anime games. I was intrigued to see what I had been missing all these years. With fresh, but older eyes, what would I make of Master Detective Archives: Rain Code? Gameplay Beginning with a cutscene, your character Yuma Kokohead races to board a train that is travelling to a city known as Kanai Ward. Making it just in time you discover that you have amnesia and do not remember exactly who you are or what you are doing. You meet a bunch of...
Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara – PC Review
PC Reviews

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara – PC Review

 Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is set to release July 27th this year. Developed under collaboration between Chibig, Talpa Games and Undercoders, Koa is advertised as a relaxing and wholesome 3D platform adventure game. Although not even out yet, Koa has already received the 'Best Platformer Game' award at the Indie Dev Day 2022. Needless to say, I'm excited to check this one out. Koa, a Cross Platform Platformer Koa is available on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox Series X, S and One... Making it one of the most versatile and accessible indie games I've played in a little while. Regardless of your hardware, you should have no issues downloading Koa and The Five Pirates of Mara! Story "Join Koa and her best friend Napopo on an action-packed adventure through the islands...
Lakeburg Legacies – PC Review
PC Reviews

Lakeburg Legacies – PC Review

Newton's Third Law states "For every action in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction". Imagine you're playing Jenga. Each block removed from the tower solves your current problem but adds a potential future issue. Now, imagine that each Jenga block has a thread linked to 2 or 3 other blocks. When one moves, the others are affected, and the effects cascade further and further. Oh, and the blocks are on fire. Welcome to Lakeburg Legacies! This juggling act of a Social Management sim is developed and published by French studio Ishtar Games, who have a strong background in the genre. Lakeburg Legacies - All's fair in love and resource management I first covered this game briefly in my 4 Games Still To Come In 2023 article last month which you can check out here. I'm hoping to br...
Frank And Drake – PS5 Review
PlayStation Reviews

Frank And Drake – PS5 Review

Indie games and developers are the lifeblood of the video games industry. The medium we know and love today is based on a foundation of the pioneering work of indie developers. Frank and Drake is one such indie title that is unique in the way it delivers its branching narrative adventure. Supernatural Mystery - Frank and Drake Having previously released the award winning game STAY, this is the team at Appnormals latest title. The cinematic interactive adventure is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. This review is spoiler free so no caution is needed as you read ahead. Gameplay Set in the fictional city - Oriole, players take on a quite unique dual role playing the 2 main characters alternately - Frank during the day and Drake at night. Building...