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.

Cairn – PS5 Preview
Previews & Early Access

Cairn – PS5 Preview

Climbing a mountain is one of those activities that seems exciting and life changing, but one that I will never actually do because of the risks, much in the same way as skydiving, spelunking, and weekend trips to IKEA. Cairn aims to deliver at least one of those experiences to you without the risk of flat pack divorce. Following Sony PlayStation's State of Play showcase on 4th June, a PS5 demo was released, and I wasted no time clambering into it. I'm amazed by The Game Bakers' apparent ability to turn their craft to vastly different genres of video game. From the ultra-fast twin-stick shooter Furi, to laid back adventure narrative Haven, and now a surprisingly deep mountain climbing/survival simulation. They've even tackled a drag-and-fling, top-down RPG about squids. Is there nothing...
Projected Dreams – PC Review
PC Reviews

Projected Dreams – PC Review

Projected Dreams, the debut title from small Swiss-based Flawberry Studios, is a heart-warming tale told through the medium of shadows. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and possibly go crazy solving an increasingly mind-bending collection of puzzles. You'll also not be able to buy it until 29th May. But that doesn't stop you adding it your Steam Wishlist! The Last Of The Shadow Puppets Can your shadow puppet skills carry Senka through the journey of life? Or will you end up all fingers and thumbs? Let’s dive in! Gameplay Projected Dreams is enchantingly simple. You're shown a mysterious, shadowy shape and asked to recreate it using a torch, a wall, and whatever other objects you can find. If you can get somewhere in the ballpark, then that is OK too. Succeed, and you will be awarded three...
Frog Legs – PC Review
PC Reviews

Frog Legs – PC Review

There's something delightful about games that lure you in with pixelated innocence before launching you face-first into the existential horrors of frog-based trauma. Frog Legs, developed and published by the wonderfully twisted mind of Elliott Dahle (yes, the same person behind The Man in the Park), does exactly that. What starts like a cute 8-bit Frogger-esque jaunt quickly devolves into a surreal, dimension-hopping horror comedy with no business being this entertaining. Frog Legs – From Hops to Shots in 40 Minutes Flat It's refreshing to see indie titles like Frog Legs blend dimensions, tones and gameplay styles while telling a funny and disturbing little story. We need more bold, bonkers games like this in the world. Do you have a favourite indie horror that deserves the spotlight? Dr...
American Arcadia – PS5 Review
PlayStation Reviews

American Arcadia – PS5 Review

American Arcadia marks the latest release from Out of the Blue Games, the studio behind Call of the Sea (you can check out our review of that here). After launching on PC in 2023, the game has now made its way to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Xbox One courtesy of publisher Raw Fury. This review focuses on the PlayStation 5 version. So, the big question: have Out of the Blue Games delivered another smash hit, or should it have come with a warning? It Can't be Tru(man) Set in a retro-futuristic 1970s metropolis, American Arcadia drops you into the brown leather shoes of Trevor Hills — a painfully average office worker voiced by the ever-talented Yuri Lowenthal (you’ll know him from Marvel's Spider-Man). Trevor soon realises his entire life has played out as part of ...
BOKURA: planet – PC Review
PC Reviews

BOKURA: planet – PC Review

When a game comes along with a vision so bold that a certain amount of hoop jumping is required, you sit up and take notice. And so it is with BOKURA: planet, a unique 2-player co-op, puzzle adventure that has you working with and, at times, against your real-life cohort as you try to escape a mysterious, unknown planet. Xenomorphing Power Rangers BOKURA: planet is the latest game from solo Japanese developer Tokoronyori. Over the years, they have gained a reputation for crafting unique, pixel-art experiences that often break the 4th wall in novel and unexpected ways. Their debut title, farewell planet, had you carrying out the final wishes of machines that thought they were human. In BOKURA: planet’s previous instalment, BOKURA, you took on the role of two boys, one of whom sees the wor...
Once Upon A Puppet Released On PC And Console
News & Updates

Once Upon A Puppet Released On PC And Console

The brand new puzzle-platformer Once Upon a Puppet invites you to enter a whimsical, hand-crafted world. Developed by Flatter Than Earth and published by Daedalic Entertainment, this game invites you to step into a magical theatrical realm full of danger, discovery, and unexpected transformations. It combines inventive thread-based mechanics, dual-character puzzles, and a rich, hand-animated world. Get ready to experience a heartfelt and eerie journey through a long-forgotten puppet kingdom. It's available now on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam Deck. A Switch version is set to release in early June of this year too! Who Is Really Pulling The Strings? Once Upon a Puppet's story follows Nieve, the exiled Stagehand, and Drev, the Puppet bound to her by fate. As they embark ...
Blue Prince – PC Review
PC Reviews

Blue Prince – PC Review

Blue Prince is an adventure, puzzle, strategy game developed by Dogubomb and published by Raw Fury. You can grab your copy from Steam for £25. There was a lot of advertising for this game before it's release, but what caught my attention was the puzzles. Puzzles alone weren't the only things that interested me however, but the fact the game reminded me of the board game, Betrayal at House on the Hill. And if you like that board game, then play this game but don't worry about any supernatural things… maybe. Room for everyone Much like within Betrayal at House on the Hill in Blue Prince which rooms appear will make or break the run. And boy did my runs get broken because of RNGesus not being on my side! The other thing that kept me playing was the mystery behind someone's disappearance. Bu...
Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy [Remake] – PC Review
PC Reviews

Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy [Remake] – PC Review

Return to Latin America once again in the Remake of Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy. I didn’t play the game when it originally released back in 1999, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Microids has for me. Anyone who has played it before can look forward to some major visual/graphical improvements. Rediscovering An Enjoyable Adventure Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy will be out on Steam April 24th for £34.90, with the Digital Deluxe costing £43.99. This will net you a media book, some artwork, and, most interesting, a couple of animated short stories. If that sounds good to you, then click here. Gameplay Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy is a point & click-style game with the player looking around the environment solving puzzles. We play as a no-named journalist, who is invi...
Pilo and the Holobook – PC Review
PC Reviews

Pilo and the Holobook – PC Review

There’s something truly magical about diving into a new world. Pilo and the Holobook, out now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, invites you to do just that. Developed by Mudita Games and published by RedDeer Games, this exploration-based adventure swaps swords for stickers and combat for curiosity. Set across a mesmerising, hand-painted galaxy, the game follows Pilo, an apprentice explorer armed with nothing, but a Holobook and a big heart, as they document the wonders of the universe and tackle a creeping corruption known as the Tar. What unfolds is a peaceful, creative journey that encourages discovery, observation, and empathy—perfect for players who want a break from endless battles and high-octane mayhem. This book is worth putting stickers in I was excited to play this becau...
DETECTIVE – The Test PS5 Review
PlayStation Reviews

DETECTIVE – The Test PS5 Review

Time to put those little grey cells to work in another murder deduction mystery from solo developer K148 Game Studio. This time, the investigation shifts from a motel to three new locations in DETECTIVE – The Test, launching on April 7, 2025. Investigating the Gameplay The premise is simple, explore a location, find clues, and solve the crime. The first is a suburban house with missing keys, false rocks, and puzzle boxes your obstacles to success. A trailer park love triangle and an undercover police operation gone wrong at a coffee shop are your other cases. You don't get an introductory cutscene for each case, you get a screen advising you to use pen and paper to write down clues throughout the investigation. Each location has a small area with papers to find and puzzles to solve. ...