Tag: Strategy

Discover detailed reviews of top strategy games, including real-time tactics and turn-based challenges right here on Thumb Culture. Perfect for players who enjoy deep thinking, careful planning, and mastering complex gameplay mechanics.

Hotel Architect – PC Early Access Preview
Previews & Early Access

Hotel Architect – PC Early Access Preview

Step into the chaotic life of being a hotel owner in Hotel Architect! Developed by Pathos Interactive and published by Wired Production, this hotel construction and tycoon management game allows you to build your hotel from the ground up and to tackle the challenging demands of your guests. Get ready to check in for Early Access today on Steam! Is Breakfast Included? I've got high hopes for this one! The game is still “under construction” but already feels very nice and smooth to play. It's got quite a bit of content already, too! I'm excited to jump into the game, especially since my knowledge of hotels in general is very limited. All I really know is the fact that even looking at the mini-bar will most likely bankrupt you immediately. Do you have any fun hotel stories to tell? What ...
Spreadcheat – PC Review
PC Reviews

Spreadcheat – PC Review

Working for a big national company, I get stuck into my fair share of spreadsheets. And I'm not even mad about it. Because I, Stuart, Co-Editor In Chief of Thumb Culture, love a good spreadsheet. So when we were approached to cover this completely different game, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Spreadcheat by Games People Play and Rubarb is a puzzle game like no other. Although it's not releasing until the 5th May, so you'll need to add it your Steam Wishlist for now! Spread The Wealth This is not a long game and so this review is going to be a short. I'll tell you that straight away. But that doesn't mean this isn't the perfect formula for a fun little game. So sit back and let's head back in time to the 1990s. Gameplay Let's set the Spreadcheat scene. You're the new kid on c...
Maliki: Poison of the Past – PC Review
PC Reviews

Maliki: Poison of the Past – PC Review

Developed by Blue Banshee and published by Ankama Games, Maliki: Poison of the Past sets out to wrap turn-based battles, cosy farming, and anime wit into one delightful chibi-styled package. But does it deliver a timeless experience or leave you lost in the continuum? Let us jump into the Domaine and find out! Maliki: Poison of the Past – This game has the cure! Before we begin, if you're a sucker for beautiful blends of 3D chibi models and hand-drawn animated cutscenes, trust me, Maliki: Poison of the Past is an absolute feast for the eyes. The combination is simply lovely and oozes charm from every pixel! If you want to grab this game, you have until 6th May to take advantage of the Introductory discount on Steam. Gameplay You play as Sand, a time-hopping hero armed with a Chrono Pac...
Synergy – PC Review
PC Reviews

Synergy – PC Review

Step into a strange, unknown world. Synergy has now officially released in version 1.0 on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, following its initial early access launch in May of last year. Developed by Leikir Studio and published by Goblinz Publishing, this settlement management game, set in an unforgiving, alien environment, is a nice addition to the genre. Who Needs Sleep Anyways? Y'know the type of games where you wanna sit down in the evening and play for a little bit. After what totally felt like 20 minutes you look at the clock and it's 6a.m.? Yeah. This is one of those games. I've sank about 30 hours into Synergy so far and the biggest challenge in writing this review was that I actually had to stop playing in order to do so. To be fair, I'm not surprised. This somehow always...
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...
Two Point Museum – PC Review
PC Reviews

Two Point Museum – PC Review

Two Point Studios has dropped another corker! This time you get to run your very own museum, in the aptly titled, Two Point Museum. It takes the well loved formula from Hospital and Campus and turns the fun factor up to 11. Museums Rock! Released at the start of March on Steam, Two Point Museum has got an incredible following. But what exactly makes this game the high scorer that it is? Well before I give it my own reward, let's look at what makes this game tick. Gameplay Playing on the PC in my opinion is the best way to play this type of game. Being able to chill out in your chair and mostly just using your mouse to play through. Its relaxing, enjoyable, and yet in some instances a little bit stressful. Thankfully the latter doesn't turn up all that often. Two Point Museum allows ...
Augmented Empire – PC Preview
Previews & Early Access

Augmented Empire – PC Preview

Augmented Empire by Coatsink out on Steam April 16th throws us into the dystopian city of New Savannah, where class divisions are as sharp as a well-maintained katana, and the elite rule from above while the less fortunate scurry below. With a star-studded voice cast, including Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager, Orange is the New Black), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), and Garrick Hagon (Star Wars: A New Hope, Horizon Zero Dawn). But does it deliver? I was given a two-hour preview window to explore its world, command my ragtag squad, and get a feel for the game's turn-based combat. While I can't give a final verdict, there's much to unpack. Gameplay The story is where Augmented Empire shines, or at least flickers ominously, like a broken streetlamp in a bad part of town. ...
Door Kickers 2: Task Force North – PC Review
PC Reviews

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North – PC Review

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North, by devs KillHouse Games, is a top-down tactical strategy game that builds on its predecessor’s foundation and offers a truly immersive, tactical, and fast-paced experience. With games that require critical thinking, teamwork, and real-time decision-making, titles like XCOM and Rainbow Six Siege have captured players' imaginations worldwide. Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is another title that seeks to deepen the tactical experience, offering players the chance to take command of an elite counter-terrorism unit. Plan, Lock & Load! Gameplay Door Kickers 2 stands out for its approach to real-time strategy. Instead of the typical turn-based mechanics seen in similar games, it tasks players with controlling a team of counter-terrorism operatives a...
Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 – Switch Review
Switch Reviews

Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 – Switch Review

Publisher and Developer Hinyari9 is back with Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2! Out now on Nintendo Switch, this game is a sequel to Marfusha, and this time, the stakes are higher, the taxes are worse, and the violins are sublime.  Step into the boots of Snezhinka, a contract employee in a dystopian private military company, fending off waves of robotic foes in a desperate bid to survive, get paid (barely), and maybe, just maybe, find your missing sister. But is this high-tempo shooter a must-play, or does the grind drag it down like an over-taxed pay slip? Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 – 2 Girls 1 Mech Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, I want to hear from you! Are you excited for this one? Are you drawn in by the fast-paced shooting, the cyberpunk-inspired setting, or maybe just the idea...
Blood Bar Tycoon – PC Review
PC Reviews

Blood Bar Tycoon – PC Review

Popping up out of the darkness is Blood Bar Tycoon. A management game developed by Clever Trickster Studios. We’ll watch as we spruce up run-down buildings and turn them into well-established bars. All while making sure our earthly patrons don’t become wise to the real clientele. Blood Bar Tycoon is out now on Steam for £16.99, with a Supporter Pack for a further £3.39. The pack has gold cosmetics for you to use in-game. Care to have a drink... and a bite? Gameplay There isn’t really a story for Blood Bar Tycoon. We go through a tutorial with several vampires teaching us specific tasks. They show how to start and properly run a bar. For Vampires! We will serve humans most of the time, as they will serve as both paying customers and walking cattle. Through finishing small missions (t...