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.

Before We Leave Review
PC Reviews

Before We Leave Review

Before We Leave, a non-violent city building/4X strategy game developed by Balancing Monkey Games and published by the folks at Team17, this a great take on the modern-day city builder games. Prepare to be soaked in by just how engaging this game can be, and it is out now on Steam! BEFORE WE LEAVE - DON’T FORGET ME, PEEPS! I am a fan of a good city builder game, exceptionally engaging, chilled builders, where you can just get lost in the game and create something unique. Before We Leave one that looked interesting with its hexagonal spaces for creating and just its overall look, read on to find out how I get on. Gameplay You will find yourself in awe when you see your first planet devouring space whale. However, the game, in its entirety, is non-violent. You are managing a colony o...
Hood: Outlaws & Legends Review
PlayStation Reviews

Hood: Outlaws & Legends Review

Have you ever wanted to feel the rush of being Robin Hood and taking on the Sheriff of Nottingham?  Well, wonder no more as you can in freshly released Hood: Outlaws & Legends!  Developed by Sumo Newcastle and published by Focus Home Interactive, the game is available across Playstation, Xbox and PC complete with next-gen versions and cross-play.  For the purpose of this review I have played on the PS5. Hood: Outlaws & Legends - A Medieval Bloodbath So who wants to join my band of merry men and take on the state? It's time to steal from the rich and give to the poor! Gameplay Hood: Outlaws & Legends is an online 4 player co-op game that also features both PvP and PvE warfare.  Each match is known as a "Heist" and it begins with your team and an enemy team attempting to ...
First Class Trouble Preview – Personoids Are Among Us
PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

First Class Trouble Preview – Personoids Are Among Us

First Class Trouble is the latest title to come from developers Invisible Walls and publishers Versus Evil. First Class Trouble is currently in early access. It is available on Steam for £8.79 or if you are across the pond $14.99 (USD). I thought the connection was real - Then they turned out to be a Personoid! Having never played a title from the murder mystery style genre before I was quite excited to get involved in First Class Trouble. I am interested to see actually how deceiving I can be amongst friends, whilst stuck in outer space! Gameplay Let us first of all set the scene, you are aboard the ISS Alithea, A luxury spacecraft that is under attack. Believe it or not, the ISS Alithea is its own worst enemy. The onboard AI system of the ship aka CAIN (Central Automated Intelligence...
Cartel Tycoon Review – Every Day I’m Smugglin’
PC Reviews

Cartel Tycoon Review – Every Day I’m Smugglin’

There seems to be a tycoon game for everything nowadays from managing lemonade stands to zoos, however, there seemed something appealing to me about business sim Cartel Tycoon by devs Moon Moose.  Published by TinyBuild and currently in early access, perhaps it's the intrigue behind the cartels in Breaking Bad or even taking down the Santa Blanca in Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Cartel Tycoon, the best illegal fun you can have legally? Time to put on my fake moustache, don my "El Chapo" hat and build my empire!  If you have taken on the might of Cartel Tycoon, leave us your thoughts in the comments! Gameplay Set in 80s Latin America, Cartel Tycoon is centred around the era when cocaine became a money-making commodity in the US.  With each cartel came a huge number of industries to launde...
XCOM: Chimera Squad Review – Turn-Based Alien Splatterings!
PC Reviews

XCOM: Chimera Squad Review – Turn-Based Alien Splatterings!

XCOM: Chimera Squad by devs Firaxis Games has been out since April 2020 and is part of this month's Humble Bundle deal!  If you are a lover of turn-based tactical strategy games as well as get a kick out of beating up some alien enemies then this game is certainly a must-have for you! XCOM: Chimera Squad - Close Quarter Battling For The Win! I know I'm late to the party with getting to play this game however I cannot wait to see how this compares to the other games in the franchise as I am a huge fan!  Let me know your thoughts on this game in the comments section below! Gameplay For those of you that have never played an XCOM game, you do not really need any prior knowledge of the previous iterations as one thing Firaxis are good at is spoon-feeding you the basics via the opening ...
Fights In Tight Spaces Early Access – Can I Squeeze Through?
PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Fights In Tight Spaces Early Access – Can I Squeeze Through?

Fights In Tight Spaces, the minimalistic deck and turn-based action strategy developed by Ground Shatter and published by Mode 7 is now available in Early Access. Ground Shatter are known for their previous titles Nico and Sky Scrappers, whilst Mode 7 are known for publishing some amazing indie titles.  Fights In Tight Spaces is available for PC and Xbox. Fights In Tight Spaces - Minimal Game With Maximal Range Titles like Fights In Tight Spaces have to offer great gameplay to fit with the minimalistic graphics. I am interested to find out whether or not the developers managed to do this. If you enjoy this article, head over to the Thumb Culture site where you can access more great content. Gameplay As described, Fights In Tights Spaces is a minimalist turn-based game. Whereby, you use...
Trashed Early Access Preview – It Has Potential!
PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Trashed Early Access Preview – It Has Potential!

Trashed (also known as Wasted Worlds, so I've seen) is an action-adventure game that is currently in Steam Early Access. It is brought to us by developer Josh Presseisen (Metagroove) and publishers Crescent Moon Games (The Deer God, Metagroove). This game is in the very early stages of early access (pre-alpha v0.14 as of writing this), so please bear with me whilst I explain the pros and cons of this game at its current stage of development. Trashed Early Access Preview - It Has Potential! So how does Trashed play so far? Will it belong in a pile of garbage or can it be recycled to give it some shine? Continue reading to find out. You can read my previous article here. Gameplay Okay so please bear with me on this one, this game is currently in a super early version so bugs are to be ex...
Derelict Void Review – Space Management
PC Reviews

Derelict Void Review – Space Management

Game developers Stirling Games, made up of a small team of volunteers bring us their latest title, Derelict Void. A space colony strategy title that will push you to your limits. Derelict Void is an exclusive Steam title and released today! (18th March 2021). Derelict Void - Keep Your Eyes On The Supplies Since the 90's we have seen many great strategy titles, the first I played was Populous. However, it was titles like Age Of Empires and KKND Krossfire that really triggered my love for strategy games. Having seen the Kickstarter for Derelict Void a while back I was excited to see Stirling Games was bringing to the table. Gameplay Upon loading Derelict Void you are greeted with what I can only describe as a menu that looks like it was developed in the late 90s. This by no means is a ba...
Top 10 Best Strategy Games Of The 90s
Features, Retrogaming Corner

Top 10 Best Strategy Games Of The 90s

During the 90s video games just kept getting better. It didn't matter what genre it was and with the explosion of the internet in the mid-90s. Online gaming became a phenomenon. But through all the racing games and action shoot-em-ups. There lied the genre of strategy games or RTS if you like that was slowly making its way to the front line. So let's take this nostalgic trip back to the 90s. So put that Marathon bar down. Pause the VCR and get cracking with what is in my opinion The 10 Best Strategy Games of The 90s. If you enjoy this then check out my latest post here and why not check out the rest of the Thumb Culture team on social media. 10. Civilization II Released in 1996 for PC and later ported to the Playstation in 1999. Civilization II has made many lists and it rightly d...
Gears Tactics Review – The Gift Of The Gabe
Xbox Reviews

Gears Tactics Review – The Gift Of The Gabe

Gears Tactics is a turn-based strategy game set in the Gears of War universe. It first launched on PC in early 2020, but was a launch title for the Xbox Series X. It's not often a game franchise gets a spin-off in a completely different genre. This isn't Microsoft's first rodeo though. Of course Halo Wars was a famous real-time strategy that span out of the first person Halo universe. Whilst Gears Tactics was a surprise announcement it's also one that really made sense for the series. As a tactics game the mechanics don't particularly offer anything wildly revolutionary, but they work well. Using the Gears cover system allows cover and scenery to play well. Not to mention each character is equipped with skills and weapons from the main games. These pair nicely with the tactical feel of ...