Jordan Rooker, Author at Thumb Culture

5Nov

By Jordan Rooker1 Comment

PC Reviews

Hunting Simulator 3 – PC Review

Hunting Simulator 3 is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. In this latest edition of the open-world hunting simulator series, developer Nacon Studio Ghent (Hunting Simulator 2) returns with the dog companion system and an array of brand-name equipment for your hunts. Between hunts, outfit your lodge with mounts and trophies to show off your achievements. Check out the realistic simulator on your platform of choice today! Patience... Lots of Patience... Coming from the bullet-hell chaos of Neon Abyss 2, Hunting Simulator 3 feels like a different planet entirely. It’s a sharp pivot from the "run 'n' gun" philosophy, trading instant gratification for a slow-burn experience that asks for your patience as much as your aim. How does it play out? Check out my thoughts in th...

30Oct

By Jordan Rooker1 Comment

PC Reviews

Neon Abyss 2 – PC Review

Neon Abyss 2 is a chaotic, 2D pixel action roguelite now available in full release. The action is faster, the stakes are higher, and the possibilities are endless in Veewo Games' follow-up to the original. With explosive run 'n' gun gameplay, diverse combat styles, and unlimited item synergies, Neon Abyss 2 delivers a dramatic, thrill-packed experience every time you enter. You can pick it up today on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, and Nintendo Switch. The Abyss is louder, faster, and much more crowded. I'll keep saying it time and time again. But I just can't escape roguelites! Not that I'm really complaining, especially when I get to spend time playing gems like Neon Abyss 2. I only have a slight bit of experience with the first game so was ready to check out what the latest has...

21Oct

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Sunken Realms – PC Review

Sunken Realms is a solo action roguelite by solo developer Magic Puncher Games. Descend into an ever-changing and procedurally re-arranging multi-floor dungeon. Loot and gather materials to upgrade your gear and stats to increase how far you can go. You can pick it up now, only on Steam for PC. Did you die? Again? Roguelites follow the simple formula of run, die, upgrade and repeat. It's interesting to see though how the styles and implementation differ. Sunken Realms looks to be something different that the usual bullet-hell, neck-break speed I tend to find myself playing. But slower doesn't always mean easier, as you'll find in my review below. Gameplay Sunken Realm is a solo player, third-person roguelite. As the protagonist Alric, descend into a multi-floor dungeon that re-orga...

14Oct

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Active Matter – PC Review

Active Matter is a hardcore, gravity-bending extraction FPS with horror elements. With development by Matter Team and publishing by Gaijin Network Ltd (War Thunder, Age of Water), you are sent via a body sleeve out to explore, investigate, and retrieve and extract with an element that is the game's namesake. In your fight to gather and extract, encounter anomalous and horrific beings, turned soldiers, and other players while running through areas that turn things sideways and upside down. Active Matter is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Why Won't Horrific Things just Die? Ok so I'll admit that I didn't quite read the fine print on this one. I had seen a little bit about Active Matter from the trailer and brief description. However I apparently didn't notice the part ...

Garfield – Escape from Monday – PC Review

8Oct

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Garfield – Escape from Monday – PC Review

Garfield - Escape from Monday is a new 3D platformer from devloper OSome Studio (The Smurfs 2 - The Prisoner of the Green Stone). This casual and family-friendly game with publishing by Microids (Garfield Kart - Furious Racing) takes you into Garfield's dreams to overcome challenges by Chef Monday. Jump and kick your way across each level as you collect food and lasagna to complete each level. The game is now available on PC, Switch 1 & 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Garfield gets Cardio for Life Super Mario Bros on the original NES was my first experience with a platformer game, as I'm sure it was for many. Over the years the models and formats may have changed slightly, but the overall mechanics are roughly the same. So how does a cat that spends so much of his time loafing...

1Oct

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Bunker Tidy Up – PC Review

Bunker Tidy Up is the latest organization simulator by Tovarishch Games (Liquor Store Simulator). With publishing by sim-centric PlayWay S.A., this game has you busy organizing the various supplies that have been simply dumped into a bunker. You can check it out on Steam now for PC. Enter Your Unknown OCD Organization Skills I don't play a lot of simulator games. Not that they don't interest me, they just usually take more time and attention than I want to spend on them. I took a look at Bunker Tidy Up mostly because it seemed simple and easy to play through. I missed the part about how many individual items there were to pick up and sort... Nevertheless, I persevered and my review can be found below! Gameplay Bunker Tidy Up is a simulator about picking up, sorting and stocking sup...

25Sep

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Sublight – PC Early Access Preview

Sublight is a roguelike bullet-hell set in space now in Early Access. In development by solo developer CODEBREW SOFTWARE LTD (Untapped), choose your freighter or fighter and pilot to take on swarms of attacking enemy ships. Build your arsenal as you level and pick up better weapons and upgrade items to survive to complete your mission and beyond. Sublight is only available on PC via Steam Power Over Speed at Sublight Maybe one day I'll stop reviewing roguelites. But that day is not today! Sublight is another that just hit early access and I had seen it pop up as a recommendation a few times. Seems simple enough, so let's check it out shall we? Gameplay Sublight is a space-faring simple roguelite. The player is given the option of ships ranging from light to heavy along with starter...

14Sep

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Graveyard Keeper 2 – PC Review

Graveyard Keeper 2 is a continuation of the witty sim game by Lazy Bear Games (Graveyard Keeper). With publishing by tinyBuild, escape from confinement to take up the role again while crafting, harvesting and building up services and sermons. It releases on September 22nd for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo. Keeping Up with Keeper Duties Though I don’t recall much of the first Graveyard Keeper, I do remember spending a fair amount of time streaming it back in the day. I also recall it being full of witty nonsense, management, and a fun time. Graveyard Keeper 2 is looking like a continuation on that great gaming so I figured it was worth a look. Let me tell you about it in the review below! Gameplay Graveyard Keeper 2 is a tongue-in-cheek graveyard and life management sim. It’s a...

26Aug

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Sandustry – PC Early Access Preview

Sandustry is an automation and building sandbox game now available in early access. In development by Lantto Games with publishing by Hooded Horse (Fogpiercer, Manor Lords), create increasingly complex factory systems to harvest sand and other materials for gold to advance your builds. You'll also uncover more about the ancient civilization on the planet as you dig deeper to discover mysteries buried below. It is currently only available via Steam for PC, Mac, and SteamOS/Linux. No House on a Rock Here, But Factory Below the Sand Building and automation games come in all shapes and sizes. For me, StarRupture, Satisfactory, Factorio and RimWorld come to mind. So what's this little pixel game Sandustry about? How can I take tiny pixels and make my own factory? Well let's take a look togeth...

Yet Another Zombie Survivors – PC Review

19Aug

By Jordan Rooker1 Comment

PC Reviews

Yet Another Zombie Survivors – PC Review

Yet Another Zombie Survivors is a bullet heaven survivors roguelike. With just over two years in early access, developer Awesome Games Studio (Fury Unleashed, I, Zombie) is rolling out the 1.0 red carpet. Choose your team leader and embark into various biomes, gaining squad members and power the longer you stay alive. You can pick it up on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation starting August 20th. Zombies... Always Zombies in Yet Another Zombie Survivors Of course its another roguelite. They've kind of just become my thing I guess. More than anything, the ease in which to pick up my Steam Deck for a short gaming session just leans toward this genre in particular. Yet Another Zombie Survivors is another that had come across my Steam store time and again. With a full release ahead, what better time t...