Latest Reviews of Thunderful Games
Review SteamWorld Heist II (Switch) - A More Ambitious Caper That Rewards Patience And Planning
Steamy and challenging seas
When we played the original SteamWorld Heist, to anyone who’d listen (and to plenty of people who wouldn’t) we described Heist as the quintessential underrated indie gem. We thought everyone should play it. We were blown away by how skillfully Thunderful Games had taken everything satisfying about X-COM-style...
Review Planet Of Lana (Switch) - A Gentle Puzzle-Platformer With Sparkling Presentation
Out of this world
The cinematic platformer: although some great examples have emerged over the decades, the genre perhaps under-celebrated, with its fans especially under-served for a long stretch in the 2000s. It has nonetheless provided some truly legendary games: Prince of Persia, Another World, Flashback, and Inside. Planet of Lana gathers...
Review SteamWorld Build (Switch) - A Brilliantly Realised Melding Of Sim Genres
Choo-choo choose me
We live in a blinking lovely time right now. Gone is the notion that genres like real-time strategy (RTS) and management sims can’t be controlled with a standard controller, and we have the likes of Two Point Campus and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition on Switch to prove it. Joining that field is SteamWorld Build, the...
Review Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine (Switch) - A Bit Of A Grind
Punishin' Puyo-like puzzlin'
Super Meat Boy changed the game when it released in 2010, as one of the first ‘big’ indie hits of the decade and one of the creators of a subgenre of hard platformers. One would think that such a legendary release would spawn a broader franchise, yet it never got a proper sequel, and Meat Boy only recently received...
Review Paper Cut Mansion (Switch) - Great Visuals Mask Paper-Thin Roguelite Gameplay
Doesn't stack up
Toby, it seems, is having a very bad day. He’s found himself stuck in a mansion, investigating the strange happenings within it and why he seems to be trapped in it. Paper Cut Mansion is all about uncovering the truth behind the unusual surroundings and surviving long enough to make it to the next floor. There is an attempt to...
Review Wavetale (Switch) – Wind Waker Meets Platforming For A Cruisy But Bumpy Ride
Water water everywhere
Ah, water. Calming, tranquil, fun. You’d struggle to find a game that doesn’t have some body of water in it. But Wavetale dives into the deep end. This adventure title from Thunderful sees players exploring by walking, running, and gliding on water. Initially released for Stadia, it has now spread to PC and consoles. For...
Mini Review Swordship (Switch) - A Challenging, High-Speed, 'Dodge 'Em Up' With Style
Burning The Tide
Swordship looks like something from the world of Wipeout, except here the race is for your life. With buttery cel-shaded graphics and a cool ambient techno soundtrack, it's stylistically polished. The frame rate maintains a perfect 60 FPS, with its industrial periphery altering between cities and the colour of the seas moving...
Review LEGO Bricktales (Switch) - A Refreshingly Creative Yet Awkward Build
Everything could be awesome
Though the late '90s and early '00s saw a variety of Lego video games released across all genres, the launch of LEGO Star Wars kicked off a 30+ game run of co-op action platformers based around myriad popular IP that’s still going strong today. It’s a formula that’s worked well and evolved somewhat over the years,...
Review Cursed To Golf (Switch) - A Spooky Roguelike That's More Than Up To Par
"You're not being the ball, Danny"
Halloween might still be a couple months away, but Chuhai Labs has seen fit to kick off the spooky season early with its latest release, Cursed to Golf. Starring a person who basically escapes from hell using nothing but their god-tier golf skills, it’s certainly a memorable adventure and we’re happy to say...
Review Lonely Mountains: Downhill (Switch) - A Freewheeling Downhill Delight
King of the hill
Lonely Mountains: Downhill might sound like the name of a lost chapter from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, but it's even more magical than that. It's... a mountain biking game. Now, you might not think that sounds particularly magical, and we'd be tempted to agree with you. Except that we've played Lonely Mountains: Downhill rather a...
Latest Thunderful Articles
News Thunderful Announces Its Second Restructuring Program In One Year
Up to 100 redundancies expected
Publisher Thunderful has confirmed that it is launching another restructuring program aimed at reducing its workforce by up to 100 employees. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Thunderful is looking to “increase its focus on t
News SteamWorld Heist II Has Received A New Update, Here's What's Included
New features, fixes and improvements
Since arriving on the Switch and other platforms in August, the turn-based action title SteamWorld Heist II has received ongoing support from the development team, and the latest update (Version 1.5) is now live. "The headliner" according to the team, is that you can now "buy back rare items" you've sold from...
News 'Lost In Random: The Eternal Die' Revealed As A Roguelite Action Game
Launching 2025
Publisher Thunderful has revealed Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, a roguelite action game that serves as a sequel to the well-regard action-adventure title, Lost in Random. Currently slated to release in 2025, it sees you take on the role of Aleksandra, formerly the Queen of Random, as she traverses a randomly-generated gauntlet in...
Hands On SteamWorld Heist II Expands On A Beloved 3DS Title, But Is It What Fans Really Want?
Sail and strategise
Is there any genre SteamWorld is afraid to tackle? Starting life as an RTS in SteamWorld Tower Defense, Image & Form’s long-running anthology series has been to space, the Wild West and it’s even taken on the form of a fairy tale. And while Dig, the Metroidvania-style series, is arguably the most popular, many have a soft...
News New Steamworld Heist II Gameplay Trailer Is Packed With Missions And Mystery
Sets sail this August
After making a surprise appearance at February's Indie World showcase, we have had a steady stream of SteamWorld Heist II news as we sail towards the sequel's 8th August release date. Today there's a new extended gameplay trailer on the block, giving us our closest look yet at what to expect from the maritime world of machines...
News SteamWorld Heist Is Getting A Surprise Sequel On Switch This Summer
Give it some Leeway
SteamWorld returns to turn-based tactics with SteamWorld Heist II, which is coming to Nintendo Switch on 8th August 2024. The surprise reveal during today's Indie World showcase closed the presentation, and gave us a glimpse at this sequel to the 2015 3DS title. Ricochet shots are back, but SteamWorld Heist II is expanding its...
News Thunderful Sells Publisher Headup For €500k After Acquiring The Studio For 11 Million
Something's not adding up here
Thunderful Group is once again back in the news today as it has been reported that the studio is selling Pumpkin Jack publisher Headup at a fraction of what it was bought for back in 2021. Word of this sale comes to us from Gamesindustry.biz which reports that Thunderful has sold the publisher for €500,000 — quite...
News Thunderful Extends Its Distribution Agreement With Nintendo
"We’re exceedingly proud of this long-lasting partnership"
Publisher Thunderful has announced that it has extended its distribution agreement with Nintendo to publish the firm's products in the Nordics and the Baltics between Bergsala AB and Nintendo of Europe AG. Confirmed via an official statement (thanks, Go Nintendo), Thunderful states that...
News Planet Of Lana Brings Off-Earth Odyssey To Switch Next Month
With a rousing soundtrack from Takeshi Furukawa
During Nintendo's Indie World Showcase last November, publisher Thunderful and indie developer Wishfully announced they would be bringing the cinematic puzzle adventure Planet of Lana to the Nintendo Switch this Spring. In an update this week, it's now been confirmed the title will be released for...
News New SteamWorld Game Sales Fell "Slightly Short" Of Thunderful's Expectations
It's also putting one SteamWorld project "on hold"
The December release SteamWorld Build has not met Thunderful's sales expectations according to its latest fiscal report. Thunderful CEO Martin Walfisz explained how despite "new momentum" the game had fallen "slightly short" of expectations. He further noted how the genre didn't really appeal to...
News Thunderful Announces Restructuring That Will Affect Around 20% Of Workforce
Over-investments are to blame
Thunderful Group has announced a restructuring program that aims to decrease costs and focus more on areas with the best growth and profitability prospects. As reported by GamesIndustry, the restructuring is ultimately expected to affect around 20% of Thunderful's current workforce, with the group hoping to see the...
News 'Worldless' Mixes Metroidvania Exploration And Innovative Combat On Switch Next Month
Turn-based-meets-real-time
Publisher Thunderful has today given us a closer look at the innovative combat system behind the upcoming metroidvania Worldless and we must say, we are rather intrigued. Developed by Noname and set to release on Switch on 21st November, Worldless is a 2D adventure platformer with some immediately eye-catching visuals and...
News Broken Sword-Inspired Adventure 'Crowns And Pawns' Hits Switch This Month
Mysteries abound
Publisher Thunderful and developer Tag of Joy have announced that the point-and-click adventure game Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit will launch on the Nintendo Switch on September 28th, 2023. Boasting some remarkable behind-the-scenes talent - including the Art Director from Broken Sword 2.5 and voice actors from Monkey...
News Steamworld Build Plasters Up A December Release Date On Switch
Just in time for Crimbo
Publisher Thunderful and developer The Station have announced that SteamWorld Build will be making its way to the Nintendo Switch on December 1st, 2023. Developed simultaneously for PC and console, the game will arrive on switch with "no compromise" considering the genre is more typically geared toward PC players. The dev...
News SteamWorld Series Creator Admits 3DS eShop Closure Is A Little Bit "Upsetting"
A DSiWare classic is gone
It seems Nintendo's closure of the 3DS eShop has been just as upsetting for game developers and publishers. Speaking to 'Kit & Krysta' recently, SteamWorld series creator and Thunderful Group co-founder Brjann Sigurgeirsson admitted it was sad seeing 3DS owners lose access to the 2010 DSiWare origin title SteamWorld:...
News LEGO Bricktales Free Easter Update Hops Onto Switch Today
Update: Crack open the update now
Update [Tue 21st Mar, 2023 16:30 GMT]: Thunderful Games has given us an early Easter surprise in LEGO Bricktales as the free Easter update is available to download now on Switch and all other consoles. Bringing a new story and plenty of new features (which you can check out in our original story below), this gives...
News Thunderful Games' 3DS And Wii U eShop Sale Is Now Live
Update: Now open for NA too
Update [Wed 8th Mar, 2023 14:45 GMT]: Thunderful Games' final 3DS and Wii U eShop sale is now available in North America too, offering 80% off a series of titles from both Thunderful and Rising Star Games. It looks like the list of discounted games is slightly different on the North American eShop to those on offer in...
News SteamWorld Build Announced, And It Brings A SteamWorld Twist To SimCity
City building, city digging
Thunderful has announced a brand new game in the SteamWorld series — SteamWorld Build! And it's yet another genre twist in the SteamWorld universe later this year on Switch! And it turns out it was teased last year in the company's interim report under the code name "Coffee". Moving on from action, platforming,...
Watch SteamWorld Telegraph Special Broadcast From Thunderful - Live!
Let's dig in
After a few teasing announcements, the fine folks over at Thunderful Publishing have prepared a special broadcast to give us a glimpse into what's been going on in the SteamWorld universe. It's been a few years now since SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech launched and even longer since the excellent SteamWorld Dig 2, so we're itching...
News Thunderful's SteamWorld Teaser Was Just Another Announcement Tease
Update: New details coming on Monday
Update [Wed 18th Jan, 2023 16:30 GMT]: So what was that new announcement from Thunderful games? We'll have to wait a little bit longer! Thunderful Games did share a SteamWorld-related update today at 3pm GMT — except it was just another, proper tease for an additional announcement. On 23rd January at 5:30pm...
News Paper Cut Mansion Folds Mystery Into Paper Mario Aesthetics On Switch Next Month
Creepy cutouts
Thunderful has announced that it will be bringing Space Lizard Studios' creepy cardboard roguelite, Paper Cut Mansion, to the Switch on 5th December, 2022. There are many of us out there who find the aesthetic design of Paper Mario somewhat off-putting - just look at those ever-staring those cold dead eyes. Paper Cut Mansion takes...
News Cursed To Golf Gets New Update On Switch, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Out of the bunker
The rather weird and wonderful golf-like (that's a golfing roguelike) Cursed to Golf is proving itself to be pretty popular on the fairway. We really enjoyed our time with it, scoring it 8/10 in our review. Now, developer Chuhai Labs has released a patch that looks to smooth out the bunker and will help make your golfing experience...
News Get Creative With LEGO Bricktales, Coming To Switch Later This Year
Update: Now confirmed for Q4
Update [Tue 16th Aug, 2022 14:00 BST]: Just as we expected, Thunderful has today announced that LEGO Bricktales will indeed be coming to the Switch in Q4 2022. While we have no new information about the game itself just yet, we are pleased to know that this winter's brick-builder will gain a handheld home. Here's an...
News Golfing Roguelike 'Cursed To Golf' Aces An August Release On Switch
Not out of bounds
Quirky genre mash-up Cursed to Golf utterly charmed us when we first set our sights on the game. Now, publisher Thunderful Games has confirmed that the golfing roguelike will be hitting the Switch fairways on the 18th August. Developed by Chuhai Labs, Cursed to Golf isn't out of bounds of its proposed summer release, and it brings...
News Thunderful Reveals Three More SteamWorld Games Are In Development
Strawberry, coffee, and caramel go well together
Thunderful Group's latest interim report is out now (which you can read here), and while it reveals the company had a bit of a weak first few months of 2022, things are looking up for it. Most notably, the future of one of its biggest IPs — the SteamWorld series — is looking very bright. Last...
News Thunderful Announces Its Second Restructuring Program In One Year
Up to 100 redundancies expected
Publisher Thunderful has confirmed that it is launching another restructuring program aimed at reducing its workforce by up to 100 employees. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Thunderful is looking to “increase its focus on t
News SteamWorld Heist II Has Received A New Update, Here's What's Included
New features, fixes and improvements
Since arriving on the Switch and other platforms in August, the turn-based action title SteamWorld Heist II has received ongoing support from the development team, and the latest update (Version 1.5) is now live. "The headliner" according to the team, is that you can now "buy back rare items" you've sold from...
News 'Lost In Random: The Eternal Die' Revealed As A Roguelite Action Game
Launching 2025
Publisher Thunderful has revealed Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, a roguelite action game that serves as a sequel to the well-regard action-adventure title, Lost in Random. Currently slated to release in 2025, it sees you take on the role of Aleksandra, formerly the Queen of Random, as she traverses a randomly-generated gauntlet in...
Hands On SteamWorld Heist II Expands On A Beloved 3DS Title, But Is It What Fans Really Want?
Sail and strategise
Is there any genre SteamWorld is afraid to tackle? Starting life as an RTS in SteamWorld Tower Defense, Image & Form’s long-running anthology series has been to space, the Wild West and it’s even taken on the form of a fairy tale. And while Dig, the Metroidvania-style series, is arguably the most popular, many have a soft...
News New Steamworld Heist II Gameplay Trailer Is Packed With Missions And Mystery
Sets sail this August
After making a surprise appearance at February's Indie World showcase, we have had a steady stream of SteamWorld Heist II news as we sail towards the sequel's 8th August release date. Today there's a new extended gameplay trailer on the block, giving us our closest look yet at what to expect from the maritime world of machines...
News SteamWorld Heist Is Getting A Surprise Sequel On Switch This Summer
Give it some Leeway
SteamWorld returns to turn-based tactics with SteamWorld Heist II, which is coming to Nintendo Switch on 8th August 2024. The surprise reveal during today's Indie World showcase closed the presentation, and gave us a glimpse at this sequel to the 2015 3DS title. Ricochet shots are back, but SteamWorld Heist II is expanding its...
News Thunderful Sells Publisher Headup For €500k After Acquiring The Studio For 11 Million
Something's not adding up here
Thunderful Group is once again back in the news today as it has been reported that the studio is selling Pumpkin Jack publisher Headup at a fraction of what it was bought for back in 2021. Word of this sale comes to us from Gamesindustry.biz which reports that Thunderful has sold the publisher for €500,000 — quite...
News Thunderful Extends Its Distribution Agreement With Nintendo
"We’re exceedingly proud of this long-lasting partnership"
Publisher Thunderful has announced that it has extended its distribution agreement with Nintendo to publish the firm's products in the Nordics and the Baltics between Bergsala AB and Nintendo of Europe AG. Confirmed via an official statement (thanks, Go Nintendo), Thunderful states that...
News Planet Of Lana Brings Off-Earth Odyssey To Switch Next Month
With a rousing soundtrack from Takeshi Furukawa
During Nintendo's Indie World Showcase last November, publisher Thunderful and indie developer Wishfully announced they would be bringing the cinematic puzzle adventure Planet of Lana to the Nintendo Switch this Spring. In an update this week, it's now been confirmed the title will be released for...
News New SteamWorld Game Sales Fell "Slightly Short" Of Thunderful's Expectations
It's also putting one SteamWorld project "on hold"
The December release SteamWorld Build has not met Thunderful's sales expectations according to its latest fiscal report. Thunderful CEO Martin Walfisz explained how despite "new momentum" the game had fallen "slightly short" of expectations. He further noted how the genre didn't really appeal to...
News Thunderful Announces Restructuring That Will Affect Around 20% Of Workforce
Over-investments are to blame
Thunderful Group has announced a restructuring program that aims to decrease costs and focus more on areas with the best growth and profitability prospects. As reported by GamesIndustry, the restructuring is ultimately expected to affect around 20% of Thunderful's current workforce, with the group hoping to see the...
News 'Worldless' Mixes Metroidvania Exploration And Innovative Combat On Switch Next Month
Turn-based-meets-real-time
Publisher Thunderful has today given us a closer look at the innovative combat system behind the upcoming metroidvania Worldless and we must say, we are rather intrigued. Developed by Noname and set to release on Switch on 21st November, Worldless is a 2D adventure platformer with some immediately eye-catching visuals and...
News Broken Sword-Inspired Adventure 'Crowns And Pawns' Hits Switch This Month
Mysteries abound
Publisher Thunderful and developer Tag of Joy have announced that the point-and-click adventure game Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit will launch on the Nintendo Switch on September 28th, 2023. Boasting some remarkable behind-the-scenes talent - including the Art Director from Broken Sword 2.5 and voice actors from Monkey...
News Steamworld Build Plasters Up A December Release Date On Switch
Just in time for Crimbo
Publisher Thunderful and developer The Station have announced that SteamWorld Build will be making its way to the Nintendo Switch on December 1st, 2023. Developed simultaneously for PC and console, the game will arrive on switch with "no compromise" considering the genre is more typically geared toward PC players. The dev...
News SteamWorld Series Creator Admits 3DS eShop Closure Is A Little Bit "Upsetting"
A DSiWare classic is gone
It seems Nintendo's closure of the 3DS eShop has been just as upsetting for game developers and publishers. Speaking to 'Kit & Krysta' recently, SteamWorld series creator and Thunderful Group co-founder Brjann Sigurgeirsson admitted it was sad seeing 3DS owners lose access to the 2010 DSiWare origin title SteamWorld:...
News LEGO Bricktales Free Easter Update Hops Onto Switch Today
Update: Crack open the update now
Update [Tue 21st Mar, 2023 16:30 GMT]: Thunderful Games has given us an early Easter surprise in LEGO Bricktales as the free Easter update is available to download now on Switch and all other consoles. Bringing a new story and plenty of new features (which you can check out in our original story below), this gives...
News Thunderful Games' 3DS And Wii U eShop Sale Is Now Live
Update: Now open for NA too
Update [Wed 8th Mar, 2023 14:45 GMT]: Thunderful Games' final 3DS and Wii U eShop sale is now available in North America too, offering 80% off a series of titles from both Thunderful and Rising Star Games. It looks like the list of discounted games is slightly different on the North American eShop to those on offer in...
News SteamWorld Build Announced, And It Brings A SteamWorld Twist To SimCity
City building, city digging
Thunderful has announced a brand new game in the SteamWorld series — SteamWorld Build! And it's yet another genre twist in the SteamWorld universe later this year on Switch! And it turns out it was teased last year in the company's interim report under the code name "Coffee". Moving on from action, platforming,...
Watch SteamWorld Telegraph Special Broadcast From Thunderful - Live!
Let's dig in
After a few teasing announcements, the fine folks over at Thunderful Publishing have prepared a special broadcast to give us a glimpse into what's been going on in the SteamWorld universe. It's been a few years now since SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech launched and even longer since the excellent SteamWorld Dig 2, so we're itching...
News Thunderful's SteamWorld Teaser Was Just Another Announcement Tease
Update: New details coming on Monday
Update [Wed 18th Jan, 2023 16:30 GMT]: So what was that new announcement from Thunderful games? We'll have to wait a little bit longer! Thunderful Games did share a SteamWorld-related update today at 3pm GMT — except it was just another, proper tease for an additional announcement. On 23rd January at 5:30pm...
News Paper Cut Mansion Folds Mystery Into Paper Mario Aesthetics On Switch Next Month
Creepy cutouts
Thunderful has announced that it will be bringing Space Lizard Studios' creepy cardboard roguelite, Paper Cut Mansion, to the Switch on 5th December, 2022. There are many of us out there who find the aesthetic design of Paper Mario somewhat off-putting - just look at those ever-staring those cold dead eyes. Paper Cut Mansion takes...
News Cursed To Golf Gets New Update On Switch, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Out of the bunker
The rather weird and wonderful golf-like (that's a golfing roguelike) Cursed to Golf is proving itself to be pretty popular on the fairway. We really enjoyed our time with it, scoring it 8/10 in our review. Now, developer Chuhai Labs has released a patch that looks to smooth out the bunker and will help make your golfing experience...
News Get Creative With LEGO Bricktales, Coming To Switch Later This Year
Update: Now confirmed for Q4
Update [Tue 16th Aug, 2022 14:00 BST]: Just as we expected, Thunderful has today announced that LEGO Bricktales will indeed be coming to the Switch in Q4 2022. While we have no new information about the game itself just yet, we are pleased to know that this winter's brick-builder will gain a handheld home. Here's an...
News Golfing Roguelike 'Cursed To Golf' Aces An August Release On Switch
Not out of bounds
Quirky genre mash-up Cursed to Golf utterly charmed us when we first set our sights on the game. Now, publisher Thunderful Games has confirmed that the golfing roguelike will be hitting the Switch fairways on the 18th August. Developed by Chuhai Labs, Cursed to Golf isn't out of bounds of its proposed summer release, and it brings...
News Thunderful Reveals Three More SteamWorld Games Are In Development
Strawberry, coffee, and caramel go well together
Thunderful Group's latest interim report is out now (which you can read here), and while it reveals the company had a bit of a weak first few months of 2022, things are looking up for it. Most notably, the future of one of its biggest IPs — the SteamWorld series — is looking very bright. Last...