Popular Games by Thunderful
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech Switch eShop
- 25th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)
- 25th Apr 2019 (NA)
Paper Cut Mansion Switch eShop
Thunderful / Space Lizard Studio
- 5th Dec 2022 (UK/EU)
- 5th Dec 2022 (NA)
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...
Latest Thunderful News
Thursday16th Jan 2025
News Laika: Aged Through Blood Is Finally Switch-Bound Later This Month
Motorbike metroidvania..? Yes, please
Publisher Thunderful has announced that Laika: Aged Through Blood, the critically-acclaimed 'motorbike metroidvania', will finally be gracing the Nintendo Switch on 30th January 2025. Originally scheduled to launch over a year ago on 11th January 2024, the game was delayed just one day prior, with Headup –...
Thursday2nd Jan 2025
News Robot City Builder 'SteamWorld Build' Lands New Physical Edition On Switch
Pre-orders open this week
Super Rare Games has announced that the foundations are set for a SteamWorld Build physical edition on Switch. What's more, this one will be springing up quickly, with pre-orders opening on 9th January and shipping expected in March 2025. This is a Super Rare Games joint, so naturally, there are a handful of goodies thrown...
Thursday14th Nov 2024
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
Sunday6th Oct 2024
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...
Thursday22nd Aug 2024
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...
Thursday27th Jun 2024
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...
Tuesday4th Jun 2024
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...
Wednesday17th Apr 2024
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...
Friday29th Mar 2024
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...
Wednesday20th Mar 2024
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...
Sunday17th Mar 2024
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...
Friday23rd Feb 2024
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...
Wednesday17th Jan 2024
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...
Monday23rd Oct 2023
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...
Friday15th Sep 2023
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...
Wednesday23rd Aug 2023
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...
Thursday30th Mar 2023
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:...
Tuesday21st Mar 2023
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...
Wednesday8th Mar 2023
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...
Monday23rd Jan 2023
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...
Wednesday18th Jan 2023
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...
Tuesday22nd Nov 2022
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...
Friday26th Aug 2022
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...
Tuesday16th Aug 2022
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...
Thursday7th Jul 2022
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...
Wednesday18th May 2022
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...
Wednesday13th Apr 2022
News 'Paper Cut Mansion' Cuts Some Roguelite Mystery Into Paper Mario X Luigi's Mansion
Coming to Switch this year
Thunderful Games has revealed a new game coming to Switch and other consoles this year — Paper Cut Mansion. Coming from UK-based Space Lizard Studio, the game is described as a roguelite horror and sees you navigate your way through a cardboard mansion as police detective Toby, solving escape room-style puzzles and...
Wednesday6th Apr 2022
News Lovecraft Meets Deep Dream In 'Source Of Madness', Coming To Switch Soon
Expect a lot of eyes and tentacles
Have you ever looked at one of those terrifying AI-generated images — you know, the ones that sort of look like a dog's face, and sort of look like a nightmare about spiders — and thought, "H.P. Lovecraft would have bloody loved this"? You're not alone, you weirdo! Source of Madness is exactly that: A mash-up...
Thursday24th Mar 2022
News 'Cursed To Golf' Tees Off On Switch This Summer
It looks like anything but a curse to play
Thunderful and Chuhai Labs' Cursed to Golf will be hitting the Switch fairways this summer. Revealed at today's Future Games Show, this hugely-anticipated title calls itself a "Golf-Like", which mixes roguelike elements with the calm, relaxing sport of golf. That name is a little bit misleading because...
Wednesday10th Nov 2021
Round Up Everything Announced During The Thunderful Digital Showcase
Action-adventures, puzzle-platformers, and... cursed golf?
Thunderful Games is one of the new kids on the game publishing and development block, and they've been gobbling up studios and businesses so fast that they've quickly become an important name to remember. Founded by SteamWorld devs Image & Form and Stick It To The Man devs Zoink, the...
News SteamWorld Dig Is Getting A Third-Person Co-Op Sequel "With A Twist"
Heads will roll
During today's Thunderful Games showcase — yet another one to add to the pile of exciting Direct-likes containing games news straight from the publisher — we saw the announcement of a new game from Image & Form, which is half of Thunderful's development wing and one of its founding studios.
Watch Thunderful World With Mark Hamill - Live!
The publisher that SteamWorld built is going big
The year has been full of live video showcases, but we're rather intrigued by this upcoming effort from Thunderful. It's the increasingly influential publisher / developer born out of Image & Form, which first captured our hearts and surged into major popularity back on the 3DS with SteamWorld...
Thursday28th Oct 2021
News Mark Hamill To Reveal New Games As Host Of 'Thunderful World'
Thunderful Games' digital showcase debuts in November
World-renowned Star Wars star, much-loved voice actor, and all-round good egg Mr Mark Hamill is down for hosting duties at the debut gaming showcase event from developer and publisher Thunderful Games. Taking place on 10th November, Luke Skywalker himself will be delivering a host of...
Monday30th Aug 2021
News Cursed To Golf Is A 'Roguelike Golf Adventure' Out Next Year
Expect a 'hole-some story'
It's surprising just how many fun and varied video games come out of golf, a famously sedate and skilful sport. The Switch eShop has some fantastic games on this front, and Cursed to Golf is hoping to join the ranks when it arrives next year. Published by Thunderful, this is a game from Chuhai Labs that aims to deliver a...
Thursday12th Aug 2021
News The D&D Roguelike Game Curious Expedition 2 Is Out Now On Switch
Become an adventurer today
One of the many games revealed for Switch during the latest Indie World presentation was Curious Expedition 2. It's a charming narrative roguelike adventure by Thuderful Publishing and independent developer Maschinen-Mensch. The Nintendo release includes all of the content updates and is available now for $19.99 /€19.99...
Tuesday22nd Sep 2020
News Thunderful Opens Its Own Store, Kicks Things Off With Limited Edition SteamWorld Goodies
Products from Zoink, Image & Form and Rising Star
Thunderful Publishing, the games publisher made up of Zoink Games, Image & Form, and Rising Star Games, has opened its very own online store. The store is set to feature limited-edition games and soundtracks, all pulled from its impressive library of games across its various development studios...
Saturday29th Aug 2020
News First Paid DLC For Lonely Mountains: Downhill Revealed, Arriving "Soon" On Switch
Explore the largest mountain yet
At Gamescom 2020, Megagon revealed a paid expansion for its scenic mountain bike title, Lonely Mountains: Downhill. The Eldfjall Island DLC - coming "soon" to the Nintendo Switch and multiplayer other platforms - sees your rider travel by boat to a new location filled with all-new environmental and weather hazards...
Saturday8th Aug 2020
News Image & Form's New Game Required Power The Switch Didn't Have, So It Did A Deal With Xbox
But remains committed to SteamWorld releases on Nintendo systems
You might not be familiar with The Gunk, but you should at least know the Swedish developer behind it Image & Form - best known on the Nintendo Switch for its excellent SteamWorld series. The company's new game isn't coming to Nintendo's hybrid system because it's
Tuesday17th Mar 2020
News Prepare Yourself For Curious Expedition, A Roguelike Explorative Sim On Switch In April
Curiouser and curiouser
Thunderful Games has announced that it's bringing Curious Expedition, a 'roguelike expedition sim', to Switch this April. Developer Maschinen-Mensch's game released on PC back in 2016 and the Switch version arrives on the 2nd April, sandwiched cosily between the PS4 and Xbox One releases. As you can see from the trailer...
Tuesday19th Nov 2019
News Finally, We're Getting A Game Where The Objective Is To Say No Rather Than Yes
Don't be a 'Yes Man' any longer
We're so used to saying 'yes' to everything in video games – and life – that it's refreshing to hear that someone is actually making a game where the opposite objective is key. Say No! More from Thunderful Publishing and Studio Fizbin is exactly that; it's a title "about defending yourself against mean colleagues...
Wednesday27th Mar 2019
News Role-Playing Card Game SteamWorld Quest Hits The Switch On April 25th
Triumph over evil with the hand you’re dealt
Thunderful Publishing and Image & Form have confirmed SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech will be released next month on 25th April, after its launch date was revealed ahead of schedule last week. The game will be exclusive to the eShop "for the foreseeable future" and will set players back $24.99 /...
Wednesday7th Nov 2018
News Hellfront: Honeymoon Brings More Twin-Stick Action To Switch Early Next Year
To hell and back
Publisher Thunderful has announced Hellfront: Honeymoon by SkyGoblin is now making its way to the Switch eShop in early 2019. The game was originally scheduled to arrive on Nintendo's hybrid platform towards the end of this year, following its reveal in August. The game promises to provide a "thrilling mix" of top-down twin-stick...
Monday9th Apr 2018
News Former Nintendo Of Europe Staffer Ed Valiente Joins Thunderful
Star of the November 2015 Nintendo Direct jumps ship
Thunderful - the new company formed by Swedish studios Image & Form and Zoink! Games - has made a key hire in the shape of Ed Valiente, who joins from Nintendo of Europe. You might remember Ed from the November 2015 Nintendo Direct, where he was brave enough to step in front of...
