Games Archives

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Sega Game From 2024 Free for Millions Next 72 Hours

Sega's Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties is available for free to Amazon Prime subscribers until May 6. Players can download the game at no cost and keep it indefinitely, even if they cancel their Prime subscription. The game is set in the New Kingdom of Egypt and is the 16th installment in the Total War series. Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties has a Metacritic score of 83 and an 80% approval rating on Steam, while its predecessor, Total War: Pharaoh, received a score of 74 and a 64% approval rating. Total War: Pharaoh Dynasties is currently the only Sega title available for free through Prime Gaming, with potential for more free offerings in the future due to the partnership between Sega and Amazon.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Hack-and-Slash “SoulQuest” Vows Retribution Against the Gods Today on PC

SoulQuest, a hack-and-slash action adventure game developed by TomasJPereyra and published by Indie.io, was released on PC via Steam on May 1, 2026. Players control Alys, a widowed warrior seeking to reclaim her husband's soul from the Celtic gods, battling undead foes and confronting the goddess Morrigan. The game features fluid combat mechanics, a retro-styled world inspired by Celtic folklore and Arthurian legends, and a medieval soundtrack. SoulQuest is priced at .99 with a 20% launch discount and supports multiple languages. It is compatible with Steam Deck and can be wishlisted on Steam. SoulBlade Studios, founded in 2023, is the developer behind SoulQuest.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

5 Best Video Games Like Half-Life

The absence of "Half-Life 3" is felt by fans of first-person sci-fi gaming, but there are alternative titles that capture similar gameplay experiences. "System Shock 2," released in 1999, is set aboard a starship in the 22nd century where players awaken from cryogenic sleep to find the crew transformed by alien parasites, featuring a partnership with the AI SHODAN. A remaster was released in 2025. "Deus Ex," launched in 2000, places players in a dystopian future as JC Denton, a cybernetically enhanced agent navigating conspiracies and making choices that affect humanity's future. "Quake 4," released in 2005, is a sequel to "Quake II," where players control Matthew Kane during an invasion of the Strogg home planet, focusing on single-player storytelling and refined gameplay. "Crysis," released in 2007, is set in 2020, where a Delta Force unit investigates an archaeological discovery and faces aliens and North Korean forces, emphasizing action and an engaging storyline. A remaster was released in 2020. "Metro 2033," based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel, immerses players in post-apocalyptic Moscow, where survivors live in the subway system and face hostile factions and mutated creatures, presenting a survival horror experience.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Channeling its inner Silksong, Subnautica 2 causes a chain reaction and pushes a second game to move its release date early

The release date of Outbound has been moved from May 14 to May 11 to avoid competition with Subnautica 2, which has over a million Steam wishlists. Farm to Table has also adjusted its launch date to May 9 for a more relaxed experience for players. This trend of shifting release dates is reminiscent of the impact Hollow Knight: Silksong had on other games. Subnautica 2 is currently the most-wishlisted game on Steam. The developers of Subnautica 2 have opted not to use generative AI in their game development, despite their parent company Krafton adopting an "AI first" approach.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Warcraft 3 Legacy is finally back on Battle.net

Warcraft 3: Reforged faced significant criticism due to its shortcomings and the negative impact it had on the original Warcraft 3, as players encountered connection issues and lost access to competitive ladders. Blizzard announced a significant update allowing all players who own Warcraft 3 to access the original 1.29 client through the Battle.net App, which supports offline and LAN play only. This version was the last to allow easy LAN play, making it relevant for players seeking nostalgic gaming experiences. Additionally, a fix for non-functioning cinematics in the Legacy client involves renaming the en-USMovies folder to Movies in the installation directory.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Marathon (1994) and Marathon (2026) are at opposite ends of FPS history, but playing them at the same time I’m finding they have a lot in common, despite their vast differences

In a bio-research lab in Dire Marsh, graffiti reading “THAKGODITSYOU. THANKODDITSYOU. THAANKGODITSYOU. THANKOOOITSYOU.” has become notable, appearing in Marathon's promotional art. The modern version of Marathon emphasizes information gathering, similar to its 1994 predecessor, which featured an Alien-inspired motion tracker and a fusion pistol with a distinctive firing mechanism. The game explores themes of disconnection between body and consciousness, with options available in the Aleph One port on Steam to alleviate motion sickness. The lore includes concepts of runners and their shells, highlighting the struggle against disconnection and the pursuit of freedom, as articulated by the character Durandal.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

PC Free Download Is A Gorgeous Puzzle Game To Unwind With This Weekend

A free demo for the puzzle game Nested is now available for PC gamers on Steam. Nested, created by Nathan Sioui, originated from the 2024 GMTK Game Jam, where it was recognized as one of the top 20 entries. The game features puzzles involving the stacking of nesting dolls, requiring players to align sizes and colors. Gameplay includes interactive elements such as doors that only allow specific colored dolls to pass, buttons that trigger various effects, and mechanics like Swap Nodes and Bombs. The full game is expected to launch in August 2026, though the release date is tentative.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

UTD Pre-Med Students Are Treating Virtual Patients in a Minecraft World

The University of Texas at Dallas has introduced a class for pre-med students called “Experiential Medical Reasoning,” which uses the video game Minecraft to create a virtual hospital environment for patient care. Students engage with a playbook within the game to make decisions about tests, patient examinations, and diagnoses. The virtual hospital is a digital replica of Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, developed by IvyBee, a startup founded by Dr. Walter Voit. The initiative is part of a trend of using Minecraft for educational purposes, with positive feedback from students who appreciate the gamified learning approach.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Love Albany sets ‘Minecraft,’ ‘Hoppers’ for free summer movie series

Love Albany has announced the schedule for its annual summer series, “Movies Under the Stars,” which includes four film screenings in different parks in Albany. The event is a collaboration with the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Albany Community Land Trust Gun Violence Prevention, Lincoln Park Alliance, the RED Bookshelf, and the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association. Pre-show festivities will include lawn games, nonprofit information booths, complimentary popcorn, and a bounce house. The event is supported by the city’s Department of Recreation, Albany Public Library, and Honest Weight Co-op.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Class uses Minecraft as building blocks for MCAT

A new course at the University of Texas at Dallas, titled Experiential Medical Reasoning, immerses premed students in a virtual hospital environment using Minecraft. The course, developed by IvyBee, Inc., allows students to engage with fictional patients and make medical decisions based on symptoms and charts. The digital replica of Parkland Memorial Hospital enables students to experience various medical roles while preparing for the MCAT. Students have reported improvements in their MCAT practice scores and gained insights into hospital operations. The course is part of a broader initiative led by Dr. Walter Voit, who aims to enhance student engagement through innovative educational tools.