Animal Well Archives

AppWizard

May 26, 2026

‘I do think Blow misunderstood what the game is about’: Derelict Star made Jonathan Blow rage quit, but it’s the most fascinating indie platformer I’ve played for years

Derelict Star is an indie action-platformer released in early April, where players control an unnamed astronaut scavenging for power cells from a derelict freighter across approximately 500 screens. The game features pixel art reminiscent of the Pico-8 console, blending aesthetics from the Atari 2600 and 8-bit eras. It emphasizes meticulous movement mechanics, relying on players' mastery of speed and momentum, with a jetpack that becomes more effective after sprinting. The gameplay includes a P-Meter mechanic similar to that in Super Mario Bros. 3, which tracks speed and serves as a core puzzle element. Developer John Williams cites influences from classic platformers and emphasizes the importance of momentum, addressing criticisms from Jonathan Blow by clarifying that the game focuses on movement rather than layered puzzles.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

The best Steam Deck games: 35 essential titles for Valve’s handheld PC wonder

The Steam Deck is a handheld device that enhances PC gaming convenience, allowing players to engage with various games in different settings. Diablo IV has adapted well to the Steam Deck, offering a portable experience that aligns with its dungeon-clearing and loot-collecting gameplay. Post-launch enhancements have improved itemization and the endgame experience, while the expansion, Vessel of Hatred, adds new narrative and gameplay elements. The Steam Deck's ability to suspend and resume games instantly supports quick gaming sessions. Notable games for the Steam Deck include: 1. Animal Well - A Metroidvania-style indie game with puzzles. 2. Aperture Desk Job - A comedic adventure in the Portal universe. 3. Balatro - A roguelike poker game ideal for short sessions. 4. Batman: Arkham Asylum - A classic superhero game with engaging mechanics. 5. Blue Prince - A puzzle-roguelike set in a shifting mansion. 6. Cuphead - A run-and-gun game with hand-animated visuals. 7. Dave the Diver - Combines exploration and restaurant management. 8. Death’s Door - An action-adventure featuring atmospheric storytelling. 9. Disco Elysium - A detective RPG known for its exceptional writing. 10. Dispatch - A narrative adventure with superhero themes. The Steam Deck's game library reflects a variety of genres, appealing to gamers seeking convenience and depth.

AppWizard

April 14, 2026

Graveyard Keeper’s mammoth success proves that giving games away for free on Steam works

tinyBuild offered Graveyard Keeper for free for a weekend, coinciding with the announcement of Graveyard Keeper 2. This led to an all-time peak of 46,305 concurrent players on April 12, up from 17,000 at launch. The game ranked 47th on Steam's most played chart and reached number 39 on one Sunday. The giveaway increased wishlists for the sequel to 450,000 and generated nearly 0,000 in revenue from DLC sales, with around 125,000 DLCs sold at a promotional price of .99 each. The base game is typically priced at .99.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School is an open-world puzzle game spanning the whole campus

Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School is set to debut on PC in 2026, and fans can add it to their wishlist on Steam. The sequel expands the original game's concept into an open world where players can explore and uncover secrets. The original Escape Academy attracted over 4 million players. Coin Crew is seeking playtesters through its Discord channel, and the sequel was revealed during the Day of the Devs showcase at Summer Game Fest 2025. The series is published by iam8bit.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

The Steam Spring Sale 2025 is here

The Steam Spring Sale is currently live and will continue until 10 AM PT on March 20, 2025. The sale features discounts on various games, including: - The Long Dark - £8 (50% off) - Sifu - £13 (60% off) - Ballionaire - £10 (20% off) - Balatro - £11 (15% off) - Witchfire - £30 (10% off) - Helldivers 2 - £28 (20% off) - Escape Simulator - £7.49 (50% off) - The Isle - £10 (33% off) - Earth Defense Force 6 - £30 (40% off) - Atylss - £4 (50% off) - Unrailed 2: Back on Track - £13 (20% off) - Nine Sols - £17.49 (30% off) - Outer Wilds - £12 (40% off) - Airborne Empire - £20 (20% off) - Animal Well - £17 (20% off) - Life is Strange: Double Exposure - £30 (40% off) Players can earn free stickers by engaging with their Discovery Queue, and the Steam Points Shop features new Spring Sale-themed graphics.

AppWizard

March 13, 2025

Today’s Steam Spring Sale features my absolute favorite game of all time – here’s when the sale starts and all the key info

The Steam Spring Sale 2025 will feature discounts on a variety of games, including confirmed titles such as The Long Dark, Sifu, Ballionaire, Balatro, Witchfire, Helldivers 2, Escape Simulator, The Isle, Earth Defense Force 6, ATLYSS, Unrailed 2: Back on Track, Nine Sols, Outer Wilds, Airborne Empire, Animal Well, and Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. The event will conclude on Thursday, March 20 at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT / 5 PM GMT. Steam typically has its largest sales during the Summer and Winter events.

AppWizard

March 13, 2025

Steam Spring Sale start time confirmed: Here’s when you can save on latest PC games today

Steam has launched its Spring Sale 2025, starting on March 13 at 6 PM GMT and lasting for one week. The sale features discounts on a variety of games, including AAA titles and indie games. Notable past discounts included games like Baldur's Gate 3, Starfield, Diablo 4, and Resident Evil 4 Remake. The sale may include titles such as The Long Dark, Sifu, Witchfire, and many others, with discounts potentially reaching up to 95%. Steam Deck owners will also find compatible games on sale.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

PC Gamer’s highest review scores of 2024

Concerns about "score inflation" in gaming reviews have been raised, with a score of 90% expected to represent an exceptional game. PC Gamer has not awarded a score higher than 98%, with Baldur's Gate 3 receiving the highest score of 97% in its UK edition. The 2024 Game of the Year Award winners are not included, but the year featured quality titles. Scores and their corresponding games include: - 89%: - Persona 3 Reload - Tekken 8 - Dragon's Dogma 2 - V Rising - Little Kitty, Big City - Lorelai and the Laser Eyes - 90%: - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 - Shogun Showdown - Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - Satisfactory - Riven - Animal Well - Granblue Fantasy: Relink - 91%: - Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake - Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance - Wild Bastards - Balatro - 92%: - Destiny 2: The Final Shape - Factorio: Space Age - 94%: - Caves of Qud - 95%: - Not specified in the provided text.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

The 15 best PC games of 2024: From Indy to Kratos, samurai to outlaws, and everything in between

In 2024, the PC gaming landscape thrived due to the resolution of component shortages, the popularity of cloud gaming, and the rise of PC gaming handhelds. A diverse range of games was released, including indie titles and AAA adventures, along with remakes and remasters of classics. The top PC games of 2024 included: 1. Thank Goodness You're Here! 2. Helldivers 2 3. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle 4. Red Dead Redemption 5. Star Wars: Outlaws 6. Balatro 7. Animal Well 8. Fallout: London 9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 10. Dragon Age: The Veilguard 11. Silent Hill 2 12. God of War: Ragnarok 13. Black Myth: Wukong 14. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 15. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut The gaming rig used featured an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card, Intel Core i5-13600K CPU, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and an Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI motherboard.