art Archives

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

This week in PC games: Marathon, Slay The Spire 2, a promising Disco-like RPG and a monastic garden mystery

This week features a variety of new PC game releases, including: - The Abbess' Garden: A life simulation game set in the 17th century where players restore a botanical sanctuary. - Sad God: A game where players navigate a shaft filled with threats to reach the surface before lava engulfs them. - The Legend of Khiimori: An open-world courier game set in 13th-century Mongolia, now in early access. - Esoteric Ebb: A single-player CRPG where players investigate an explosion at a teashop during an election. - Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered: A remaster of the classic title focusing on narrative and choice. - Humanica: A city-building game where players can edit the landscape of their prehistoric city. - Luxman Moonlit Market: A night market simulation game with a unique art style. - Scott Pilgrim EX: A side-scrolling brawler based on the Canadian comic book series. - Slay the Spire 2: The sequel to the roguelite deckbuilder, now in early access. - Card Cultivation: A game combining elements of Cultist Simulator with Chinese mythology. - Planet of Lana II: A puzzle-platformer where players save a cyborg world alongside a kid and their pet. - Age of Barbarians Chronicles: An action game with a sword-and-sorcery theme. - Here Comes The Swarm: An early access survival RTS where players fend off gigabeetles. - Marathon: Bungie's reboot of the classic FPS set in a rich lore universe. - Ratcheter DX: An adventure game challenging players to escape a sunken ice base. - Mr. Peregrino: A game set in the 19th century where players manage food supplies while escorting pilgrims. - Over The Top: WW1: A game where players experience the frontlines of World War I. - Aethus: A game where players investigate a lost science expedition on a desert world. - Post-Apocalyptic Technician: Players repair Stroggs as an underground technician. - Frog Abundance: An exploration game centered around frogs in various time periods. Team members at RPS express interest in different titles, with Ollie favoring Marathon, James interested in Planet of Lana, Mark leaning towards automotive adventures, and Julian considering writing about Slay the Spire 2.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Bungie share top feedback from Marathon’s playtest, including PC performance, UI issues and ammo shortages

Bungie conducted a "server slam" for the reboot of Marathon to stress-test its online capabilities ahead of the release on March 5th. Players provided feedback on various aspects, including: - UI Feedback: Bungie is collecting user input on the user interface and plans to iterate post-launch. - PC Performance: Issues reported include high CPU usage, low GPU utilization, FPS ceilings around 80-100, and stuttering. - PvP Frequency: Bungie is investigating player density on maps and welcomes feedback on gameplay experiences. - Movement and Heat Generation: Discussions about heat generation and momentum are ongoing, with players encouraged to share thoughts on movement mechanics. - Med and Ammo Economy: Feedback on the economy of medical supplies and ammunition, particularly regarding stack sizes and item effectiveness, is being collected. - Weasel Error Codes: Players have encountered Weasel error codes related to network disruptions, and Bungie is investigating these issues. The author expressed mixed feelings about the gameplay experience, noting issues with extraction-shooting mechanics and ammunition shortages, while appreciating the art direction.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Almost all the cozy games of March have demos to try and I’ve been snapping up as many as I can

Cozy games often shift their release dates shortly before launch, which has been particularly noticeable in March. The anticipated titles include: - The Legend of Khiimori: An open-world game set in 13th century Mongolia focused on horse taming and breeding, developed with input from horse game critic Alice Ruppert. - Cupiclaw: A vibrant pixel art adventure that simplifies the claw machine experience, where players aim to scoop high-value prizes like a lost engagement ring. - The Abbess Garden: A gardening fantasy set in 1643 France, where players restore a neglected abbey garden, emphasizing ecosystem care and creativity. - Bubblegum Galaxy: A tile-based building game featuring a cat with a house-shaped hat, tasked with rebuilding a galaxy in a corporate setting. - Collector's Cove: A farming simulator where players start their farming life on the back of a large aquatic dinosaur, exploring various islands without enemies.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

Balatro meets Scrabble in this new roguelike from the creators of TimeSplitters—and I’m just thrilled to finally find a word game that lets me score with swear words

Renowned game developers Steve Ellis and David Doak have created a spelling game called Beyond Words, which features innovative gameplay mechanics that differentiate it from other word game roguelikes. Players navigate a Scrabble-like board aiming for a target score within a limited number of moves, with progressively challenging rounds and a boss round introducing unique gameplay modifiers. Between rounds, players can acquire cards that activate bonuses to enhance scoring potential. The game boasts an expansive dictionary that includes a wide array of terms, adding humor and enjoyment. It includes wildcard tiles for creative word formation and features uniquely shaped maps for each run, enhancing strategic depth. However, the visual presentation has been criticized for lacking a cohesive style. The demo is currently available for free during Steam NextFest.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

If you love Marathon’s vectorheart style but not its PvP, get your aesthetic fix from the gorgeously overstimulating demo for this time trial FPS instead

Anticipation surrounds the game Marathon, noted for its vectorheart-inspired art style. Cicadamata, a new game, features a bold visual design with animated text and a sense of urgency. Players control Fawn-A2, navigating the Cascade and acquiring cores while using a cybershotgun. Gameplay includes mastering moves like triple jumps and air dashes, with intricate shooter maps and immersive audio-visual elements. The game is fast-paced, presenting challenges that some may find difficult but rewarding. Cicadamata's demo is available on Steam until March 5, with the full game expected to launch later this year.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

We polled PC gamers on how much generative AI is acceptable in games, and here’s what they said

Generative AI is increasingly integrated into video game development, with applications ranging from art assets to gameplay mechanics. A poll of approximately 1,000 respondents revealed that over 40% prefer traditional game development with no AI involvement. More than half of participants are open to generative AI to varying degrees: 20% oppose its inclusion in final products but accept its use as a productivity tool, while 21% approve of some AI involvement if disclosed. Additionally, 14% would engage with heavily AI-utilized games if enjoyable. Concerns about AI-generated code have been raised by developers, particularly regarding its quality. Despite skepticism, there is agreement on the benefits of AI-accelerated rendering techniques for performance improvements.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

The Epic Games Store’s new, free puzzler is all about boxes, and I can’t believe I’m more excited about it than Marathon

Powerwash Simulator, American Truck Simulator, and A Game About Digging a Hole are popular titles in the gaming industry that offer relaxed experiences. The Epic Games Store is currently offering the free game Boxes: Lost Fragments, developed by Big Loop Studios, where players act as a legendary thief solving puzzles in a mysterious mansion. The game features an Art Deco-inspired aesthetic and has received an average score of 91% on Steam and a rating of 4.5 on the Epic Games Store. Additionally, My Night Job, an arcade-style zombie beat-'em-up, is also available for free on the Epic Games Store until March 5.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Ex Sanguis is the most stylish XCOM-style roguelike I’ve ever played

Ex Sanguis is a turn-based strategy game showcased during Steam Next Fest, featuring a grid-based system similar to XCOM. Players control a team of soldiers called Stillae, utilizing Action Points (AP) and unique abilities to execute commands. The game has a narrative centered around saving a dying planet and is noted for its stylish execution and visually striking aesthetic, characterized by a blood-themed color palette. It incorporates robust gameplay mechanics, including destructible environments, roguelike elements, and RPG-style builds. Ex Sanguis is set to launch in early access soon, and players can wishlist it and explore the demo on Steam.

TrendTechie

February 24, 2026

От ffmpeg до торрентов для терминала: 7 новых TUI-инструментов, которые советуем

Many developers are turning to TUI (Text User Interface) tools for tasks traditionally done in GUI applications. MONICA is an interactive layer over ffmpeg that simplifies command usage, available on GitHub. The lic tool allows users to create a LICENSE file with a single terminal command by selecting a license from a TUI menu. It can be installed via Homebrew or pip and debuted in late December 2024, receiving 21 stars. PNANA is a TUI editor that combines the simplicity of nano with features from modern editors like Sublime, built with C++17 and FTXUI. Users need to compile it from source as no binary releases are available. CodeWeaver compiles a codebase into a single Markdown document, allowing for easy sharing and documentation. It can be installed via Go. Clox (version 1.3) introduces console clocks and calendars in the terminal, supporting various time zones and formats, and can be installed as a Python module. Torrra v2 is a TUI torrent client that allows users to search and download torrents directly from the console, enhancing UI speed and navigation. It can be installed via pipx or other package managers. A command for visualizing git history in the terminal is provided: `git log --graph --decorate --all --pretty=format:'%C(auto)%h%d %C(#888888)(%an; %ar)%Creset %s'`. An alias can be created for convenience. All tools aim to enhance productivity in the terminal and are actively evolving.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

Steam’s Latest Free Game Is a 10/10 Adventure That Won’t Hurt Your Backlog

DJ Bunny is a free game developed by Alison Loke Mern Nyee, available on Steam. Players assume the role of a DJ navigating Kelody Lane and the Hippity Hop Music Festival, solving musical puzzles to fulfill song requests from townsfolk. The game features a vibrant art style and combines point-and-click elements with grid-based challenges. It can be completed in under an hour and has received a 100% user score on Steam. Player reviews highlight its engaging puzzles, art, and soundtrack.