art direction Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Parries and timed blocks are the future of action games—and they’ve got a place in turn-based RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, too

Nine Sols is a standout gaming experience of 2023, noted for its stunning art direction, compelling narrative, and finely tuned combat mechanics. It represents a shift within the "soulslike" genre, leaning towards the intricate design seen in Sekiro, which redefined combat expectations by focusing on breaking an enemy's posture rather than just depleting health. The game emphasizes timing and precision in blocking, enhancing player engagement.

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

FTL meets Warhammer 40,000 in tactical space sim Void War

Void War is an upcoming PC game set for release on May 30th, featuring space combat with players navigating ancient starships in a universe filled with blood cultists, imperialists, and corsairs. The game includes a roguelite system map with battles, narrative encounters, and merchants. It is similar to FTL: Faster Than Light but has a darker atmosphere reminiscent of Warhammer 40,000. A demo is currently available on Steam and Itch.io. The gameplay involves real-time engagements with the option to pause for strategic management, focusing on reactor energy allocation and crew management. The full game will feature approximately 10 playable ships, eight commanders, 70 crew types, 60 weapon varieties, 50 modules, and 19 ship systems, along with 140 crew items.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Will Microsoft finally give PC gamers the one series they should already have?

Gears of War: Reloaded will debut on PlayStation and is set for release on August 26, 2025. The game will feature native 4K assets, HDR and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos Surround Sound, variable refresh rate, super resolution, enhanced art direction, and no loading screens. It will support cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms. Players who own Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will receive a complimentary upgrade to this new version, and it will be available on day one through Game Pass.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

The Best PC Games Right Now (2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features a mix of innovative remasters, indie titles, and new intellectual properties, providing a wide range of experiences for gamers. The most played games on Steam include Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Dota 2, with Counter-Strike 2 leading in player engagement due to its esports scene. Notable new releases include Blue Prince, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Promise Mascot Agency. Other popular games outside Steam are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Valorant. Genre-specific leaders include South of Midnight for action, Myst (Remastered) for adventure, and Street Fighter 6 for fighting. Upcoming anticipated titles include Grand Theft Auto 6 and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Trends in 2025 highlight esports engagement, indie innovation, purposeful remakes, and cinematic storytelling. Last Epoch's Season 2 update has revitalized player interest with new content and enhancements. The year 2019 was significant for PC gaming, with acclaimed titles like Resident Evil 2, Control, and Disco Elysium, and marked by the influence of digital distribution platforms.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ lacks depth necessary to find diamonds

“A Minecraft Movie,” directed by Jared Hess, is the first film adaptation of the best-selling game "Minecraft." The story follows a group of heroes led by Steve, voiced by Jack Black, as they attempt to save the Overworld from the Nether. The film's script has faced criticism for being disjointed and lacking depth, relying more on the game's popularity than on a coherent narrative. Despite this, there are humorous moments and nods to the Minecraft community. The art direction is praised for its vibrant visuals and successful translation of iconic game elements into live-action. The film received a rating of 2 out of 5 Chicken Jockeys.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Atomfall Review

Players in Atomfall awaken with amnesia in a post-apocalyptic landscape five years after the Windscale Fire, which has turned Cumberland into a quarantine zone controlled by the British government. The game features distinctive gameplay mechanics that emphasize survival action, where enemies do not have levels or health bars, and a well-placed headshot results in an instant kill. Players engage with a unique investigation system through an Investigation Journal that fills with 'Leads' as they explore, converse, and read documents. Interactions with NPCs allow for various resolutions without a morality system. Visually, the game presents mixed quality, with beautiful environments but rudimentary character models. Atomfall is optimized for smooth performance across platforms, maintaining a consistent 60fps on consoles.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

The Best PC Games of 2024

The best PC games of 2024 include: - Duck Detective: The Secret Salami: Players solve the mystery of a stolen salami in a quirky office environment, combining humor and intrigue with a captivating design and storytelling. - Turnip Boy Robs a Bank: A sequel featuring a mischievous vegetable engaging in a heist, noted for its engaging art style and witty writing. - The Crush House: A game blending reality TV and social commentary, exploring entertainment pressures and social media impacts with humor and engaging gameplay. - Conscript: A portrayal of the psychological toll of war, offering a raw narrative crafted by Australian developer Jordan Mochi. - Sumerian Six: A strategic turn-based adventure combining history and fantasy, encouraging thoughtful tactics and creativity. - The Rise of the Golden Idol: A successor to The Case of the Golden Idol, featuring fresh aesthetics and intricate puzzles that promote critical thinking. - Neva: Known for its emotional storytelling and stunning art direction, creating an immersive experience. - Harold Halibut: Reflects on life’s purpose through a handcrafted aesthetic and engaging narrative. - The Plucky Squire: Blends 2D and 3D environments, showcasing innovative mechanics and captivating visuals. - The Sims 4 Life and Death: An expansion pack introducing themes of mortality, enhancing the gameplay experience with new elements like funerals and a Reaper career.

AppWizard

November 15, 2024

Best PC Games to Play (2025)

PC gaming is thriving with a wide variety of titles catering to different tastes. Notable PC games include: 1. Baldur’s Gate 3 - Features deep role-playing mechanics and engaging storytelling with turn-based combat and character customization. 2. Elden Ring - An action RPG with challenging combat and an expansive open world, including a new DLC titled "Shadow of the Erdtree." 3. Cyberpunk 2077 - Set in a futuristic world, it combines action with narrative depth and character customization. 4. Red Dead Redemption 2 - Offers a richly detailed open world and compelling narrative in a Wild West setting. 5. Disco Elysium - A detective RPG focused on dialogue and decision-making within a unique world. 6. Hades II - A fast-paced roguelike where players battle through the underworld. 7. Half-Life: Alyx - A benchmark for VR gaming with a gripping narrative. 8. Doom Eternal - An intense first-person shooter against demonic forces. 9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - An epic RPG with an expansive world and intricate quests. 10. Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Features strategic turn-based combat and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Top games currently on Steam include: 1. Counter-Strike 2 - 563,733 current players, 1,442,806 peak players. 2. Dota 2 - 312,401 current players, 797,599 peak players. 3. Banana - 212,617 current players, 483,731 peak players. 4. Call of Duty® - 208,292 current players, 313,313 peak players. 5. Rust - 90,821 current players, 182,603 peak players. 6. THRONE AND LIBERTY - 84,819 current players, 229,014 peak players. 7. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - 83,168 current players, 755,939 peak players. 8. Grand Theft Auto V - 61,381 current players, 172,551 peak players. 9. Baldur’s Gate 3 - 55,111 current players, 107,242 peak players. 10. Factorio - 48,876 current players, 118,166 peak players. PC Gamer’s Top 10 Games of 2024 include: 1. Baldur’s Gate 3 - 97% rating. 2. Disco Elysium. 3. Elden Ring. 4. Minecraft. 5. Persona 5 Royal. 6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. 7. Half-Life 2. 8. Balatro. 9. Stardew Valley. 10. Doom (1993). Popular multiplayer games include Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Apex Legends, and Among Us. Free-to-play games with critical acclaim are Dota 2, Fortnite, Path of Exile, and Warframe. Classic PC games include Half-Life 2, Portal, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Minecraft. Recommended games for low-spec hardware include Stardew Valley, Terraria, FTL: Faster Than Light, Celeste, and Undertale.

AppWizard

October 19, 2024

The Mega Man X Dive Mobile And PC Game Getting An Official Complete Works Art Book

Mega Man X Dive, initially a mobile game, was released on Steam in 2023 and features high-quality art comparable to other Mega Man titles. The Mega Man X Dive: Official Complete Works book is available for preorder, set to release on March 25, 2025, and includes character designs, key art, and developer interviews. Art books from the Mega Man series, such as Mega Man: Complete Works and Mega Man Zero: Official Complete Works, are priced high due to limited print runs. Several Mega Man manga series are also available, including Mr. Mega Man and Mega Man Mastermix: Robot Rebellion. Additionally, the Street Fighter series has upcoming literature, including the Street Fighter World Warrior Encyclopedia: World Tour Edition, releasing on November 5, featuring character profiles and other content.

AppWizard

September 2, 2024

The Best-Looking PC Games to Play in 2024

Creating an immersive gaming experience involves skilled artists and programmers who combine art direction, storytelling, music, and gameplay mechanics. The visuals often serve as the first impression for players. In 2024, games utilize modern graphics hardware like NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 40 Series for lifelike lighting and stunning visuals. Black Myth: Wukong is an anticipated action RPG inspired by Chinese mythology, featuring intricate environments and fluid character animations, enhanced by ray tracing on high-end GPUs. Star Wars Outlaws, an open-world action-adventure game, allows players to navigate the Star Wars underworld with ultrawide presentation and ray tracing for vibrant visuals. Horizon Forbidden West expands on its predecessor with richer environments and advanced visual effects, set in a post-apocalyptic world. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that feels like a sequel, maintaining stunning visuals with ray-traced shadows. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II utilizes Unreal Engine 5 for a personal narrative set in 10th-century Iceland, featuring advanced motion capture and photogrammetry for a breathtaking experience. F1 24 enhances its racing experience with ray-traced effects and dynamic lighting for a more immersive environment. No Rest for the Wicked is a top-down action RPG with painterly visuals and cutting-edge lighting, set in a gothic world. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, now on PC, offers enhanced visual fidelity with features like uncapped frame rates and ultrawide support, showcasing the beauty of feudal Japan.