art direction Archives

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Once and for all, which game has the best art?

Videogame art captivates audiences, with enthusiasts collecting special editions, design works, and vinyl soundtracks featuring concept art. The Dishonored Soundtrack Collection exemplifies the artistic talent within the franchise. Iconic artists like Viktor Antonov have created striking visuals that blend gothic architecture with futuristic elements, contributing to the lasting impact of games like Half-Life 2 and Dishonored. Character art in Dishonored includes contributions from Cedric Peyravernay, Sergey Kolesov, and Piotr Jabłoński, enhancing the game's visual narrative. In Destiny, Rory Norris highlights the captivating concept art of a post-apocalyptic Chicago and the enigmatic Vex architecture illustrated by Jesse van Dijk. Tyler Colp admires Elden Ring's concept art, which translates into stunning visuals, showcasing detailed character designs. Ted Litchfield expresses excitement for Avowed, noting its comic book-style illustrations and inventive designs that evoke nostalgia. The artistry in gaming enhances gameplay and creates emotional connections with players.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

‘Friendslop’ dominated 2025 by proving time and time again that graphics are overrated

In 2025, the PC gaming industry has shifted away from the pursuit of cutting-edge graphics, as advancements have plateaued and often yield only marginal improvements. AI-generated enhancements have not generated the expected enthusiasm, especially given their high costs. Successful games like Peak and REPO demonstrate that engaging gameplay can thrive on budget-friendly PCs, some nearly a decade old. The term "friendslop" describes a genre of games that, despite being labeled low-effort, feature intentional design choices that enhance enjoyment. REPO involves transporting a fragile vase, creating tension and humor, while Peak utilizes immersive sound design and dynamic lighting to convey danger and adventure. Abiotic Factor, a survival game, runs smoothly on older hardware while using modern lighting effects. Larger productions like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Battlefield 6 prioritize performance over graphics, optimizing for mid-range and minimum-spec PCs. The common thread among these titles is that gameplay is prioritized over graphics, suggesting a potential turning point in the industry towards valuing engaging mechanics and narratives over visual fidelity.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

Slick and stylish, this underrated roguelike twist on Diablo now feels better than ever, and a big expansion is coming

Hell Clock, developed by Rogue Snail, is an action role-playing game (ARPG) set during the Brazilian War of Canudos in 1896. The game features a quest to rescue the soul of a fallen mentor and allows players to battle through hellish landscapes while enhancing their characters with various blessings. Update 1.2, released recently, improves movement dynamics, granting players 360-degree freedom and enabling skills to be executed while moving, albeit with a slight speed penalty. This update also buffs melee builds, introduces community-created unique items, and adds new constellations. A significant expansion is planned for next year, which will include a new storyline, new skills, and one-third of the base game's content. Most improvements will be free, with a paid component for those who wish to support the developers. A free update is also scheduled for 2026, featuring 12 new biomes, enhancements to dungeon generation, a respec system, and a new mapping system called 'Endless Nightmares.' Hell Clock is currently available at a 30% discount, priced at .99 / £10.55.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Total Chaos, which started life as a Doom II mod, is now out for Xbox and PC

Total Chaos is a survival horror game now available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and is included in the Game Pass subscription. The game features an art style similar to Alan Wake and introduces an insanity mechanic. It is set in an old fort and was developed by the team behind Turbo Overkill. Total Chaos originated as a mod for Doom II and has a soundtrack composed by Akira Yamaoka, known for his work on the Silent Hill series. The game can be purchased on various platforms, and there are introductory sales currently available. An update on November 20 confirmed its launch on PlayStation 5.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

The Game Awards 2025 nominees are here, and—surprise—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was nominated for every qualifying category

The Game Awards has announced its 2025 nominees, highlighting a strong presence of French influence. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Sandfall Interactive leads with ten nominations, including Game of the Year, followed by Death Stranding 2. Fans can vote on the TGA website. Nominees: Game of the Year: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - Donkey Kong Bananza - Hades 2 - Hollow Knight: Silksong - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Best Game Direction: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Death Stranding 2: On The Beach - Ghost of Yōtei - Hades 2 - Split Fiction Innovation in Accessibility: - Assassin's Creed Shadows - Atomfall - Doom: The Dark Ages - EA Sports FC 26 - South of Midnight Best Independent Game: - Absolum - Ball x Pit - Blue Prince - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Hades 2 - Hollow Knight: Silksong Best Performance: - Ben Starr - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Charlie Cox - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Erika Ishii - Ghost of Yōtei - Jennifer English - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Konatsu Kato - Silent Hill F - Troy Baker - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Best Debut Indie Game: - Blue Prince - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Despelote - Dispatch - Megabonk Best Action Game: - Battlefield 6 - Doom: The Dark Ages - Hades 2 - Ninja Gaiden 4 - Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Best Action/Adventure Game: - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach - Ghost of Yōtei - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - Hollow Knight: Silksong - Split Fiction Best Role Playing Game: - Avowed - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - The Outer Worlds 2 - Monster Hunter Wilds Best Sim/Strategy Game: - The Alters - Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles - Jurassic World Evolution 3 - Sid Meier's Civilization 7 - Tempest Rising - Two Point Museum Best Fighting Game: - 2XKO - Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves - Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection - Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage Best Family Game: - Donkey Kong Bananza - LEGO Party! - Lego Voyagers - Mario Kart World - Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Split Fiction Best Sports/Racing Game: - EA Sports FC 26 - F1 25 - Mario Kart World - Rematch - Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Best Multiplayer: - Arc Raiders - Battlefield 6 - Elden Ring Nightreign - Peak - Split Fiction Best Narrative: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach - Ghost of Yōtei - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - Silent Hill F Best Audio Design: - Battlefield 6 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach - Ghost of Yōtei - Silent Hill F Best Score & Music: - Hollow Knight: Silksong - Hades 2 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Ghost of Yōtei - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Best Art Direction: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach - Ghost of Yōtei - Hades 2 - Hollow Knight: Silksong Best Adaptation: - A Minecraft Movie - Devil May Cry - The Last of Us: Season 2 - Splinter Cell: Deathwatch - Until Dawn Best Mobile Game: - Destiny: Rising - Persona 5: The Phantom X - Sonic Rumble - Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Wuthering Waves Best Ongoing Game: - Final Fantasy 14 - Fortnite - Helldivers 2 - Marvel Rivals - No Man's Sky Content Creator of the Year: - Caedrel - Kai Cenat - MoistCr1TiKal - Sakura Miko - The Burnt Peanut Best Esports Game: - Counter-Strike 2 - DOTA 2 - League of Legends - Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Valorant Best Esports Athlete: - brawk - Chovy - f0rsakeN - Kakeru - MenaRD - Zyw0o Best Esports Team: - Gen.G - League of Legends - NRG - Valorant - Team Falcons - DOTA 2 - Team Liquid PH - Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Team Vitality - Counter-Strike 2 Best Community Support: - Baldur's Gate 3 - Final Fantasy 14 - Fortnite - Helldivers 2 - No Man's Sky Most Anticipated Game: - 007 First Light - Grand Theft Auto 6 - Marvel's Wolverine - Resident Evil Requiem - The Witcher 4

BetaBeacon

November 16, 2025

Top 20 Offline Android Games in 2025: Best RPG, Action, Puzzle Titles and More

Dead Cells is a high-speed roguelike action-platformer available on Android as a premium game currently priced at Rs. 413.

AppWizard

November 5, 2025

The Séance of Blake Manor review

The Seance of Blake Manor is a mystery game set to release on October 27, 2025, priced at £17. Developed by Spooky Doorway and published by Raw Fury, the game involves investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Deane within Blake Manor, where players interact with over 20 characters, each with unique backstories. Gameplay includes listening at doors, using stolen keys, and piecing together clues from various sources. The narrative features themes of blackmail, revenge, and addiction, with a user-friendly interface that aids in investigation. The art direction employs flat colors and bold outlines, creating an unsettling atmosphere enhanced by supernatural elements. The game offers an 18-hour experience with multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration.

AppWizard

October 30, 2025

Arc Raiders review in progress: An Extraction shooter for the masses

Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios, set in a post-apocalyptic world where players, known as raiders, scavenge for resources while facing threats from rogue robots and rival players. The game allows players to engage in both PvE and PvP elements, with a focus on cooperative objectives rather than solely hunting other players. Players can craft gear and utilize a variety of weapons, enhancing the gameplay experience. The game features a forgiving mechanics system, allowing players to explore and enjoy the game without the high-stakes pressure typical of other titles like Escape from Tarkov. The art direction combines retro-futuristic aesthetics with vibrant colors, adding charm to the overall experience. Players can also receive bonuses from companion pets and skill tree upgrades, contributing to a more relaxed atmosphere.

AppWizard

October 8, 2025

Ex Helldivers 2 devs’ new tactical FPS looks like all my favorite shooters combined, and it’s free to try

Heart Electric is a new hero shooter game featuring vibrant aesthetics and dynamic gameplay, set to have its first global playtest from October 24 to October 26. The game includes 4v4v4v4 battles, customizable loadouts, and unique hero abilities, along with an innovative 'flux' power mechanic. The playtest was postponed by one week to avoid coinciding with the Arc Raiders playtest. Heart Electric incorporates extraction gameplay, allowing players to hack opponents' 'hearts' for energy to respawn teammates.

AppWizard

September 14, 2025

Sci-fi strategy sequel famed for sheer scale is building its environments to “ground the fantasy of world domination”

Ashes of the Singularity 2 is a real-time strategy game developed by Oxide Games, following its predecessor released in 2016. The sequel aims to enhance gameplay with immersive environments and dynamic maps. The developers emphasize that environments are crucial for gameplay, stating they should be visually appealing while clearly communicating gameplay information. The game will feature both hand-crafted and procedurally generated maps, incorporating verticality and varied landscapes to influence battle flow. Environments will evolve during gameplay, showing the impact of player actions and the presence of the game's valuable resource, Turinium. Art direction focuses on using color and shape to help players distinguish units from the environment. The game is set to launch in 2026, and players can wishlist it on Steam.