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BetaBeacon

December 28, 2024

Top 5 mobile games of 2024: Stephen’s picks of the year

- In 2024, the author's favorite games included Pocket Necromancer, Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago, Bella Wants Blood, Guncho, A Little to the Left, Pokemon Go, and Vampire Survivors. - The author enjoys opening packs in Pokemon TCG Pocket and playing games that evoke nostalgia. - The author dislikes clutter and enjoys playing games that are perfect for short bursts of play. - The author is looking forward to adding Dredge and Last Spartan: Glory of Madness to their collection in 2025.

AppWizard

December 26, 2024

Best PC Games Graphics of 2024

- Empire of the Ants, developed by Tower Five using Unreal Engine 5, showcases innovative technology like Lumen and Nanite, delivering a visually stunning experience without stutters. - Dragon Age: The Veilguard features a unique art style and striking visuals powered by the Frostbite Engine, despite not meeting long-time fans' expectations. - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, despite its troubled development and some graphical glitches, is visually captivating, especially with HDR, and modding communities have helped enhance its environments. - Horizon: Forbidden West translates beautifully to PC, offering impressive visuals without ray tracing effects, and is considered superior to titles like God of War: Ragnarok. - Final Fantasy 16 shines on PC with gorgeous environments and character designs, and the absence of major pop-ins enhances the immersive experience. - Tekken 8 is noted as the most visually impressive 3D fighting game, with meticulously crafted character models and stage designs that run smoothly on various PC configurations. - Black Myth: Wukong utilizes path tracing technology for a visually rich experience, though it has some limitations in environmental design. - The Silent Hill 2 Remake features expansive environments and exceptional use of Lumen and Nanite, showcasing impressive 3D models and an elevated horror art style. - Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, utilizing Unreal Engine 5, presents some of the most realistic 3D characters and environments, with high-quality textures and particle effects. - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is recognized as the best-looking PC title of 2024, featuring path tracing effects that enhance lighting and detail, despite minor texture issues.

BetaBeacon

December 26, 2024

Top 5 mobile games of 2024: Will’s picks of the year

The top 5 games of the year are Hamster Inn, Floop's Big House Adventure, Yes, Your Grace, Pizza Hero, and Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance.

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

December 24, 2024

Best FPS 2024: STRAFTAT

STRAFTAT is a first-person shooter game that features frenetic 1v1 battles, reminiscent of classic arcade-style duels. The gameplay is hypercompetitive, with a mantra of "two players enter, one player leaves," and includes a variety of whimsical level designs, such as navigating mazes or sliding down icy slopes. The game incorporates satisfying weapon mechanics and a quirky art style, creating a unique atmosphere that balances absurdity with skillful gameplay. It offers over 70 diverse maps, fostering a social environment akin to a modern LAN party. The game's slapstick humor and chaotic moments enhance the experience, although the competitive nature may pose a challenge for new players. STRAFTAT emphasizes immediate fun over traditional progression systems, appealing to both nostalgic fans and new players in the FPS genre.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

10 Best Minecraft texture packs to use in 2024

The Overworld in Minecraft can be enhanced with various texture packs that add creativity and diversity to the game. Notable texture packs include: - Realism Craft 1.5: Enhances realism with lifelike trees, plants, and redesigned mobs. - Adventure Time Mash-Up: Allows players to explore the Land of Ooo as characters from the Adventure Time series. - Forge Medieval Fantasy: Introduces over 50 new block textures for building castles and dungeons. - Sci-Fi Robots: Transforms the world into a mechanical setting with robotic entities and sound effects. - Luxury Modern HD: Elevates structures to luxurious mansions with modern furnishings and themed mobs. - Ultra Anime Texture Pack: Features artwork inspired by manga and includes exclusive anime character skins. - Enhanced Textures: Revitalizes classic features with sharper visuals and intricate details. - Pastel Paradise: Softens the landscape with pastel colors while keeping mobs hostile. - Ultra City Texture Pack: Allows for the construction of urban structures with themed props and uniformed mobs. - Simply Cubed: Celebrates simplicity with a clean, pixelated art style and a new avatar design. Players are encouraged to explore the Marketplace for additional texture pack options.

AppWizard

December 22, 2024

The Best PC Games to Play in 2025

The PC gaming landscape in 2025 will feature major AAA releases such as Grand Theft Auto VI, Avowed, Assetto Corsa Evo, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Frostpunk 2, and Indika. Technological advancements like ray tracing and DLSS will enhance graphical quality and performance, while cloud gaming services will offer new ways to access games. Players can expect a variety of genres, including RPGs, FPS, simulation, and strategy, each with unique pros and cons. The most anticipated games include Grand Theft Auto VI, Avowed, Assetto Corsa Evo, Stalker 2, Frostpunk 2, Indika, Death Stranding 2, Homeworld 3, Broken Roads, and Pacific Drive. Popular PC-exclusive titles include Valorant, League of Legends, Crusader Kings III, and Factorio. The most played PC games currently are Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Apex Legends, Grand Theft Auto V, Baldur’s Gate 3, Naraka: Bladepoint, Team Fortress 2, Rust, and Cyberpunk 2077. Counter-Strike 2 has the highest concurrent player count on Steam.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Destructoid’s award for Best PC game of 2024 goes to…

In 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio was named the best PC game of the year by Destructoid. The game is inspired by ATLUS' Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series but features a unique medieval setting where players rescue a prince and face various challenges. It incorporates familiar combat mechanics and introduces Archetypes for enhanced customization. The narrative addresses social and political issues, diverging from typical post-apocalyptic themes, while also including lighter moments for balance. The game appeals to both veteran fans and newcomers, showcasing a fresh soundtrack, distinctive art style, and innovative story progression. Future expansions may be possible, but are not guaranteed. Other nominees for Best PC Game of 2024 included Dragon’s Dogma 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Metal Slug Tactics, Satisfactory, Tiny Glade, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

Great moments in PC gaming: Getting freaked out by one of the creepy close-ups in The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a PC game developed by Cloak and Dagger, released in 2022. It features intricate storytelling and atmospheric design, blending nostalgia with unease. The game is set in a rural village and follows Victorian academic Thomasina as she uncovers dark secrets beneath the surface of the community. It employs a retro point-and-click aesthetic alongside haunting pixel art, creating moments of discomfort through subtle imagery rather than overt horror. The gameplay includes unassuming graphics and item-based puzzles, with shifts in art style to evoke unease. The game encourages players to confront their fears and perceptions, transforming friendly characters into grotesque forms. Similar innovative storytelling techniques are found in other titles like Skald: Against the Black Priory, which also blend contrasting aesthetics to create unsettling atmospheres.

AppWizard

December 14, 2024

Nominees for Destructoid’s Best PC Game of 2024

The text discusses notable video games released between December 2023 and early December 2024, highlighting several titles that are strong contenders for recognition. 1. Dragon’s Dogma 2: An open-world RPG sequel featuring the Pawn system for companion customization. 2. Dragon Age: The Veilguard: The fourth installment in the Dragon Age franchise, praised for gameplay despite some narrative issues. 3. Metal Slug Tactics: A turn-based strategy game that retains the essence of the Metal Slug franchise while introducing new mechanics. 4. Satisfactory: A factory-building game that has launched its full version after years in early access, known for its complex systems and creative potential. 5. Tiny Glade: A calming building game that allows players to create structures without complicated storylines. 6. Metaphor: ReFantazio: A title inspired by Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, noted for its unique art style and narrative. 7. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: A challenging DLC for Elden Ring, recognized for its depth and complexity in gameplay.