casual gamers Archives

AppWizard

September 14, 2026

Monday’s Android app deals and freebies: Defenchick, KNIGHTS, Red Ronin, more

Monday features app and game deals on Google Play, including titles such as Defenchick: Tower Defense, Deep Space: First Contact, KNIGHTS, Psychofunk, Ailment: Dead Standoff Premium, Knight Bewitched: DX Edition, RPG Absinthia, Exile: Wasteland Survival PRO, and Red Ronin. There are significant price drops on official Pixelsnap Pixel 11 cases, and Amazon has introduced cash deals on Pixel 11 series devices. Discounts are also available on the Galaxy Watch 9.

AppWizard

September 8, 2026

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: MO Astray, Old Man’s Journey, ELOH, more

Amazon has reduced the price of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, offering a discount of 0, marking its all-time low pricing. Additionally, a selection of Google Play app and game offers includes titles such as Old Man’s Journey, Elemental Dungeon: Roguelike, MO: Astray, Skel and Defense, ELOH, Argo’s Choice: Offline Game, Angelo and Deemon (Full), Escape Alive, and Inbetween Land (Full). A broader array of Google Play deals is also available.

BetaBeacon

September 5, 2026

Google Play Games PC vs GameLoop vs Genymotion [2026]

Google Play Games for PC officially launched on September 23, 2025, after more than three years of testing.

AppWizard

September 3, 2026

[Industry news] Relive The Adventures of a Lifetime as Remakes of the Legendary Classics Myst and Riven Return to PC and Console Later This Year

Limited Run Games and Cyan Worlds are releasing modern remakes of the classic puzzle adventure titles Myst and Riven for PC and console platforms later this year. The Myst remake will be available in two physical editions: the Standard Edition priced at .99 / €44.95 / £40.00 / $CAD 56.99 and the Big Box Edition priced at .99 / €71.95 / £65.00 / $CAD 91.99. The Riven remake will also have a Standard Edition at the same price points and a Big Box Edition with the same pricing structure. Pre-orders for both games will begin on September 18, 2026, and will close on October 18, 2026.

AppWizard

August 30, 2026

New Roguelikes & Roguelites in September 2026: The Monthly Update

- Serious Sam: Shatterverse was released on August 31 for PC (Win). - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault was released on September 2 for PC (Win), PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox. - Cosmo Tales entered Early Access on September 3 for PC (Win). - Rutrum was released on September 3 for PC (Win). - Mewgenics was released on September 8 for PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series. - Wanderburg entered Early Access on September 8 for PC (Win). - Ex Sanguis entered Early Access on September 10 for PC (Win). - Roguecraft DX was released on September 10 for PC (Win). - Forsworn was released on September 10 for PC (Lin, Win). - Fresh Tracks VR was released on September 10 for PC VR. - Shroom and Gloom entered Early Access on September 11 for PC (Mac, Win). - Dunebound Tactics was released on September 14 for PC (Win). - Cloudbreaker was released on September 15 for PC (Lin, Win). - Fleetbreakers entered Early Access on September 15 for PC (Win). - Sublight was released on September 15 for PC (Win). - Two Sides of Hell was released on September 17 for PC (Win). - Furyball: Rogue Revenge entered Early Access on September 23 for PC (Win). - Stick It to the Stickman was released on September 23 for PC (Win).

BetaBeacon

August 26, 2026

LDPlayer 14 vs LDPlayer 9 vs BlueStacks: 21% FPS Gap [2026]

LDPlayer 14 has moved to an Android 14 kernel, allowing newer titles that reject Android 9 installs to run natively. BlueStacks allows users to spin up separate instances running different Android versions, giving flexibility to users. LDPlayer 14 has introduced Eco Mode and an updated LDMultiplayer manager for running multiple accounts in parallel. LDPlayer 9 remains the stable version listed on LDPlayer's homepage and has a mature ecosystem of community macro and script tools. BlueStacks offers multiple Android versions from a single install, catering to users with a game library spanning old and new titles.

AppWizard

August 26, 2026

RetroArch vs Lemuroid vs .emu: 127 Cores, $4.99 Each [2026]

As of August 2026, the main options for Android emulators include RetroArch, Lemuroid, and the .emu family of apps. RetroArch offers extensive system coverage and features, including netplay and rewind capabilities, but can be confusing for new users due to its multiple versions. Lemuroid is recognized for its simplicity and quick setup, making it ideal for beginners. The .emu family provides dedicated emulators for individual consoles, ensuring optimized performance but requiring a purchase for each app. RetroArch and Lemuroid are free, while the .emu apps cost around .99 CAD each. All three emulator options are legal, provided users supply their own BIOS files and ROMs. Devices with Snapdragon 660-class chips or newer are recommended for optimal performance across these emulators.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

Fallout dev Tim Cain says we should pay more attention to bad games: ‘[Publishers] often don’t learn from failure because they only look at the games that sold well’

Tim Cain, co-creator of the Fallout series, emphasized the importance of analyzing unsuccessful video games to learn from their shortcomings. He highlighted that understanding the traits contributing to a game's failure can be as informative as studying successful games. Cain referred to this as survivorship bias, advising developers to examine features common among unsuccessful titles. He noted that many successful games have flaws such as low frame rates and poor user interfaces, suggesting that analyzing less successful games can enhance creators' understanding of what makes a game enjoyable.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Set Up Google Play Games on PC: 12 Steps [2026]

Google Play Games Beta on PC allows users to play a selection of Android games on Windows machines, syncing with existing Play Store accounts. As of August 2026, it is in beta and available in over 100 countries, focusing on curated titles that meet Google's certification for PC compatibility. The platform features a rapid update cycle, requiring users to uninstall older versions before installing new ones. System requirements include Windows 10, a minimum of four physical CPU cores, 8GB of RAM, and an SSD with at least 10GB of free space, with hardware virtualization enabled. The installation process consists of twelve steps to confirm compatibility and download the installer. Google Play Games on PC offers a streamlined experience compared to third-party emulators like BlueStacks and LDPlayer, which allow broader access to titles but may lack the same level of certification and account synchronization.

AppWizard

July 5, 2026

Top scientists uncover way to make Kingdom Come: Deliverance more complicated—turn it into a board game

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is being adapted into a board game by Czech Games, which is available for preorder. The board game aims to capture the essence of the video game while introducing complex mechanics that challenge players with strategic decisions. It is set to launch in the first quarter of next year and is expected to appeal to both fans of the RPG genre and newcomers. The game will offer a narrative-driven experience that encourages collaboration and competition.