character builds Archives

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review

Clair Obscur is a JRPG set in a dark version of Belle Époque France, featuring a countdown marked by a figure called the Paintress that signals doom for certain individuals. The gameplay combines traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time challenges, requiring players to develop characters into powerful allies to prevent an apocalypse. The battle system includes quick-time events and real-time shooting, which can lead to frustration due to its demand for precision. Character diversity is a highlight, with each member of Expedition 33 offering unique abilities, but the game often lacks meaningful feedback on strategies. Exploration is streamlined, allowing players to avoid excessive grinding, with a total playtime of around 20 hours. Inventory management is simplified, focusing on combat and storytelling. The game features strong voice acting and vibrant visuals, though its combat mechanics can overshadow the narrative.

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

Best Single-Player PC Games to Play in 2025

Single-player PC games are thriving in 2025, featuring captivating narratives, intricate gameplay, and stunning visuals. Notable titles include: 1. Blue Prince - An indie roguelike puzzle game with a Metacritic score of 93, set in a shifting manor where players solve interconnected puzzles. 2. Assassin’s Creed Shadows - Set in feudal Japan, this game features two protagonists with distinct playstyles and has been praised for its narrative pacing and environmental design. 3. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - A cinematic first-person adventure focusing on exploration and puzzle-solving, released on PC in late 2024. 4. South of Midnight - A magical adventure following a girl with weaving abilities, notable for its claymation art style and emotional depth. 5. Avowed - A first-person fantasy RPG with choice-driven storytelling, set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity. Upcoming games include: - Blades of Fire (May 22, 2025) - A Soulslike combat game with a focus on cinematic storytelling. - Cairn (TBA 2025) - A survival climbing simulator emphasizing precision control mechanics. - Hell Is Us (September 4, 2025) - A narrative-driven action game that eschews traditional open-world design. - Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream (Late 2025) - A stealth-adventure game featuring orphans uncovering a conspiracy. The PC platform remains the best for single-player games due to mod support, performance flexibility, a vast library, and indie innovation. The evolution of gaming technology has led to cutting-edge graphics, immersive storytelling, and innovative exploration mechanics, enhancing player engagement.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

My biggest pleasant surprise of 2025 so far has been the free prequel to one of my favorite indie RPGs, made with FromSoft’s 25-year-old game making toolset

Lunacid, a first-person RPG inspired by the King's Field series, was released in 2023 by Kira LLC. A prequel titled Lunacid: Tears of the Moon is set thousands of years before the original game and was developed using the Sword of Moonlight toolset. The game features user-generated dungeon crawlers and has drawn comparisons to atmospheric exploration titles like Thief and System Shock. Players engage in melee combat without blocking or dodging options, and character progression occurs automatically upon leveling up. Mana regenerates through successful melee attacks, and health is fully restored at the home base. The game lacks a tutorial, prompting players to refer to a classic-style manual. Players must locate five shards of a legendary sword while navigating a world filled with secrets, including hidden doors and challenging enemies.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Xbox shows off a gaming version of Microsoft’s AI assistant thing that’ll show up “at the right moment” and tell you what to do with your wood

Xbox has announced the launch of Copilot for Gaming, a specialized version of Microsoft's Copilot AI designed to assist players by providing in-game tips and advice. This tool will be accessible through the Xbox mobile app and is expected to be available soon, with Xbox insiders being the first to test it. The AI can respond to player inquiries and provide practical guidance, aiming to enhance player performance and enjoyment by offering tailored advice on gameplay strategies, character builds, and resource management. The AI's assistance is designed to be non-intrusive, ensuring players can engage with the game without unnecessary interruptions.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Does Avowed have multiplayer or co-op?

Avowed is designed strictly as a single-player title and does not support multiplayer functionality. Obsidian Entertainment, the developer, confirmed that initial plans for a co-op feature were scrapped to focus on refining the RPG systems for a cohesive single-player experience. While there is a possibility that modders could create an unofficial co-op function in the future, Obsidian has not indicated any plans to introduce co-op features. Avowed is available on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through various platforms, and it is priced at .99, with a promotional deal bringing the price down to .89 at CDKeys.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Avowed’s huge 66GB update includes major improvements for the game’s whole progression system, along with key bug fixes and buffs for companions

A recent patch for Avowed, version 1.2.2, has reworked the tier system, making it more dynamic and less punishing for players using lower-tier weapons against higher-tier enemies. The update allows for smoother transitions between tiers, reducing significant disadvantages unless there is a large upgrade gap. Players can now engage effectively with lower-tier weapons, relying on skill and strategy rather than solely on high-tier equipment. Companions have received health boosts and improved recovery, enhancing their combat viability. The patch also addresses various bugs, particularly in quest progression, and improves visual and audio feedback for abilities. While some issues remain, the developers at Obsidian have shown commitment to refining the game.