character-driven Archives

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

Dark isometric survival management game Peregrino announced for PC

Inverge Studios has announced its new project, Peregrino, a dark isometric survival management game set to launch on PC via Steam, with no specific release date yet. Players will lead a group of pilgrims through a dangerous landscape, facing life-or-death decisions that impact their journey and the fates of their followers. Key features include brutal survival management requiring resource management, a horror journey confronting nightmarish creatures, character-driven gameplay with unique pilgrim stories, a customizable caravan serving as a home and defense, careful inventory management, and a gothic horror-inspired 19th-century aesthetic. An announcement trailer is available for viewing.

AppWizard

July 30, 2025

I’m a haunted Mad Max muscle car with 2 shotgun turrets in this early access vehicle combat game, and it’s just as rad as it sounds

Fumes is an early access car combat game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland that focuses on vehicles and their weapons rather than character-driven narratives. It emphasizes fast-paced, pixelated machine violence and offers a straightforward approach to vehicular warfare. The game is currently available on Steam.

AppWizard

July 13, 2025

The Expanse RPG’s developers are ‘humbled’ by comparisons to BioWare’s heyday, but don’t expect it to be a straight Mass Effect clone: ‘We make our story a little bit differently’

Owlcat is developing a role-playing game titled The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, inspired by the narrative depth and character-driven gameplay of BioWare's Mass Effect series. Creative director Alexander Mishulin acknowledged the influence of Mass Effect on their project, stating that many team members grew up playing it and that it has significantly impacted them as game developers. The game aims to blend intricate storytelling with engaging combat mechanics, appealing to both new players and fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

New ‘Game of Thrones’ PC Game ‘War for Westeros’ Arrives 2026

A new strategy game titled Game of Thrones: War for Westeros has been announced, set to launch in 2026. Developed by Paradox Interactive, known for grand strategy games, it will allow players to control the great houses of Westeros, manage armies, form alliances, and engage in espionage. The game will feature a detailed map of Westeros and include iconic characters and events from the series. It is expected to be a PC exclusive, with more details on the release date to come.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Ex-Dragon Age lead hopes Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 pulls an ‘Expedition 33 or Baldur’s Gate 3’ by leaning into the combat-light, roleplaying-heavy gameplay of the tabletop version

Fraser Brown from PC Gamer has reignited optimism among fans for the sequel, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, following a recent preview. David Gaider, known for his work on Dragon Age, has also expressed enthusiasm for the original game and hopes for the sequel, envisioning it as a deep RPG that captures the political intrigue and character-driven narratives of the tabletop experience. Gaider emphasizes the importance of character relationships over combat in the tabletop version and desires a game that fully embraces these elements. Fraser's preview describes Bloodlines 2 as a mix of chaotic action and intricate storytelling, featuring visceral encounters and complex moral dilemmas, while also providing rich roleplaying opportunities and engaging character interactions.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

‘Stories are our bread and butter’: Larian is building a special team to lay out the plot of its games years in advance

Larian Studios is developing two new projects simultaneously, with a focus on storytelling. CEO Swen Vincke stated that they are creating a backlog of stories for future games. The studio is working on a new role-playing game codenamed "Excalibur" and has established a dedicated storytelling team. Their previous titles, particularly Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, received critical acclaim for their character-driven narratives.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Painkiller is back, and maybe they’ll finally get it right this time

A new installment in the Painkiller series, developed by Anshar Studios and published by 3D Realms, was announced during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. The original Painkiller, released in 2004 by People Can Fly, is recognized as a classic first-person shooter known for its level design, weaponry, and heavy metal soundtracks. The new game will feature four distinct characters with unique abilities, a collectible system with Tarot cards, and reimagined enemies, while retaining classic weapons like the Painkiller. The game is set to launch in the fall and is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.