childhood Archives

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Viral pirate survival game Windrose has a release date, and it’s very, very soon

Windrose is a "PvE survival adventure" game set in the Age of Piracy, allowing players to embark on solo or cooperative journeys with up to four friends. Players can build bases, recruit NPCs, trade with factions, and engage in challenging combat reminiscent of souls-lite mechanics. The game has gained significant attention, with over 1.5 million wishlists and 850,000 demo players during Steam Next Fest, ranking eighth on Steam's Most Wishlisted chart. Windrose is set to enter early access on April 14. The development team has made improvements based on feedback from over 12,000 surveys and 7,500 reviews, including enhanced multiplayer capabilities and changes to naval combat.

AppWizard

April 5, 2026

Tarn Adams, co-creator of Dwarf Fortress, has over 1,400 hours in Factorio and is currently obsessed with terraforming games: ‘Dwarf Fortress just doesn’t accommodate a full-on sci-fi thing’

Tarn Adams is the co-founder of Bay 12 Games and is best known for co-creating Dwarf Fortress, which was released in 2006 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary. He has recently been playing The Planet Crafter, a terraforming game, and has logged 1,454.5 hours in Factorio, a factory-building simulation. Adams does not have a single game he would never uninstall but frequently plays Caves of Qud. He uses Ableton, a music sequencer, as essential non-gaming software. His desktop is about half full with various folders and .txt files, including a nostalgic folder for BASIC games from the '80s.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Xalavier Nelson Jr, director of Space Baby Warlord Trading Simulator, will never uninstall Warframe and would love to see an Outriders 2: ‘I think that game would have been really special’

Xalavier Nelson Jr., founder and creative director of Strange Scaffold, began his gaming journey on consoles and was influenced by watching his father play PC games like Battlefield 2 and Age of Empires. He considers Sid Meier's Pirates! a pivotal game that shaped his perspective on gaming. Currently, he is revisiting Outriders with friends, appreciating its unique storytelling and lamenting the cancellation of its sequel. He has logged the most hours in Worms: Crazy Golf, a childhood favorite shared with his sister. Nelson Jr. vows never to uninstall Warframe due to its continuous evolution and engaging experience. He relies on Audacity for audio editing as a voice actor. His desktop is organized with only essential icons and a few critical text files, and he has a completed game project waiting for release.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

Street Fighter 6’s new DLC character is into incest, and somehow Capcom is making the whole thing even weirder

Alex, a character from Street Fighter 3: New Generation, returned as the latest DLC fighter for Street Fighter 6 on March 17, introducing a storyline involving an incestuous relationship with his second cousin and adoptive sister, Patricia. Capcom's director, Takayuki Nakayama, acknowledged the controversy on social media, stating that while character backstories remain unchanged, certain text passages will be revised for clarity. Despite efforts to clarify the relationship through a narrative titled A Toast Between Fathers, concerns about the portrayal of Alex and Patricia's bond as romantic have intensified among players. Capcom has faced scrutiny regarding the normalization of this relationship given their familial ties.

AppWizard

March 28, 2026

5 Games To Play This Weekend: PC Stealth Game, Train Sim & More

The gaming community is buzzing with excitement due to a free PC port announcement for Animal Crossing and a deadline for Nintendo gamers to access a new feature on the Switch 2 before it becomes paid. Kate is playing Pokémon Pokopia, investing nearly 50 hours into the game, which she finds meditative. Olly is revisiting Thief: The Dark Project, a classic stealth game from 1998, expressing a desire for a remaster. Sam is enjoying Thomas and Friends: Wonders of Sodor, a nostalgic train simulation game. Rich's weekend gaming includes WWE 2K26 and EA Sports FC 26, with spontaneous choices for other games. Sara is looking forward to Life is Strange: Reunion, which concludes Max and Chloe's story.

AppWizard

March 26, 2026

That Hunter: The Reckoning game that was accidentally leaked on Steam is now officially revealed as a new FPS RPG

Hunter: The Reckoning - Deathwish was revealed during the Xbox Partner Preview showcase, set in New York City. Players will take on the role of a hunter in a game that incorporates more RPG elements than previous titles from developer Teyon. The game features a diverse cast of NPCs to enhance storytelling. However, the publisher Nacon has filed for insolvency, which may affect the game's development timeline and could lead to delays or a change in publisher.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

As a Thomas superfan, Thomas and Friends Wonders of Sodor would have blown my four-year-old mind

The author had a childhood fascination with Thomas the Tank Engine, influenced by their grandfather, a train enthusiast. In the late 90s, special Thomas-themed days were held at the railway where the grandfather worked, allowing children to ride in Thomas replicas. The author recalls a cherished experience of riding in the cab of a Thomas engine. The release of "Thomas and Friends: Wonders of Sodor" evokes nostalgia for the author, who, as a video game journalist, critiques the game for its clunky interface and design flaws while acknowledging its charm and alignment with the series' essence. The gameplay includes scenarios like a race involving Thomas and Gordon, with interactive elements that would appeal to young fans. However, the game has accessibility issues, such as a lack of checkpoints, which can frustrate players. The mechanics seem more suited for adult train simulation enthusiasts, raising questions about the game's intended audience.

TrendTechie

March 23, 2026

Лидия Торрент — о доверии и личных границах на премьере фильма в Мадриде

Lidia Torrent was a focal point at the premiere of the film ‘ZETA’ in Madrid, where she discussed trust in relationships and the challenges of living under public scrutiny. She expressed that she would remain calm if her partner, Jaime Astrain, checked her phone, emphasizing the importance of trust and personal boundaries. Lidia has been accustomed to media attention since childhood, shaped by her mother, Elsa Anka, a prominent figure in the industry. She actively engages with social media to control her narrative and mitigate stress from public speculation. Lidia's openness about her personal life has earned her respect in the Spanish entertainment industry, where discussions about personal boundaries and privacy are increasingly relevant. She gained recognition through her work on ‘First Dates’ and maintains a connection with her audience while navigating the public interest in her relationship with Jaime Astrain.

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

Oblivion turns 20 today, and I need Bethesda to return to its roots for Elder Scrolls 6

The author purchased The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion the day after its release, exchanging all their pocket money at Gamestation. The game came with a disc and a glossy map of Cyrodiil. Oblivion allowed players to take on various roles, showcasing the flexibility characteristic of RPGs. The author experienced the game on PC, while it also became a flagship title for the Xbox 360, broadening the appeal of RPGs to console gamers. Oblivion has influenced many contemporary games, including Elden Ring and Kingdom Come Deliverance. It is associated with the controversial horse armor DLC, which sparked discussions about microtransactions in gaming. The author reflects on the game's graphical limitations and the unnecessary nature of the Oblivion Remastered version. As Oblivion celebrates its 20th anniversary, the author considers the future of RPGs and the potential impact of The Elder Scrolls 6.

AppWizard

March 19, 2026

A Blockbuster Video Simulator Takes Over PC Gaming Charts

Samuel Gauthier is an independent video game developer and co-founder of Blood Pact Studios, known for creating Retro Rewind, a video-rental-store simulator that debuted at number one on Steam's top 10 list. The game allows players to manage a movie rental shop set in the early '90s, featuring 14,000 fictitious movie titles generated through AI prompts and 21 films inspired by popular hits of the era. The development of Retro Rewind took 15 months, with Gauthier and his team working over 60 hours a week. The game is priced at .92 and aims for greater replayability and wider appeal compared to their previous game, Bonesaw, which sold around 10,000 copies. Blood Pact Studios plans to provide ongoing support for Retro Rewind across various platforms and is considering future projects, potentially focusing on multiplayer or co-op gaming. Gauthier envisions evolving the game alongside technological advancements, possibly transitioning from VHS to DVDs.