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The city builders of 2026 will let us build in some wild places, including a Pokémon-style world filled with collectible creatures
AppWizard
January 3, 2026

The city builders of 2026 will let us build in some wild places, including a Pokémon-style world filled with collectible creatures

Nova Roma is set to release in January 2026, allowing players to reconstruct a fallen Rome while facing challenges from vengeful gods. DarkSwitch will arrive in March 2026, where players create an elvish metropolis around a sacred tree in a dark fantasy realm. Steel Artery will take players on a moving train in a steampunk universe, managing a diverse population of orcs and elves. Beyond These Stars invites players to build cities on the back of a cosmic whale. Tamer Town features a vibrant economy of collectible creatures called Mokiton, with over 130 creatures to gather. Metropolis 1998 combines retro aesthetics with modern simulation mechanics, enabling players to personalize every building in their city.
The PC game releases we're most excited about in January
AppWizard
January 3, 2026

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in January

January typically sees a quieter period for PC gaming, with many anticipated titles debuting later in the month. Notable releases include: - January 12: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Steam) - Players act as a checkpoint officer in a zombie apocalypse. - January 26: Highguard (Steam) - A free-to-play hero shooter facing skepticism. - January 29: Cairn (Steam) - A mountain climbing game praised by early players. Upcoming gaming events and sales include: - CES from January 6-9. - Steam Winter Sale (December 18 - January 5). - Detective Fest (January 12 - January 19). - Board Game Fest (January 26 - February 2). - Taipei Game Show (January 29 - February 1). Early access launches in January: - January 6: StarRupture (Steam) - A sci-fi base building and defense game. - January 22: Bladesong (Steam) - Players craft blades in a dark fantasy setting. - January TBA: Echoes of Elysium (Steam) - A co-op airship survival RPG delayed from December. Major updates and events: - January 20: World of Warcraft's Midnight Pre-Expansion Content Update. - January 12: Anthem concludes its service. - January 22: Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven expansion introduces new content. Additional game releases in January include: - January 9: Pathologic 3 (Steam). - January 12: Big Hops (Steam). - January 15: Craftlings (Steam) and Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (Steam). - January 16: BrokenLore: Unfollow (Steam). - January 20: Mio: Memories in Orbit (Steam). - January 21: Dynasty Warriors Origins: Visions of Four Heroes (Steam). - January 22: Nova Roma (Steam) and Arknights: Endfield (Epic). - January 28: The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Steam) and The Midnight Walkers (early access). - January 29: Don't Stop, Girlypop! (Steam).
Why Modern PC Games Are CPU-Bound Again
AppWizard
December 31, 2025

Why Modern PC Games Are CPU-Bound Again

Modern PC gaming faces a challenge where gamers experience underutilized GPUs at around 60% capacity, leading to faltering frame rates despite investing in high-end graphics cards. This issue arises not from CPU inadequacy but from gaming demands evolving faster than how games utilize CPU power. Players upgrading to more powerful GPUs like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XT report minimal frame rate improvements, particularly at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, with CPU cores being pushed to their limits while GPU usage declines. This trend is evident across various game genres, and even DirectX 12, which offers improved multithreading, struggles to scale effectively beyond six to eight cores. Developers recognize these CPU limitations but find it challenging to address them. Modern games simulate numerous elements continuously, rely on real-time asset streaming, and face difficulties in distributing workloads effectively across CPU cores. Additionally, console hardware influences game design, often leading to CPU-bound scenarios on high-end PCs. Performance varies between Intel and AMD CPUs depending on game design, with some games demonstrating effective CPU scaling while others do not. CPU bottlenecks are expected to persist as GPU advancements outpace CPU improvements, emphasizing the need for gamers to consider CPU capabilities alongside GPU upgrades.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
November 8, 2025

Surviving Mars: Relaunched is a solid but inessential remaster for one of the best city builders around, but I’m extremely excited about what comes next

Surviving Mars: Relaunched is a remaster of the original game released in 2018 by Haemimont Games and Paradox Interactive, which received positive reviews and an 80% rating. The remaster includes significant enhancements, such as improved underground maps, a refined train system, and quality-of-life improvements. A new engine has been developed to enhance visuals and performance, allowing for future DLC without the constraints of the original game. Upcoming expansions include Feeding the Future, focusing on food production, and Machine Utopia, introducing automated colonies. The Martian Assembly expansion is included from the start, allowing players to pass laws for benefits and choose political systems. The relaunch aims to attract both new players and previous ones, although the value for seasoned players may be less clear due to the upgrade fee.
Frostpunk 2 dev shares emergency crash fix as master city builders reach settlement sizes previously thought impossible
AppWizard
October 30, 2025

Frostpunk 2 dev shares emergency crash fix as master city builders reach settlement sizes previously thought impossible

Frostpunk 2 is set three decades after a catastrophic blizzard, where players manage resources in a community facing severe winter challenges. The game allows for unprecedented settlement sizes due to a new sandbox mode, surprising the developers at 11 bit studios. However, players have encountered issues with save files not loading and game crashes due to exceeding the maximum number of manageable objects. The studio has provided guidance for players to manually adjust the object limit but warns it should be a last resort. The latest patch, hotfix 1.4.2, also includes enhancements such as fixes for unresponsive economy overlays, missing tooltips, and startup problems related to chapter five. Instructions for adjusting the object limit are available in the patch notes.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
October 26, 2025

After three years in early access, this medieval city builder’s 1.0 launch is tearing me away from Manor Lords

Farthest Frontier 1.0 has launched, developed by Crate Entertainment, known for Grim Dawn. After three years in early access, it is now a fully realized city-building game on PC, inspired by titles like Banished and featuring a farming system comparable to Stardew Valley. The game allows players to engage in foraging, farming, fishing, and hunting with detailed simulation mechanics, including unique crop requirements and soil management. Townsfolk perform various jobs, and infrastructure is vital for settlement efficiency. Each game features randomly generated maps with different biomes, requiring players to adapt and trade for resources. Players must manage disease risks and maintain clean water supplies. The game offers customization options, including difficulty settings and the ability to adjust threats from bandits. Farthest Frontier 1.0 is available on Steam for .99 / £29.50.
Back after two decades, iconic city builder's dream return suddenly dies as dev confirms 1.0 update is its last
AppWizard
October 19, 2025

Back after two decades, iconic city builder’s dream return suddenly dies as dev confirms 1.0 update is its last

Industry Giant 4.0, a revival of a classic PC gaming name, was launched in early access in November 2024 but will conclude its development with the 1.0 launch, which will also be its final update. The developers, Don Vs Dodo and publisher Toplitz Productions, announced that there will be no further major updates or new features, disappointing players who were hoping for promised features like multiplayer functionality. The game struggled to attract a significant player base, peaking at only 587 players, and received negative reviews citing its unfinished state and lack of features.
September is absolutely stacked with city builders: here's 8 releasing this month
AppWizard
September 4, 2025

September is absolutely stacked with city builders: here’s 8 releasing this month

A wave of innovative city-building games is set to release in September, featuring eight titles. Two games are currently available: 1. Autarkis - A puzzler where players build futuristic settlements and navigate challenges while searching for spaceship components. 2. Anno 117: Pax Romana Demo - A demo available until September 16, allowing players to explore sandbox mode and initial population tiers. Upcoming games include: - Fata Deum (September 14) - Players act as a deity guiding followers to harvest resources and build temples. - Town to City (September 16) - A voxel-based game where players expand their town into a city. - Pompeii: The Legacy (September 16) - Players work to resurrect Pompeii and engage in political maneuvering. - Mars Attracts (September 16) - Players build a theme park-like city on Mars for extraterrestrial visitors. Future titles include: - Super Fantasy Kingdom (Q3 2025) - A mix of exploration, kingdom management, and combat. - Meadowside Mayor (September 2025) - A puzzle-building game with an isometric aesthetic. Additional upcoming games beyond September include: - Beyond These Stars (2025) - Build a city on a cosmic whale. - Tropico 7 (2026) - The latest installment in the Tropico series. - Sintopia (2026) - Manage a city in Hell. - Surviving Mars Relaunched (TBA) - A remaster of the 2018 strategy builder. - DarkSwitch (TBA) - A vertical builder in a fantasy realm. - Crowded (TBA) - Design a town for birds. - Life Below (TBA) - Create an underwater city focused on sustainability.
This underwater city builder had me more emotionally invested in my corals than SimCity does in my human citizens, and you can try it at the next Steam Next Fest
AppWizard
May 30, 2025

This underwater city builder had me more emotionally invested in my corals than SimCity does in my human citizens, and you can try it at the next Steam Next Fest

Life Below is a city-building game available on Steam that focuses on underwater ecosystems and highlights the fragility of marine life. Players manage resources such as fish, algae, anemones, and corals, while dealing with challenges like lionfish infestations that threaten local wildlife and coral structures. The game offers a narrative-driven experience and features a relaxed gameplay pace with a pause button for strategic planning. A demo of the game will be available during the Steam Next Fest from June 9 to 16.
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