civilization Archives

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

There’s a fantasy swordsmithing sim launching on Steam next week, which is a sentence I’ve been waiting to hear since browsing my dad’s replica sword catalogs in 4th grade

The author grew up in an environment focused on historical reenactment and fantasy lore, influenced by a father who collected period costumes and bladed weaponry. They eagerly anticipate the early access launch of "Bladesong," a fantasy swordsmithing simulator set to debut on Steam on January 22. The game allows players to craft swords with various features, including length, width, thickness, and cross-section, and includes a story mode set in a medieval post-apocalyptic world. The early access version will offer additional engraving options, materials, and blade shaping techniques.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

The PvPvE extraction shooter where you build and drive a huge stompy mechanical base across a ruined planet gets a Steam release date

Sand: Raiders of Sophie is an open-world first-person shooter developed by Hologryph, set in an industrial alternate history of 1910 under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The game features player-versus-player and player-versus-environment gameplay, allowing players to raid resources and explore the remnants of cities. Players can engage in skirmishes for loot, search for weapons and resources, and navigate using a mobile base called the Trampler, which can transform into a ship. The game is set to be released on Steam in March, and it has undergone several playtests. A new trailer has been released, showcasing the game's visuals and environment.

AppWizard

January 7, 2026

Luna January Content Update

Prime members can access over 50 games through Luna, including a rotating selection of downloadable PC games each month. EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 26 will be available for Prime members at no extra cost from January 10 to February 10. New titles for January include Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI and The Jackbox Party Pack 3. Additional games available for cloud gaming include Alan Wake, DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT, HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ 2 - Turbocharged, Monster Truck Championship - Rebel Hunter Edition, Tormented Souls, Aragami: Shadow Edition, Spells & Secrets, Whisker Waters, and Trepang2. On the PC side, Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI is now available, with Brigador: Up-Armored Edition set to release on January 15.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Code Vein 2 is largely more of the same despite its story reset, but I think I’m okay with that

Code Vein 2 has been announced and is set to launch on January 29, priced at .99 / £54.99. The game retains core mechanics from the original, including checkpoints called Mistles and a system for reclaiming lost currency called Haze. It features extensive character customization, with a detailed editor and various Blood Codes that influence play style. Combat dynamics include faster-paced encounters and new weapon types, such as twin blades and rune blades, with over 200 Formae to master. The narrative involves Blood-drinking Revenants and human hunters in an apocalyptic setting, with players awakening 100 years after a catastrophic event. Companions can assist in combat and revive players upon death, adding strategic depth. Exploration has improved, with more complex dungeon layouts and navigation aids.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Designing a more magical survival game: a first look at Witchspire

Witchspire is a co-op open-world survival game developed by the Swedish team Envar, targeting Early Access in 2026. Players assume the roles of witches or wizards who reactivate an ancient monument, the Witchspire, and embark on a quest to return home. The game features an expansive environment with floating islands and diverse biomes, utilizing witchcraft as a gameplay mechanic. Players can build structures through astral projection, gather resources with magical tools, and use collectible familiars for combat and crafting. The game emphasizes a non-punitive progression system, allowing players to explore various biomes and engage in combat with spells and upgradeable gear. The world includes "corruption events" with darker elements, and the narrative unfolds through exploration of ruins and dungeons. Witchspire marks Envar's shift from outsourcing to developing original IPs, with plans to self-publish the game.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

MrBeast’s 1000-Player Minecraft Video Slammed Amid Infiltration Rumors

MrBeast organized a Minecraft competition titled “1000 Players Simulate Civilization: Boys vs Girls,” involving 1,000 players divided into two teams of 500 boys and 500 girls. The event faced controversy due to allegations of unfair play, including claims that boys infiltrated the girls’ team using fake profiles and AI-generated images. Reports indicated early eliminations of female players and accusations of systematic targeting by male infiltrators. Participants like VTuber Zavyy raised concerns about the competition's integrity, while streamer Phoefi criticized the final video edit. There were also unverified claims that some female players sold their accounts to male participants. Despite the issues, the boys’ team won the 0,000 prize.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

MrBeast’s Minecraft Video Spark Backlash Amid Infiltration Rumors

MrBeast's latest YouTube video features a 1,000-player Minecraft competition titled “1000 Players Simulate Civilization: Boys vs Girls,” where 500 boys compete against 500 girls. Allegations of infiltration arose, with claims that boys used fake profiles and AI-generated images to infiltrate the girls' team, leading to accusations of unfair play and scrutiny over early eliminations of female players. The monitoring team struggled to maintain order, and reports indicated that some boys posed as girls, resulting in systematic eliminations of female participants. VTuber Zavyy and streamer Phoefi expressed concerns about the integrity of the competition and the final video edit. Unverified reports suggested some female players may have sold their accounts to male participants. Despite the controversy, the boys' team won the ,000 prize, and the debate surrounding the event continues on social media.

AppWizard

December 31, 2025

Edwin’s most anticipated PC games for 2026

An indie strategy simulation game allows players to embody a tribe of primordial hunter-gatherers, focusing on technology and social values. Mars Tactics is a tactical strategy game set on Mars, where players can command either Capital or Labour forces, each with distinct advantages and vulnerabilities. Subnautica 2 has shifted from an undersea survival game to a legal attrition simulator, retaining multiplayer features but changing its focus. The Bustling World is an ambitious RPG offering various roles and vibrant aesthetics, though concerns exist about its social simulation's feasibility. Cicadamata is a first-person shooter with a fast pace and vibrant aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic titles while offering modern twists.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

Battlefield 6, Arc Raiders, and a surprising MMO are among Steam’s best selling games of 2025

Valve has released its annual ranking of the best-selling games on Steam for 2025, based on revenue rather than player ratings. The rankings categorize games into tiers, with the 'platinum' tier including the top 12 earners, which are randomized. Notable titles in the top tier include Battlefield 6, Arc Raiders, EA FC 26, Dune Awakening, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Schedule 1, Monster Hunter Wilds, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake, Civilization 7, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Elden Ring Nightreign. The 'gold' tier features games ranked from 13th to 24th, including Europa Universalis 5 and Anno 117: Pax Romana.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

2025’s Top-Selling Steam Games Include Some Terrible PC Ports

Valve has released the list of the best-selling games on Steam for 2025, which includes: 1. Monster Hunter Wilds 2. Elden Ring Nightreign 3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered 4. EA Sports FC 26 5. Borderlands 4 6. Schedule I 7. Hollow Knight: Silksong 8. Civilization VII 9. Battlefield 6 10. Dune Awakening 11. Arc Raiders 12. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 The games ranked 13-24 are: 13. Assassin’s Creed Shadows 14. Dispatch 15. Dying Light: The Beast 16. Anno 117: Pax Romana 17. Europa Universalis V 18. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 19. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 20. Split Fiction 21. Inzoi 22. Doom: The Dark Ages 23. Stellar Blade 24. Digimon Story: Time Stranger Monster Hunter Wilds has been criticized as one of the worst PC ports of the year but remains popular among players. Civilization VII also faced criticism over launch issues yet made it into the top 12. Capcom plans to release performance improvements for Monster Hunter Wilds in 2026.