civilizations Archives

AppWizard

August 10, 2026

5 Best PC Games Of The ’80s, Ranked

The original "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" is a classic game from 1989 that is being remade to appeal to both new and veteran players. "Dungeon Master," released in 1987 by FTL Games, is a first-person dungeon crawler that introduced a dynamic improvement mechanism for character attributes and skills, featuring real-time combat and detailed monster designs. "Maniac Mansion," developed by Lucasfilm Games in 1987, is a horror-comedy point-and-click adventure that involves rescuing a teenager from a mad scientist's home, known for its intricate puzzles and multiple endings. "MIDI Maze," released in 1987 for the Atari ST, was an early multiplayer first-person shooter that allowed up to 16 players to battle using floating smiley faces as avatars and included networking capabilities and a level editor. "Starflight," released in 1986, allowed players to explore a vast galaxy, interact with civilizations, and engage in diplomacy and trading, featuring 270 star systems and the ability to recruit crew members and upgrade spacecraft.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

5 Best PC Games Of The ’90s, Ranked

"Doom II" has received a new official level nearly three decades after its initial release. "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings," released in 1999, features 13 distinct civilizations and has seen numerous expansions that enhance multiplayer modes. "Grim Fandango," released in 1998, is celebrated for its distinctive art design and captivating narrative, despite initial commercial struggles. "Half-Life," released in 1998, introduced a seamless gameplay experience and a compelling narrative, establishing itself as a classic in the first-person shooter genre. "StarCraft," released in 1998, allows players to choose from three unique factions and is known for its balanced gameplay and robust online multiplayer experience.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

5 Hit PC Games No One Remembers Today

Black & White is a pioneering title from Electronic Arts where players act as a deity influencing civilizations through kindness or tyranny, featuring innovative design and strategic systems. Planescape: Torment, developed by Black Isle and published by Interplay, immerses players in the city of Sigil as The Nameless One, focusing on dialogue for conflict resolution rather than combat, offering rich narratives and characters. Myth: The Fallen Lords, developed by Bungie, is a real-time tactics game where players command a squad against dark forces, emphasizing real-time combat without resource management and featuring an innovative physics engine. Nox, released in 2000, is an action role-playing game where players control Jack in a fantasy realm, offering three distinct classes and a deep magic system, encouraging replayability and featuring multiplayer mode. FreeSpace 2, released by Volition and Interplay, is a space combat game known for its epic battles, a variety of ships and weapons, and exhilarating dogfighting mechanics, remaining a notable title in the space flight genre nearly three decades later.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

You can currently buy three of my all-time favorite microstrategy games for $10

Steam's Games Made in Sweden sale features notable titles such as Vermintide, Darktide, Payday, Valheim, Amnesia, and Satisfactory, with many available at discounts. Vermintide 2 is priced at £2.34. Three microstrategy games highlighted in the sale are Bad North, Kingdom Two Crowns, and The Battle of Polytopia, all available for under £10. Bad North involves defending islands from Viking invasions, Kingdom Two Crowns combines town-building with exploration and co-op gameplay, and The Battle of Polytopia offers quick 4x gameplay with 16 civilizations and various modes. Some notable titles, like Arc Raiders, are not included in the sale.

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

New Minecraft Update Finally Allows Players to Sit Down

Minecraft's latest update introduces a long-awaited sitting feature, allowing players to use cushions to sit, enhancing gameplay beyond previous options limited to boats and mine carts. The update will be available to all players this fall, with preview builds accessible immediately. Additionally, the update includes new elements like straw beds and a new biome. Microsoft is restructuring Xbox, with Minecraft's leadership now reporting to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who noted the franchise has been "massively underinvested."

AppWizard

July 8, 2026

Minecraft adds new sitting feature after 17 years

Mojang has introduced a new feature in Minecraft allowing characters to sit on cushions, crafted from three wool slabs and available in 16 colors. This addition enables players to interact with cushions on flat surfaces. The update also includes straw beds made from three hay bales, which allow players to rest without changing their spawn points. A preview of a new biome and additional blocks and items is part of a broader seasonal update set to roll out in autumn. The introduction of cushions addresses a long-standing gap in the gameplay experience, as players have historically used various methods to sit down.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

This week in PC games: a trio of surreal shooters, a big Stellaris expansion, and a new RPG from Octopath Traveller devs

This week features the Steam Next Fest, showcasing numerous game demos and playtests. Notable new game releases include: - Stellaris: Nomads: Introduces migrant civilizations with planet-scale spaceships in a 4X strategy game. - Day Trade Coach: A stock market trading simulator with a live news feed and professional trading terminal interface. - Mole: Players pilot a drill guided by whispers from the deceased in a whimsical setting. - Alaric: A "boomer shooter" with metroidvania design elements. - Copa City: A football management game set in 2026, focusing on the chaos of fan influx. - GoblinAmerica: An early access FPS where players embody US presidents to restore order and rewrite history. - The Last Salvage Squad: Features anime robots battling UFOs. - A four-dimensional chess game concept. Additional noteworthy titles include: - R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos: A remastered collection of turn-based PSP R-Type games. - The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales: An action-RPG with "2D-HD" graphics by veterans of Octopath Traveller. - Mech Spa: A nurturing game focused on mechs. - Mythic Love: Iberian Legends: An otome visual novel exploring Iberian folklore. - The Quiet Things: An autobiographical narrative addressing childhood trauma. - Moon River: A short RPG where players navigate a river revealed by moonlight, marking its full release. The Treehouse team is engaged in various activities, including urban adventures, exploring fungal brains, and artistic projects.

AppWizard

June 5, 2026

Seven years later, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition finally arrives on Mac

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has been released for Mac users in 2026 by Feral Interactive, following its original PC release in 2019. The game is a real-time strategy (RTS) title that allows players to control various nations and historical figures, featuring numerous single-player campaigns and three DLC expansion packs. The Mac version includes enhanced 4K/high-resolution graphics, is optimized for Apple Silicon processors, and is available on Steam with plans for a Mac App Store release later in 2026. Online multiplayer is restricted to Mac users only, with no cross-platform play with PC players. The Definitive Edition offers hundreds of hours of gameplay through historical scenarios and skirmish battles.

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

LIFTED launches July 22 for PC, later for PS5 and Switch 2

LIFTED, a cinematic puzzle platforming adventure game developed by Adventure Works, will debut on PC via Steam on July 22, with plans for future releases on PlayStation 5 and Switch 2. The game features characters Ari Buktu and Professor Lionel Raventhorpe on a quest to find a legendary tiara for Miss Barton. Players will explore various locations, including 1818 Egypt and ancient Mayan civilizations, while solving puzzles and engaging in humorous antics. The narrative is crafted by Nick Gambino, a winner of the Austin Film Festival.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

Story-driven Japanese-inspired RPG Full Circle announced for consoles, PC

Publisher Deck13 Spotlight, in collaboration with 2nd Player Games, has announced a new pixel art RPG titled Full Circle, which is inspired by classic PlayStation games. The game will be available on PC via Steam, with more details to be revealed at Gamescom 2026 in August. Full Circle is set in a post-apocalyptic universe where humanity lives in the skies, and players will navigate a world filled with mutated beasts and rival cities. The game features strategic turn-based combat, a diverse cast of characters, and a narrative that explores themes of hope and melancholy. Players can customize their party, engage in various activities, and explore distinct landscapes.