colony Archives

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

April 3, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 adds end-of-run badges ‘to let you know what was unique about each adventure’ in latest beta patch

Developer Mega Crit has introduced a new feature called badges in Slay the Spire 2, which will highlight unique player achievements at the end of gameplay runs. The current balance of reviews for the game stands at 801 negative against 817 positive. Ascension 6 has been reworked to increase the cost of removing cards from the deck at the Merchant. The Blade of Ink card has been revamped to generate Inky Shivs, and the Borrowed Time card now offers increased energy gain. The Doormaker enemy has been adjusted for enhanced challenge, while Leading Strike has received buffs and other cards like Speedster and Untouchable have been slightly nerfed. The History Course relic has been adjusted for its X-value, and the Skulking Colony has been buffed to attack on all turns. New portrait art has been added for several cards, and improvements have been made to dialogue timings and speech bubble positions. Clarifications in card descriptions and updates to translations have been implemented. Various bug fixes have addressed issues from startup crashes to specific softlocks related to card upgrades.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Grab 2 Free PC Games Worth Over $30 to Keep Forever, No Strings Attached

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games this week: Havendock, a colony simulation game priced at .99, and Hyper Echelon, a top-down shooter typically priced at .99. Both games are available globally and can be claimed permanently. Havendock allows players to build a settlement on the open sea and has received a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam. Hyper Echelon features a retro-inspired pixel art style and also holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam. The free game lineup refreshes every Thursday, with the next update scheduled for April 2, which will feature Clone Drone in the Danger Zone.

AppWizard

March 27, 2026

Alien Deathstorm is the very real title of the new ‘action horror game’ coming from Atomfall developer Rebellion

Rebellion has introduced a first-person sci-fi horror game titled Alien Deathstorm, which is not affiliated with the Alien franchise. The game features a unique narrative set in an off-world colony facing a catastrophic event known as a deathstorm, along with alien adversaries. Players will assume the role of a combat engineer, engaging in tactical hunts against extraterrestrial foes while navigating the dangers posed by the deathstorm, described as a planet-wide atmospheric phenomenon. The game draws visual inspiration from 1980s sci-fi aesthetics and combines survival and shooter genres for an action horror experience. A release date has not been announced, but the game is listed on Steam.

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

Going Medieval stole my heart with a large, cursed hole

Going Medieval, a Middle Ages-themed colony simulation game, has officially emerged from early access after five years of development. The game has evolved from being similar to RimWorld to capturing the complexity of Dwarf Fortress. The player experienced challenges related to a large pit in the game, which led to memorable moments, including an encounter with raiders. The player successfully managed the situation and built a castle above the cellar, with plans to construct a cathedral that will include a crypt.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Beaver-themed city-builder Timberborn has gnawed its way out of early access, and surprise! It has Factorio-style automation now

Timberborn, a city-builder game featuring beavers, has reached its 1.0 release, introducing a significant automation feature. This update includes twenty new buildings that function as logic nodes, such as simple levers, logic relays, flow sensors, power meters, and weather stations. Specialized nodes like detonators for triggering explosions or fireworks are also included. Players can automate various tasks, such as closing floodgates in response to contaminated water or pausing production when resources are low. The game has a 95% overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam from nearly 39,000 reviews and is currently available at a 20% launch discount until March 26, priced at £24.

AppWizard

March 7, 2026

PC Game Is 100% Free on Steam for Next 72 Hours

A PC game, Crowalt: Traces of the Lost Colony, is available for free on Steam until March 9. This is the first time the game has been offered for free. It is a pixel art point-and-click adventure released in 2022 by Macraft Studios, which has not released any other titles. The game has an 80% approval rating based on 80 user reviews and is designated as "Very Positive" on Steam. Gameplay lasts approximately three to five hours. The game is also available on Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X, but not for free on those platforms. Compatibility with the Steam Deck is currently listed as "Unknown."

AppWizard

January 19, 2026

Arc Raiders’ huge success gives Embark the “opportunity to do bigger things” and cook up a more “ambitious” roadmap

12.4 million copies of Arc Raiders have been sold. The success has provided Embark Studios with new resources and opportunities to expand and enhance the game. The studio is reevaluating its roadmap to cater to a diverse player base, including casual PvE players and competitive PvP players. Plans for multiple map updates throughout the year are in place, which may include revamps of existing areas and new maps. There is interest in enhancing the trading system, particularly the NPC trading system. The possibility of transforming the underground colony of Speranza into a more interactive hub has been discussed. Future developments may introduce new circumstances and threats to deepen gameplay and player interaction.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

This week in PC games: Hytale, Quarantine Zone, a weird Batman sim, and a fresh batch of RPGs and shooters

The Maw can manifest in various forms, including a blinking cursor or unreturned messages. New PC game releases include: - Big Hops: A 3D platformer featuring a frog with jumping and tongue skills. - Confidential Killings: A detective game that could use a more imaginative name. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check: Players act as a border guard during a zombie apocalypse, exploring moral dilemmas. - Hytale: A sandbox building RPG now in early access, developed by Hypixel Studios. - Hank: Drowning on Dry Land: A whimsical narrative game featuring a drunken, time-traveling character. - Cassette Boy: An action RPG puzzler with retro visuals and themes of object permanence. - Streetdog BMX: A game with children performing stunts on bicycles across colorful maps. - The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon: The thirteenth installment in an RPG series. - Tabulo: A roguelite chess game. - Craftlings: A blend of Lemmings and colony-building elements. - The Fortress: A first-person turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG. - NEUROXUS: A fast-paced mech shooter with a neon aesthetic. - Moving Simulator: A game reflecting the moving experience. - Lunar Ascendant: Players become the first mayor of the Moon, navigating social media and factions. James and Julian will attend preview events, while Mark and Ollie are excited about Hytale's launch. A review for Pathologic 3 is being crafted.

AppWizard

January 8, 2026

With The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian has finally delivered the RPG that Fallout New Vegas fans have craved for 16 years

The Outer Worlds 2 is a sequel that builds on its predecessor's foundations, featuring impactful decision-making and refined gameplay. Set in a different galaxy, players take on the role of an agent of the Earth Directorate, tasked with investigating catastrophic rifts threatening the galaxy, particularly the Arcadia colony. The game critiques hyper-capitalism while being developed under Microsoft, incorporating satirical elements. Players' choices significantly influence gameplay, with character builds affecting the narrative and challenges faced. The revamped flaws system introduces both positive and negative effects based on player actions, encouraging exploration. The game features expertly crafted quests that intertwine with the main storyline, leading to unique outcomes. Companions add emotional depth to the experience, each with distinct personalities. While initial planets showcase engaging quests, later areas feel less vibrant, and combat lacks depth, often becoming repetitive. The crafting system allows for customization but may not be fully utilized due to the game's ease. Performance is strong, running smoothly on high-end hardware. Overall, The Outer Worlds 2 emphasizes meaningful player choices but reveals a need for improved combat mechanics.