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Newly Released Tactical RPG Is an Instant Hit on PC (And It Could Be a Game of the Year Contender)
AppWizard
February 10, 2026

Newly Released Tactical RPG Is an Instant Hit on PC (And It Could Be a Game of the Year Contender)

Mewgenics, a tactical cat RPG created by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, launched on Steam on February 12th and quickly attracted over 58,900 concurrent players. The game has received overwhelmingly positive initial reviews, achieving a Metacritic score of 89, making it the highest-rated game of the year so far. Players engage in building a cat army and face strategic decisions through a tactical breeding system. The main campaign offers over 200 hours of gameplay with a roguelite progression system. Mewgenics is currently available exclusively on Steam for PC and Steam Deck, priced at .99 with a 10% introductory discount until February 24th.
Steam Opens the Gates: Four Major PC Games Are Free to Play This Weekend
AppWizard
February 1, 2026

Steam Opens the Gates: Four Major PC Games Are Free to Play This Weekend

Steam is currently offering free access to four PC games: Fallout 76, Deep Rock Galactic, Dead by Daylight, and Grounded 2. The free access for Deep Rock Galactic, Dead by Daylight, and Grounded 2 lasts until February 2, while Fallout 76 is available for free until February 5. After the promotional period, players will need to purchase the games to retain access. Discounts are available for those interested in buying: Fallout 76 is 80% off, Dead by Daylight is 60% off, and Deep Rock Galactic is 70% off. Grounded 2 is not included in the discount promotion.
Nioh 3's demo just hit Steam, and it's achieving higher peak player counts than some full games
AppWizard
January 30, 2026

Nioh 3’s demo just hit Steam, and it’s achieving higher peak player counts than some full games

Game demos are becoming popular again, particularly during events like Steam Next Fests. A demo for Nioh 3, set to release on February 6th, is available for download on Steam and has reached a peak of 19,590 concurrent players, indicating its success in generating interest. The demo's player count has surpassed that of many full-sized games over their entire lifespan, showcasing its effectiveness as a marketing tool. Nioh 3 offers challenging gameplay with faster combat mechanics and a Diablo-inspired loot system. Feedback has been positive, with some suggesting it could rival games from FromSoftware. Players can add Nioh 3 to their Steam wishlist to receive notifications upon its release.
Highguard deserves a chance, so don't kill it out of spite
AppWizard
January 27, 2026

Highguard deserves a chance, so don’t kill it out of spite

Highguard was unveiled at The Game Awards and faced significant controversy, including skepticism and comparisons to the failed game Concord. At launch, it attracted nearly 100,000 concurrent players on Steam but currently holds a 33% rating, categorized as 'mostly negative' reviews. Despite this, the developers believe the game does not need large player counts to succeed. There is hope that Highguard can improve its performance, introduce new content, and make significant gameplay changes in the future. The trend of review-bombing is seen as harmful to the game's potential for growth.
Football Manager 26 is never being saved as the game just flubbed its most important sales period
AppWizard
January 20, 2026

Football Manager 26 is never being saved as the game just flubbed its most important sales period

January typically sees a surge in player engagement for Football Manager due to the reopening of the transfer window and the return to regular routines after the holiday season. However, this year, the expected increase in activity for FM26 has not materialized. Currently, only 29.78 percent of user reviews for FM26 on SteamDB are positive, making it one of the lowest-rated games on the platform, in contrast to FM24's 89.48 percent approval rating. FM26 has around 33,500 concurrent players, with a 24-hour peak of approximately 55,800, and an all-time high of 84,909 shortly after its November launch. Despite attracting players, recent data shows a flat trend in early January, with a slight decline of about 0.9 percent in peak player numbers over the past month. December saw a peak concurrency drop of over 31 percent from November, and FM26 ranks around #83 for daily active users and #119 in top sellers on Steam. Twitch viewership has also been low, with peaks of roughly 1,400 viewers. Historically, January has been crucial for Football Manager, as it is a time for players to engage with the game more deeply, but this year's stagnation in player activity is unusual and may impact the game's ecosystem and community engagement throughout the year.
Steam just hit more concurrent players than there are people in Canada, as Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG push it to a new peak
AppWizard
January 5, 2026

Steam just hit more concurrent players than there are people in Canada, as Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG push it to a new peak

On January 4, Steam reached a peak of 41,816,052 users logged into the platform, with approximately 13.4 million actively engaged in gameplay. This user count surpasses the entire population of Canada, estimated at around 41.6 million as of late 2025. Steam's user base has nearly doubled since the initial lockdown in April 2020, driven by factors such as rising console prices and the introduction of handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Valve plans to launch the Steam Machine, which will be crucial for its market success in the gaming landscape.
Slay the Spire gets the best Christmas present a deckbuilder could ask for: a new all-time concurrent player peak on Steam nearly 7 years after release
AppWizard
December 27, 2025

Slay the Spire gets the best Christmas present a deckbuilder could ask for: a new all-time concurrent player peak on Steam nearly 7 years after release

Slay the Spire recently achieved an all-time high for concurrent players on Steam, surpassing its previous peak of over 33,000 players from early access in 2018, with a current count of around 35,000 players. During the 2025 winter sale, the game was offered at a low price of .49, attracting many new players. Anticipation for Slay the Spire 2 and the popularity of the Slay the Spire board game, which has a user rating of 8.7/10 on BoardGameGeek, have also contributed to the game's resurgence.
Struggling tactical FPS reinvents itself with lengthy free trial and major update that makes it a more realistic mil sim
AppWizard
December 23, 2025

Struggling tactical FPS reinvents itself with lengthy free trial and major update that makes it a more realistic mil sim

Exfil debuted to mixed reviews on Steam at the end of 2024 and has struggled to regain traction since its release. The game is making efforts to win back its audience with a free trial from December 22 to December 31, 2025, and a comprehensive update. The update includes two new maps, eleven new weapons, nine new attachments, eight new gadgets, enhanced FPS mechanics, reworked ballistics, improved audio and visual effects, helicopter support, and smarter enemy AI in PvPvE modes. Accessibility features such as a field of view slider and colorblind modes have also been introduced. Exfil is available for free on Steam until December 31 and is offered at a 30% discount until January 5. The game remains in early access.
Think what you will about Roblox, but PC players are still hooked on its hardcore soulslike RPG
AppWizard
December 21, 2025

Think what you will about Roblox, but PC players are still hooked on its hardcore soulslike RPG

Roblox is experiencing a surge in popularity, with games like Grow a Garden and Steal a Brainrot attracting tens of millions of concurrent players. These games have surpassed 20 million concurrent players, significantly exceeding previous records. The 2025 Roblox Replay highlights the platform's continued dominance on PC, with distinct gameplay preferences emerging across different devices. Mobile players favor social roleplay games and simpler mechanics, while console players enjoy complex titles like Sonic Speed Simulator. On PC, the term 'RPG' is prominent, with Deepwoken leading as a popular hardcore RPG, boasting approximately 1.5 billion plays. Despite a 30% drop in search interest this year, Deepwoken remains the top choice for PC players, reflecting its design and community appeal.
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