crafting Archives

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Stellaris Infernals brings the heat to the strategy game’s universe, and I can’t wait to burn it all down

The Stellaris Infernals Species Pack introduces new playable alien races adapted to volcanic worlds, including bird-like, crocodilian, and insectoid forms. It features a new Crisis Path with the Galactic Hyperthermia mechanic, allowing players to terraform stars into red giants and create Entropy Conduits. The DLC also adds four new Civics focused on fire and heat, such as the Fire Cult and Scorched World Heralds. The new species possess the Thermophilic trait, thriving on hot planets and consuming alloys instead of traditional food sources, but they struggle on Arctic worlds. The DLC is available for purchase on Steam.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Lego Minecraft Crafting Table Diorama Gets Huge Price Cut For Black Friday

A Black Friday promotion is currently offering Lego's Crafting Table diorama, a 1,195-piece set, at a discounted price at major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. This set, which celebrates Minecraft's 15th anniversary, features five modular builds representing various biomes and includes eight microfigures. The completed diorama measures 5.5 x 6 x 6 inches. Additionally, the Creeper model, a 665-piece set, is also available, featuring movable parts and a storage compartment. Other Lego Minecraft deals include The Pickaxe Mine, The Sword Outpost, The Frog House, The Badlands Mineshaft, and The Turtle Beach House, with Walmart offering a 5-in-1 Gift Set Bundle.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

Chinese Room co-founder wanted Paradox to drop the ‘Bloodlines 2’ name, because “no one would be happy” with the final game

Many players are disappointed with Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 due to performance issues, a lack of meaningful stakes, and disengaging RPG systems. The sequel does not maintain continuity with the original game, offering only scattered lore snippets. Dan Pinchbeck, co-founder of The Chinese Room, revealed that he advocated for a title change during development discussions with Paradox to reduce comparisons with the original game. He aimed to take over the development of Bloodlines 2 but noted the team wanted to infuse their own storytelling rather than simply finish Hardsuit Labs' work. Pinchbeck recognized the challenges of creating a true sequel within time and budget constraints and suggested aiming for a focused experience similar to Dishonored. He acknowledged the complexities of collaborative game development and the enduring legacy of the original Bloodlines game, which continues to overshadow its sequel.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

D&D’s new turn based tactics PC game should be a delight – but without VR, I’m not finding the fun

Demeo x Dungeons and Dragons: Battlemarked is a cooperative multiplayer strategy game set in D&D's Forgotten Realms, available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Meta Quest, primarily designed for virtual reality (VR). The game features turn-based strategy gameplay with players choosing from various D&D classes and species, represented as virtual miniatures. It is not a virtual tabletop or a direct adaptation of D&D 5e rules. The graphics are low in polygon count but rich in character, and the game emphasizes quick play sessions without the discomfort of VR-induced nausea. The control scheme reflects its VR origins, requiring players to pick up and place figures, which feels cumbersome on a flat screen compared to other games. The game is set to release on November 20, and the reviewer notes that their experience has been limited to single-player due to illness in the office.

AppWizard

November 25, 2025

One of 2024’s worst gacha games relaunches without microtransactions, and it’s already looking so much better

Gacha mechanics in gaming can evoke mixed emotions, with titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai Star Rail featuring impressive graphics but facing criticism for their microtransactions. Solo Leveling: Arise was anticipated by fans but was quickly dismissed due to its aggressive monetization strategy, which included frequent flash sales and multiple subscription models. A review described the game as "too grindy, frustrating, and repetitive," with poor drop rates. A new version, Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive, has been released on PC, removing gacha mechanics and allowing players to recruit Hunters and craft weapons without randomness. This iteration aims to reward effort and strategy, with players able to earn all Hunters through gameplay. The game currently holds a 75% rating on Steam, with some concerns about always-online requirements and anti-cheat issues. Netmarble is reportedly working on a solution for offline play. Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive is priced at .99 / £34.99 on Steam, with a free demo available. Over 10,000 players have already engaged with the game.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

Classic text adventure Zork is going open source, but I’m side-eyeing Microsoft’s announcement about it hard

Microsoft has announced that the classic text adventure game Zork and its sequels are now available as open source software under the MIT License. This initiative follows Microsoft's acquisition of the Zork license through its purchase of Activision, which had previously acquired Infocom. The collaboration involves Microsoft, the Xbox Team, Activision, and digital archivist Jason Scott from the Internet Archive. Zork, Zork 2, and Zork 3 have been available on GitHub for several years, and Microsoft has officially submitted upstream pull requests to historical source repositories. The decision to make Zork open source highlights the game's celebrated writing and narrative depth.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

The 20 Best Xbox 360 Games of All Time

Microsoft transformed the Xbox brand from a traditional gaming console into a multifaceted platform emphasizing software accessibility across various devices, with the Game Pass subscription model allowing users to access a vast library of games on mobile phones and rival consoles. The Xbox 360 was launched on November 22, 2005, a year ahead of competitors, and became the most advanced console for a year despite technical challenges like the Red Ring of Death. Strategic partnerships and a diverse range of titles, including blockbuster franchises like Halo and Gears of War, contributed to its success. The Xbox 360's architecture resembled that of a personal computer, providing a technological edge over the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. Innovations such as Xbox Live and Xbox Live Arcade distinguished the console, making it a hub for competitive and indie gaming. The Xbox 360 remains the best-selling device in the Xbox lineup, with defining titles including Perfect Dark Zero, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Dead or Alive 4, Viva Piñata, Fable II, Ninja Gaiden II, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, Fez, and Oblivion, highlighting its lasting legacy in gaming culture.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

New Viking RPG fusing Baldur’s Gate 3’s combat with KCD2’s bawdy charm sets a launch date, and you can try a demo now

Norse: Oath of Blood is a turn-based RPG featuring twins Gunnar Gripsson and Sigrid Gripdottir on a quest for vengeance after their father is betrayed and murdered. The game combines tactical battle systems with a rich narrative and character interactions. It utilizes advanced motion capture technology and aims to capture the human aspects of Viking culture. The release date is set for February 3, 2026, on PC via Steam, with a free demo currently available.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

Full screen experience expands to more Windows 11 PC form factors for Windows Insiders

Windows Insider Preview Build 26220.7271 is now available for the Dev and Beta Channels, expanding the Xbox full screen experience to laptops, desktops, and tablets. This feature provides an immersive gaming environment designed for console-style navigation. Users can access it via the Task View icon or by pressing Win + Tab, and it can be toggled on and off with Win + F11. The Xbox home screen will display a variety of games, and switching between applications is facilitated by a long press on the Xbox button. The rollout of this feature is phased, and it requires the Xbox app from the Microsoft Store. Feedback can be submitted through the Feedback Hub under Gaming and Xbox > Gaming Full Screen Experience.

AppWizard

November 22, 2025

From Borderlands 4 to Expedition 33, Fanatical’s Black Friday prices are cheaper than Steam

Steam is not hosting its own Black Friday sale, but Fanatical is offering a Black Friday sale with various game discounts. Notable titles include: - Borderlands 4: .99 (£41.99, 30% off) - Dynasty Warriors: Origins: .59 (£41.59, 36% off) - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: .23 (£30.23, 28% off) - V Rising: .23 (£11.23, 62% off) - Marvel's Spider-Man 2: .49 (£35.49, 29% off) - Ghostrunner 2: .59 (£5.59, 84% off) - Horizon: Forbidden West - Complete Edition: .39 (46% off) - The Precinct: .74 (£13.74, 45% off) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater: .49 (£38.49, 45% off) Fanatical's Flash Deals will feature three discounted titles daily from November 21, 2025, to November 30, 2025.