CRPGs Archives

AppWizard

January 11, 2026

Divinity: Original Sin 2’s brilliant armor system is one of a kind in RPGs, and I’m bummed we’ll apparently never see it again

Today marks a moment of reflection as I grapple with the loss of a cherished friend—one whose legacy is now being unfairly tarnished. The unique armor system crafted by Larian Studios for Divinity: Original Sin 2 will not be carried forward, and the criticism from my colleagues has been relentless. Notably, PCG guides writer Rory Norris boldly labeled it "broken" in large, eye-catching letters on our front page. In a recent meeting, Morgan Park, a fellow news writer, expressed his disdain for the armor system in a rather colorful manner, leaving me feeling both bewildered and defensive. D:OS2's armor system introduces a combat rhythm that is refreshingly distinct. Each character and enemy possesses both physical and magic armor bars, displayed prominently above their health. Physical armor absorbs damage from weapons and related abilities, while magic armor serves as a shield against spells and elemental effects. Crowd control effects become fully effective only after the corresponding armor has been stripped away. For instance, the warrior's charge attack, Battering Ram, merely deals damage while the enemy's physical armor is intact, but guarantees a knockdown once that armor is gone. This design choice ensures that every character contributes to both offense and crowd management. Players are encouraged to abandon traditional roles; the absence of a classic tank or healer is liberating. Each character must fulfill multiple roles—tank, DPS, and controller—while build variations arise from weapon choices, armor, and skill trees. This dynamic creates an aggressive form of turn-based tactics, where players race to dismantle enemy defenses and secure priority targets before they can retaliate. While Original Sin 2's system is not without its flaws, they are no more pronounced than the typical shortcomings found in random chance-based alternatives. One critique pertains to party composition; players are often encouraged to specialize in either elemental or physical damage, which can lead to challenges in the endgame for mixed-damage parties. However, there exists a wealth of character build variety within each category, and D:OS2 does not impose stricter limitations on viable character builds than any other RPG, especially at lower difficulty levels.

AppWizard

December 22, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (December 22, 2025)

Steam releases a dozen new games daily, making it easy for hidden gems to go unnoticed. A selection of engaging PC games includes: - Mon Bazou: Releases on December 19, developed by Santa Goat. Players upgrade a vehicle in a quirky world, with over 10,000 reviews rated "overwhelmingly positive." - Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy: Releases on December 17, developed by AtomTeam. This fantasy RPG, inspired by classic CRPGs, features real-time with pause and turn-based combat. - Bottle Can Float: Releases on December 17, developed by Kayla.Z. A serene game where players watch a vessel navigate through landscapes, ideal for relaxation. - BioMenace Remastered: Releases on December 19, developed by Rigel Gameworks. A remastered classic platformer with new features like an easy mode and a level editor, along with a new episode of over 15 levels. - Execute: Releases on December 16, developed by Payne Robinson. A darkly humorous idle game where players eliminate everyone in the world using various methods.

AppWizard

December 21, 2025

My 2026 New Year’s resolution is to finally play these 8 Xbox and PC games in my backlog — mostly because new releases are getting too expensive

As 2025 ends, there is growing anticipation for the gaming landscape of 2026, with a focus on the rising costs of new games and their frequent need for extensive post-release patches. Notable examples include Monster Hunter Wilds and the acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin series, which features intricate turn-based combat and rich storytelling. The original Divinity: Original Sin was released in 2014, while its sequel, Divinity: Original Sin 2, launched in 2017 and introduced new features and character options. Baldur's Gate 3, set in the Baldur's Gate universe, has received numerous accolades for its storytelling and gameplay. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous involves character customization and narrative choices. The Hollow Knight series, including the upcoming Hollow Knight: Silksong, and the Ninja Gaiden series are also highlighted. Control, with its sequel Control: Resonant, features surreal visuals and unique gameplay. The Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine series includes a remastered version of the original game. Age of Mythology: Retold is set to be released with enhanced graphics and improvements. All mentioned titles are available on various platforms, including Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

Baldur’s Gate 3 “rekindled many players’ love for CRPGs,” which Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader dev says is a blessing

Anton Emelyanov, brand manager at Owlcat Games, admires Baldur's Gate 3 and its creators at Larian Studios, noting that their success has highlighted a vibrant market for narrative-driven CRPGs. He believes that Larian's achievements have reinforced Owlcat's commitment to creating engaging, story-rich experiences. Emelyanov stated that the success of Baldur's Gate 3 has boosted Owlcat's confidence in investing in complex systems and narrative depth. Owlcat is focusing on essential elements of CRPGs such as choice and consequence, compelling companions, and rich storytelling, while also working on upcoming titles like Warhammer 40k: Dark Heresy and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. Larian plans to explore new territories beyond Baldur's Gate, and both studios aim to enhance player immersion and engagement through deeper reactivity and systemic storytelling.

AppWizard

October 21, 2025

RPGs make up more than 30% of PC Gamer’s Top 100, so clearly we’ve settled on a favourite genre

This week, the annual Top 100 games list was unveiled, created by over 30 writers and editors through extensive discussions and debates. The list features 31 RPGs, with six in the top 10, including Baldur's Gate 3, Disco Elysium, The Witcher 3, Crusader Kings 3, Caves of Qud, and Elden Ring. The RPG genre showcases remarkable diversity, encompassing classic CRPGs, ARPGs, JRPGs, roguelikes, soul-likes, immersive sims, deck builders, and unique titles like one featuring a flawed cop with a chatty necktie. RPGs offer players agency through character builds and exploration, distinguishing them from passive entertainment. Notably, no MMORPGs are included in this year's list, indicating a shift towards games that do not require constant attention, as seen with the inclusion of Diablo 2 but not Diablo 4. This reflects a broader gamer sentiment for meaningful engagement without ongoing commitments.

AppWizard

October 5, 2025

Delta Force devs’ horror game combines extraction shooters, Dead by Daylight, and CRPGs, and it has no right to look this good

Team Jade is developing a new tactical shooter titled Project Spectrum, which combines elements of various gaming genres to create a unique multiplayer experience. The game features a blend of tactical military simulation and a supernatural environment, with players acting as agents equipped with military-grade weaponry. The gameplay includes navigating a dilapidated mansion while tracking a dark energy source called the Ember, encountering eerie creatures, and managing a sanity meter that distorts perception. The game introduces an asymmetrical multiplayer component where players can become the Executioner, a powerful entity that poses a threat to agents. Players can customize their agents and engage in resource management through a crafting system that allows for weapon upgrades. The progression system diverges from typical extraction shooter models, enabling players to recruit, manage, and upgrade their agents, adding depth to the gameplay. Project Spectrum aims to deliver a fresh take on multiplayer gaming by blending tactical FPS, extraction shooter, survival horror, and CRPG elements.

AppWizard

September 26, 2025

Owlcat admits Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader was overly ambitious, says it had to decide between “less bugs or less immersion”

Rogue Trader is a notable title in the Warhammer 40k universe, appealing to fans of narrative-driven CRPGs. Despite initial performance issues at launch, it has become a must-play game. Owlcat is developing a new turn-based RPG called Dark Heresy, which aims to be a darker counterpart to Rogue Trader. Executive producer Anatoly Shestov discussed lessons learned from Rogue Trader's launch, emphasizing a data-driven approach for Dark Heresy to avoid similar pitfalls. Dark Heresy is set to be released in 2026 and will feature enhanced detective elements and an improved combat system.

AppWizard

August 30, 2025

One of the best RPGs of all time is getting its ‘first ever unofficial DLC’ that adds a whole new region and restores cut content

Planescape: Torment is a classic computer role-playing game (CRPG) known for its unique setting, characters, and dialogue-focused gameplay. A group of Polish modders is developing an expansion for the game that will introduce two new recruitable characters, new planar creatures, original music, and fresh cinematics. They will also restore cut content, including voice lines and graphical features. The narrative will focus on the main characters and draw from the 2nd edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The full project may not be completed until 2031, but the first act is expected to be released later this year with an estimated playtime of twelve hours. The expansion, titled Blizzard in Baator, will be available in English and Polish, with some variations in naming conventions from the original English version.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Grab Two Big RPG And Strategy PC Game Bundles For Cheap

Fanatical is hosting Bundle Bash 2025 from July 14 to 18, featuring daily game bundle deals. On July 15, the Build Your Own Super Strategy Bundle allows players to choose from 17 strategy titles, with prices starting at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: This week, Fanatical is hosting its much-anticipated Bundle Bash 2025, a vibrant event reminiscent of the retailer's previous Bundlefest celebrations. From July 14 to 18, fans of PC gaming can look forward to a fresh game bundle deal each day. On Tuesday, July 15, the spotlight shines on the Build Your Own Super Strategy Bundle, which invites players to curate their own collection from a selection of 17 strategy titles, with prices starting as low as .45 per game. This follows the launch of the Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle on Monday, July 14, offering a similar customizable experience for RPG and action-adventure enthusiasts. Fanatical Bundle Bash 2025 at a Glance With several days remaining in the Bundle Bash 2025 event, gamers are encouraged to return daily for the latest bundle offerings. Notably, all bundles introduced during this event will remain available for purchase for weeks after the conclusion, allowing ample opportunity to secure these enticing deals. Each game purchased through these bundles is delivered as an official key, compatible with platforms such as Steam and the Epic Games Store. In addition to the new Bundle Bash selections, Fanatical is featuring a variety of other bundle deals, including the recently launched Build Your Own Capcom Summer Bundle. This collection allows fans to choose from up to 22 iconic Capcom titles, including favorites from the Mega Man, Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and Monster Hunter franchises, starting at just .25 per game. Build Your Own Super Strategy Bundle Build Your Own Super Strategy Bundle This expansive strategy bundle features a diverse array of titles, ranging from real-time warfare games like Ancestors Legacy - Complete Edition and War Mongrels to city-building simulations such as Airborne Kingdom. Players can also explore vehicle simulations like Skies Above the Great War, and even the digital version of the popular board game, A Game of Thrones. Pricing for this bundle is structured to reward larger selections: three or more games can be acquired for .65 each, five or more for .60 each, or seven or more for just .45 each. Opting for the complete set of 17 games will cost only .65, a significant reduction from the total retail value of 2.30. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game - Digital Edition Airborne Kingdom AI War Ancestors Legacy - Complete Edition Dust Fleet Final Stardust Cosmic Memory Lords & Villeins Necrosmith 2 Oxygen Roma Invicta Skies Above The Great War Swarm Queen Telepath Tactics Liberated Terraformers Thyria War Mongrels Winter Falling Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle (Bundle Bash 2025) Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle (Bundle Bash 2025) The latest iteration of Fanatical's Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle boasts an impressive lineup of 21 games. This collection features robust CRPGs like Encased, Age of Decadence, and Balrum, alongside turn-based JRPGs such as LunarLux and Transcendence Legacy - Voidswept. For those intrigued by the lore of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is also available at a compelling price point. Similar to the Super Strategy Bundle, this RPG and Fantasy offering employs a tiered pricing model, rewarding players for selecting more games. The cost per title decreases as the number of games increases: three or more games for .65 each, five or more for .60 each, or seven or more for .45 each. If one chooses to acquire the entire collection of 22 games, the total comes to just .45, representing a remarkable 93% discount from the original bundle value of 1.78. Alchemist Adventure Balrum Beloved Rapture Chronicon Devil Spire Dungeons of Chaos Encased Hammerwatch - Anniversary Edition Hammerwatch II Kingsgrave Low Magic Age LunarLux Mage's Initiation: Reign of the Elements Moonlighter Complete Edition Nanotale Symphony of War Terracotta The Age of Decadence The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Transcendence Legacy - Voidswept Twilight Memoria" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].45 per game. The Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle launched on July 14, offering 21 games with similar pricing. Both bundles have tiered pricing that rewards larger selections, and all bundles will remain available for purchase after the event. Games are delivered as official keys compatible with Steam and the Epic Games Store. The Super Strategy Bundle includes titles like Ancestors Legacy and A Game of Thrones: The Board Game, while the RPG & Fantasy Bundle features games such as Encased and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Deus Ex was a hard sell because, among other things, the Thief devs thought ‘if you give players a gun, they won’t sneak’

Deus Ex is a significant title in the immersive simulation genre, allowing players to approach challenges from various perspectives and breaking away from traditional linear gameplay in CRPGs and FPS games. Warren Spector, the game's creator, expressed frustration with conventional RPGs and FPS games before developing Deus Ex. The game has influenced many others, including Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, Avowed, Prey, and Baldur's Gate 3, showcasing its impact on player freedom and game design. An interview with Spector will be featured in the upcoming issue of PC Gamer, releasing on July 15.