deckbuilder Archives

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

Yogscast Games’ The Royal Writ Launches August 7 for PC

The medieval roguelike deckbuilder, The Royal Writ, developed by Save Sloth Studios and published by Yogscast Games, will launch on PC via Steam on August 7. Players command cards on the battlefield, strategically positioning them to advance toward the enemy while facing the risk of permanent destruction for cards that fail to achieve victory. The game features a diverse army of characters with unique abilities, including an injured flamingo and a short-sighted chicken archer. There are two campaigns: one focused on quelling a rebellion and another introducing gunpowder as a new adversary. Key features include intuitive gameplay, roguelike progression, card permadeath, a charming art style, memorable NPC encounters, special boss mechanics, a gradual difficulty ladder, challenge modes, and collectible relics that alter gameplay dynamics.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Shuffle Tactics (PC) Review

Shuffle Tactics is a deckbuilding roguelike game that revitalizes established mechanics within the genre. Players navigate grid-based maps filled with enemies and objectives, using action points to deploy cards for attacking and defending. The game features three distinct characters with unique specialties: the Doberknight, an archer with ricocheting arrows, and a turret specialist, along with a magic user. Players can customize their combat decks by adding or removing cards after encounters and can acquire relics for passive effects and items to enhance specific cards. The game allows players to recruit sidekicks with their own decks. Each playthrough offers a unique experience, although some mechanics lack adequate explanation. The narrative involves a king who has gone mad, but it serves more as a minor distraction than a central focus.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

Everything Revealed During The PC Gaming Show 2025

The PC Gaming Show 2025 featured over 60 trailers in a nearly three-hour livestream, showcasing new titles and updates on previously announced games. Major reveals included world premieres of titles such as Ambrosia Sky, Ratatan, and The Alters, covering a variety of genres like roguelikes, co-op shooters, and survival sims. Key titles highlighted include: - Ambrosia Sky: A first-person sci-fi game where players confront an alien fungus in a space colony. - Far Far West: A co-op game where players are robo-bounty hunters in a Wild West setting. - Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition: Revives classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures with new features. - Fresh Tracks: A skiing adventure game with music elements. - Terminull Brigade: A co-op hero shooter set in a digital realm. - Ratatan: A rhythm-action game featuring online co-op battles. - Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth: A narrative-driven game about friendship and resilience. - Necesse: A sandbox action-adventure game focused on building and exploration. - Den of Wolves: A session-based shooter involving cooperative heists. - All Systems Dance: A game that combines dance battles with a dystopian narrative. - Spooky Express: A management simulation game set in a monster-themed theme park. - The Rogue Prince of Persia: A roguelite experience featuring acrobatics. - Enginefall: A multiplayer social sandbox aboard a mega-train. - EVE Frontier: A player-driven sandbox in a harsh cosmic environment. - Skyrig: A game focused on building rigs to extract gases in a stormy atmosphere. - Kaizen: A Factory Story: A factory design game set in 1980s Japan. - Dawn Apart: A colony simulation game on a destructible voxel planet. - Modulus: A factory-building game with customizable modules. - Generation Exile: A turn-based city-builder aboard a generation starship. - Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults: A co-op hack-and-slash ARPG. - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault: Continues the story of its predecessor with action-RPG elements. - Barotrauma – Home & Harbor: An expansion for managing a deep-sea outpost. - No, I'm Not A Human: A narrative-driven game set in a dying world. - Botsu: A physics-based competitive gaming title. - No More Room In Hell 2: A co-op survival game in zombie-infested zones. - Farever: An online co-op action RPG in a fantasy world. - Mandrake: A narrative game about uncovering family mysteries. - Pizza Bandit: A cooking and shooting game. - Demonschool: A tactics RPG combining university life with battles. - The Last Caretaker: A survival game set in a flooded world. - Railborn: A game about building trains and managing resources. - Voyagers of Nera: A cooperative survival-crafting game in a magical ocean world. - Icarus: Great Hunts Campaigns: Offers nonlinear missions with unique stories. - Garbage Country: An exploration sim in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. - DarkSwitch: A vertical city builder around a great tree. - Sprint X Strike: A chaotic battle game in a post-apocalyptic setting. - Worship: A multiplayer roguelite about cultists performing rituals. - Stars of Icarus: A starship combat game emphasizing teamwork. - 007 First Light: A game featuring a young Bond's journey. - goblinAmerica: A game where players possess U.S. presidents to correct historical mistakes. - EverSiege: Untold Ages: A rogue-lite action-strategy game. - Pigface: A narrative-driven game about confronting the past. - TerraTech: An open-world sandbox adventure game. - Paralives: A life simulation game focused on building and managing lives. - Lost Rift: A cooperative survival game on an archipelago. - Hell Clock: A roguelike ARPG. - Militsioner: A narrative-driven escape game. - Arcane Eats: A roguelike deckbuilder. - Guntouchables: A cooperative survival game against mutants. - Ultrakill – Layer 8: Fraud: Details are yet to be revealed. - Stario: Heaven Tower: A game about building ecosystems. - Dispatch: A superhero workplace comedy. - Wheel World: An open-world mission game. - FBC: Firebreak: A cooperative FPS in a federal agency. - Anno 117: Pax Romana: A historical city-building game. - Baby Steps: A walking simulator exploring self-discovery. - Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – Arbites: Players enforce law in a Warhammer universe. - Endless Legend 2: A fantasy strategy game. - Berserk or Die: A survival game against overwhelming odds. - Mycopunk: A game about uncovering a fungal catastrophe. - Bippo Plus: An interactive experience for Playdate owners. - Morbid Metal: A roguelike with simultaneous character control. - Love Eternal: A psychological horror platformer. - Bus Bound: A public bus service management game. - Atmosfar: A survival and co-op road trip adventure set for early access in 2026. - Void/Breaker: A sci-fi FPS with destructible environments. - Grave Seasons: A farming simulation with a mystery element. - Eyes of Hellfire: A multiplayer horror game with puzzles. - Deadwire: An action game with hacking elements. - Dinkum: A life simulation game on islands. - Void Martyrs: An action game set in a grimdark world. - CloverPit: A unique gameplay experience set to release in summer. - Eclipsium: A title with intense visuals and gameplay elements. - Abyssus: A cooperative FPS adventure. - Ascendant: A multiplayer shooter with chaotic gameplay. - Mewgenics: An endless cat breeding RPG set for release on February 10, 2026. - Dead Reset: A sci-fi horror FMV adventure. - Bernband: A lighthearted cyberpunk game. - Wanderburg: A roguelike adventure with a castle on wheels.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in May

In May, several notable games are set to release, including Among Us 3D, Revenge of the Savage Planet, and Elden Ring Nightreign. Events include Gamescom Latam in São Paulo until May 4, PAX East in Boston from May 8 to May 11, EVO Japan in Tokyo from May 9 to May 11, and the Six One Indie Showcase on May 22. Steam Fest sales will feature themed events: Wargames Fest (April 28 - May 5), Creature Collector Fest (May 12 - May 19), and Zombies vs. Vampires Fest (May 26 – June 2). Upcoming game releases include: - May 5: Drop Dutchy - May 8: Captain Blood, Creature Keeper, Empyreal, The Midnight Walk, Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall - May 9: Anoxia Station - May 15: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - May 21: JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time, Gundam Seed Battle Destiny, Bonaparte - A Mechanized Revolution - May 22: Deliver At All Costs, TMNT: Tactical Takedown - May 23: Onimusha 2 - May 28: To a T, As We Descend - May 29: A Nice Day for Fishing - May 30: F1 25

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in March

February featured notable PC game releases including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Civilization 7, Avowed, and Monster Hunter Wilds. In March, key releases include Assassin's Creed Shadows and Inzoi. Significant release dates for March are as follows: - March 3: Carmen Sandiego - She's back, but where? (Steam) - March 4: Grimoire Groves - Cozy dungeon crawler (Steam) - March 4: Merchants of Rosewall - Run a fantasy shop (Steam) - March 4: Knights in Tight Spaces - Close-quarters tactics (Steam) - March 5: Air - Visual novel classic (Steam) - March 6: Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone - Post-apocalyptic ARPG (Steam) - March 6: Book Bound - Run a bookshop (Steam) - March 6: FragPunk - 5v5 Valorant-style hero shooter (Steam) - March 6: MainFrames - Platformer set in an operating system (Steam) - March 7: Lost Lullabies (Early Access) - '80s inspired co-op horror (Steam) - March 7: Sugardew Island - Similar to a certain valley (Steam) - March 6: Suikoden 1&2 HD Remaster - A classic Konami remaster (Steam) - March 10: Rise of the Ronin - A PS exclusive comes to PC (Steam) - March 11: Wanderstop - An existential cozy game (Steam) - March 14: WWE 2K25 - Annual pro wrestling game (Steam) - March 14: Out of the Park Baseball 26 - Baseball management (Steam) - March 18: 33 Immortals - 33-player roguelike (Epic) - March 18: MySims - Updated Sims spin-off from 2007 (Steam) - March 20: Atelier Yumia - Open world crafting RPG (Steam) - March 20: Mudborne - Not a muddy Bloodborne, it's about frogs (Steam) - March 25: SOPA - Adventure in search of a potato (Steam) - March 25: Tales of the Shire - Hobbit life sim (Steam) - March 25: Nordhold - Tower defense (Steam) - March 26: Mother Machine - Co-op platformer (Steam) - March 26: JDM: Japanese Drift Master - Drift racer (Steam) - March 27: AI Limit - Post-apocalyptic, sci-fi ARPG (Steam) - March 27: As We Descend - Roguelike deckbuilder (Steam) - March 27: The First Berserker: Khazan - "Hardcore" ARPG (Steam) - March 27: Mini Royale - Green army men battle royale (Steam)

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

I wrote one-sentence reviews of over 70 Steam demos to help you decide which to try before Next Fest ends

During the recent Steam Next Fest, 83 game demos were explored, with impressions shared on 72 titles. Highlights include: - Monster Train 2: A more intricate version of the original. - Sandustry: A blend of Noita and Factorio with unique mechanics. - Nomad Idle: An action RPG mixed with idle game elements. - Deliver At All Costs: Early GTA-inspired package delivery game. - Machine Mind: Resource gathering and base defense in a Borderlands-inspired setting. - Mech Havoc: A top-down shooter combining Brigador and MechWarrior elements. - Solarpunk: A survival game lacking depth. - Tempest Rising: A revival of Command & Conquer. - Mecha Break: Overwhelmed by free-to-play design choices. - Void War: Combines FTL and Warhammer 40k. - Wizdom Academy: Falls short as a wizard school management sim. - Settler's Domain: A minimalist colony-builder that encourages rapid gameplay. - Behind the Sword: An indie grand strategy 4X game with a unique spherical grid. Additional notable titles include: - RoadCraft: Relaxed truck logistics game. - Grit and Valor - 1949: Dieselpunk mech micro-RTS. - Drop Duchy: City builder with randomization issues. - He is Coming: Lo-fi roguelike RPG. - Desperate Place: Sci-fi iteration of Thronefall. - Roman Triumph: Survival City Builder: Interesting city builder with subpar AI art. - Icaria: Worker-programming factory game. - Rise of Industry 2: Lacking gameplay mechanics despite appealing aesthetic. - Windward Horizon: Complicated crafting and RPG mechanics. - Guntouchables: Co-op action roguelike with potential. - Game of Thrones: Kingsroad: Brief and unengaging demo. - Darkwater: Potential premise hindered by discomforting field of view. - War Rats: The Rat em Up: Chaotic experience added to wishlist. Other games mentioned include Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids, Outworld Station, As We Descend, Railgods of Hysterra, City Tales: Medieval Era, Task Force Admiral, Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall, Dark Moon, Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone, The Horror at Highrook, Radiolight, Is This Seat Taken?, God Forsaken, Total Chaos, Nordhold, Missing Banban, Wheel World, I Am Legion: Stand Survivors, Labyrinth of the Demon King, Unyielder, Reignbreaker, Urban Jungle, Dagger Directive, Star Crafter, Blightstone, Redemption of Liuyin, Cybertaxi: Lunatic Nights, MechaKnights Legends, Jitter, Rock Crusher, Chaos Front, Savara, Pochemeow, Death Ring: Second Impact, Mystical Tactics, Uber Urban, Sweep, Anoxia Station, Starless Abyss, Scarecrow, Wanderstop, and Conquest Dark.

AppWizard

February 27, 2025

You’ve got to try these 5 brilliant free roguelike deckbuilder game demos before Steam NextFest ends on March 3

Steam Next Fest features numerous deckbuilder demos available for free until March 3rd. Five standout demos include: - Aliosso: A dice rolling and deckbuilding game where players manage water resources to craft armor or use in other ways, set in charming pixel art desert landscapes. - Castle Clash: Players take on the roles of a knight, witch, and builder, aiming to destroy opposing castles while managing resources and making strategic choices. - Haunted House Deckbuilder: Players control a haunted house, defending against visitors by eliminating them or driving them mad to upgrade their home, with a humorous twist on classic simulation games. - Ballardo: A chaotic billiards game where players create mayhem by bouncing balls off each other, with a deckbuilding element that allows for strategic enhancements. - Word Migration: A word game where players help a bird migrate by forming words from letter tiles, generating 'flaps' for movement and utilizing special feathers for bonuses. Honourable mentions include Kindfolx, Inkborn, and A la Card.

AppWizard

February 16, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Co-op festival grabs, fresh bundles, and much more

The Epic Games Store is offering F1 Manager 2024 for free until Thursday, February 20, at 8 am PT. Fanatical has launched the "Build Your Own Capcom Bundle" with iconic titles available at various pricing tiers. Humble's new Deckbuilder Bonanza includes three tiers of games, available for three weeks. Steam is hosting a festival for cooperative games with discounted prices. GOG is running a "Love At First Pixel" promotion with DRM-free games on sale. Availability and pricing may vary by region.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

PC Gamer’s highest review scores of 2024

Concerns about "score inflation" in gaming reviews have been raised, with a score of 90% expected to represent an exceptional game. PC Gamer has not awarded a score higher than 98%, with Baldur's Gate 3 receiving the highest score of 97% in its UK edition. The 2024 Game of the Year Award winners are not included, but the year featured quality titles. Scores and their corresponding games include: - 89%: - Persona 3 Reload - Tekken 8 - Dragon's Dogma 2 - V Rising - Little Kitty, Big City - Lorelai and the Laser Eyes - 90%: - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 - Shogun Showdown - Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - Satisfactory - Riven - Animal Well - Granblue Fantasy: Relink - 91%: - Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake - Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance - Wild Bastards - Balatro - 92%: - Destiny 2: The Final Shape - Factorio: Space Age - 94%: - Caves of Qud - 95%: - Not specified in the provided text.

AppWizard

December 21, 2024

Weekend PC Game Deals: Winter Sales 2024 Edition

Humble is offering the Silent Night Deadly Night Bundle, which includes seven DRM-free games. The first tier features Aragami, They Always Run, Kunai, and Sclash. For a higher price, players can unlock Aragami 2 and Furi, with Slave Zero X available at the final tier. The bundle provides DRM-free GOG keys. The Epic Games Store is hosting a holiday giveaway with daily free games. Today's game is Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles, a roguelike deckbuilder that uses dice. The final Steam sale of 2024 has started, featuring thousands of discounts on popular games without the need for coupons. The GOG store's winter sale includes over 6,000 DRM-free games, with a free game, Chicken Assassin: Reloaded, currently available. Availability and pricing may vary by region.