deckbuilder Archives

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

I’ve just found a new cutesy Balatro, but instead of a deck of cards you get to tend to a garden and harvest flowers

The author began playing the game Balatro late and transitioned to a new game, Chosen Garden, at the beginning of 2025. Chosen Garden is a roguelike deckbuilder set to launch in March 2025, where players nurture a magical garden and face unpredictable weather every three rounds. Players start with a 9x9 plot and must harvest within a 3x3 area, with each round requiring them to meet a point goal. Harvesting yields coins for acquiring new plants, tools, or animals. The gameplay is similar to Balatro, making it accessible for players familiar with it. The author experienced challenges during gameplay, including a sandstorm that affected their score, ultimately finishing with under 300 points.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

What games did you play over the holidays?

During the holiday season, various games captivated players in the gaming community: - Herdling: Players guide twelve creatures called Calicorns to the summit of a mountain within three hours, earning achievements along the way. - Ball x Pit: An indie roguelike that combines elements of Vampire Survivors with pinball mechanics, where players collect and upgrade balls to fend off enemies. - Lusternia: Age of Ascension: A text-based MMO where players engage in a fantasy setting as a snake-man Monk, featuring a community-driven experience with no microtransactions. - Tanto Cuore: A deckbuilder game where players hire anime maids and balance hiring staff while competing against rivals. - Lushfoil Photography Sim: A game focused on recreating photographs using a DSLR in serene landscapes, transforming exploration into an engaging experience. - Fallout 3: A nostalgic return to the game, played without mods, reaffirming appreciation for its atmosphere and quests. - Kletka: A multiplayer horror game set in a dystopian environment, emphasizing cooperative gameplay and resource management.

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.

AppWizard

December 14, 2025

Bargain Balatro-like deckbuilder launches to 91% Steam rating, and bundles with some of the best fake-gambling games

This Ain't Even Poker, Ya Joker, developed by Mash, launched on Steam last Thursday and has received a 91% positive rating from users. The game is priced at .99 or £3.99 and is marketed as an idle deckbuilding clicker game where players flip cards to earn money, expand their hand, purchase new decks, unlock upgrades, and aim to defeat the Jester. It offers a lighthearted alternative to traditional poker and is designed to be engaging and entertaining. The game is available at an introductory price until December 25, after which the price will increase by a dollar.

BetaBeacon

December 11, 2025

The Best New Roguelikes and Roguelites

- Dog Witch is a quirky deckbuilder game that the reviewer unexpectedly enjoyed and considers one of their favorites of 2025.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

For just $10, this PC board game bundle has some phenomenal cozy games – but you’ll have to be quick

Fanatical is offering a 'Build your own Tabletop and Deckbuilder' bundle featuring 14 products, including the board game Roll Player and indie deckbuilder video games like Wingspan, Calico, Raiders of the North Sea, Yellow & Yangtze, Sagrada, and Wings of Glory. The bundle is valued at nearly 0 but is available for .99, with options to select three, five, or more games at varying prices. The bundle is available until December 22, but there is limited stock of Steam codes, particularly for the Dire Wolf pack.

AppWizard

November 24, 2025

This week in PC games: warriors, painters, roguelikes, sailors, shotguns, subs and metroidvanias

The gaming industry is currently experiencing a wave of creativity and innovation, with a potential revival of third-person cover shooters on the horizon. Several new PC games are being highlighted: 1. Nientum - Op.ZERO (early access): A 2D platforming and rhythm-action game featuring amnesiac anime girls restoring a creepy theatre. 2. Constance: A 2D metroidvania where players control a painter navigating worlds influenced by mental health struggles. 3. Primal Fray: A turn-based, creature-collecting strategy roguelike set on floating hexagonal islands. 4. A.I.L.A: A narrative-driven game where players act as a game tester against a malicious AI level designer. 5. Captain Wayne - Vacation Desperation: A cartoon FPS featuring a sailor on a mission to challenge wealth. 6. Red Rogue Sea: A turn-based combat and deck-building game with a pirate theme. 7. Holder Of Place: An autobattling roguelite deckbuilder confronting a dragon that has cast the world into eternal night. 8. Kings Of Hell (early access): A nostalgic beat 'em up set in a chaotic world with upwardly mobile demons. 9. Veterum: A turn-based fantasy strategy game focused on battlefield manipulation. 10. Death In Abyss: A 3D underwater combat game where players battle massive leviathans. 11. Ayasa: Shadows Of Silence: A platforming adventure through six themed worlds. The gaming landscape remains unpredictable, with these titles adding to the excitement and anticipation for the future of the industry.

AppWizard

October 27, 2025

This week in PC games: Outer Worlds 2, Arc Raiders, occult detectives and some chunky strategy games

James has returned from his travels in India, having enjoyed a holiday rather than focusing on the Indian game development scene. Noteworthy PC game releases include: - Terra Firma 2: A sandbox god simulation. - The Séance of Blake Manor: A first-person supernatural detective mystery set in 1897 Ireland. - Master of Command: A historical strategy game set during the Seven Years' War. - Simon the Sorcerer Origins: A prequel to the 1993 point-and-click adventure game. - Death By Scrolling: An RPG promising endless upward mobility. - Wreckreation: A game featuring 400 square kilometers of landscapes for vehicular chaos. - Silly Polly Beast: A third-person survival horror game with a skateboarding orphan. - As Long As You're Here: A semi-autobiographical experience about a woman with Alzheimer's disease. - DSS 2: War Industry: A medieval wargame simulating real-time activities of workers and soldiers. - Dark Moon: A real-time survival strategy game with a mecha-base. - The Outer Worlds 2: A sequel focusing on leveling up companions and corporate satire. - Orbyss: A game navigating a metal labyrinth filled with logic puzzles. - Resonance Solstice: A blend of train simulations, trading mechanics, and deckbuilder combat. - Majogami: A hack-and-slash platformer in a paper-crafted world. - Arc Raiders: An extraction shooter from the creators of The Finals. The Treehouse team is engaged in various projects, with James preparing for another press trip, Mark discussing Hong Kong dollars, Ollie finalizing Silksong guides, Jeremy working on The Outer Worlds 2, and Callum exploring Umamusume: Pretty Derby.

AppWizard

September 29, 2025

PC Gaming Show @ TGS 2025 Coverage

The PC Gaming Show at TGS 2025 showcased over 30 upcoming PC games. Key announcements include: - Nightdive Studios is remaking "Blood," set to launch on December 4th. - "Earth Must Die," a point-and-click adventure, features a voice cast including Ben Starr and Tamsin Greig; release date TBA. - A demo for "Minos," where players build labyrinths, is available now. - "Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth," a sequel to Snufkin, is in development. - "Awaysis," a dungeon brawler, has playtest sign-ups available. - "Billie Bust Up," a 3D platformer, has a new gameplay trailer; release date TBA. - "Yakuza Kiwami 3" will launch on February 11th, 2026, featuring an alternative storyline. - "Gravebound," an online extraction shooter, has a free playtest available now. - "Kaiju Cleanup" has playtest signups available. - "HOTEL BARCELONA" is out now, blending horror and action. - "Mars Tactics" will release in May 2026. - "CLAWPUNK," a roguelite, is set to launch on November 14th. - "Killing Floor 3" will receive a major update on Halloween. - "Farmbotic," a co-op farming game, is launching in 2026. - "Denshattack!" is a train stunt game coming in 2026. - "Doomspire," a roguelike deckbuilder, is out now. - "MotionRec," a puzzle platformer, is coming later this year. - "Mind Diver," a mystery adventure, is out now. - "JOIN US," a cult simulation game, is set for 2026. - "Threads of Time," a visually stunning title, has no release date yet. - "Soulmask" will leave Early Access in Q4 2025. - "Outward 2" is set for a Summer 2026 release. - "House Flipper 2" will introduce a Pets DLC next year. - "OKU," a narrative-driven game, has no release date yet. - "Morbid Metal," a single-player hack and slash roguelite, will open playtests soon. - "Huntsman," a horror game featuring giant spiders, is set to release in November 2025. - "RAEV: Kingdom on the Distant Shores" is coming in 2026. - "Absolum," a beat 'em up roguelite, launches on October 9th. - "Task Time," a competitive party game, has a playtest available now. - "BrokenLore: DON'T LIE," a psychological horror game, is in development.

AppWizard

September 15, 2025

This week in PC games: Dying Light, a Martian themepark sim, a glossy RPG remake and some cuddly LEGO co-op

This week features a variety of new game releases, including: - Mars Attracts: A whimsical theme park management game with Tim Burton's Martians. - LEGO Voyagers: A co-op puzzle game with tiny eye-block characters. - Troublemaker 2: Beyond Dream: An open-world comedy beat 'em up appealing to fans of Saints Row. - Fata Deum - The God Sim: A town-building and army battle game reminiscent of Black & White. - Troleu: A bus conductor simulator with chaotic elements. - Daymare Town: A point-and-click adventure set in a city with Metamorph creatures. Additional titles include: - Henry Halfhead: A puzzler with a protagonist who can transform into objects. - Rana Card: A roguelike deckbuilder managing a corporate farm. - Skate: A non-conformist skateboarding title. - Strange Antiquities: A pawnshop management game for mystical items. - Flick Shot Rogues: A game involving flicking berserkers at targets. - Beacon Patrol: A digital board game about expanding an ocean. Notable mentions: - Easy Delivery Co: A delivery game in a snowy town with catpeople. - Ratatan: A quirky title inspired by Patapon. - Dying Light: The Beast: A new installment in the zombie genre. - Pigface: A grimesploitation shooter with a unique protagonist. - Trails In The Sky 1st Chapter: A 3D remake of a beloved RPG. - Jump Space: A cooperative space adventure game. - Eclipsium: A title promising diverse experiences. - Marisa of Liartop Mountain: An adventure RPG with dice roll conflict resolution. There are also embargoed games being played this week, with anticipation for Silksong and Borderlands 4.