drifting Archives

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

This week in PC games: a new Hooded Horse city-builder, some PS2-style horror, a school-day RPG and an absolutely tremendous catfish

The atmosphere in gaming is currently lacking excitement due to a lull with no major releases. Notable upcoming games include: - Journey of the Garden Rose: An adventure game featuring a princess battling insects in a low-poly palace. - Frog Holm: A bar-running game that combines cocktail mixing with Tetris mechanics. - No Vacation for an Executioner: An action-horror game with a PS2 style and intricately designed monsters. - Come Again, Chachii?: A game where players help quirky aliens find jobs by deciphering their speech. - Roombattle: A top-down multiplayer game featuring competing vacuums. - Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy: A dungeon-crawling RPG with cheerful characters and perilous elements. - Beast Breaker: A tactical pinball game where players launch a mouse at kaiju. - Nova Roma: An early access city-builder focusing on water management. - Damon and Baby: An action-adventure game featuring a baby and a demon king. - Screamer: A cyberpunk racing game known for its colorful mechanics. - Project Songbird: A game about overcoming writer's block while battling tree monsters. - EverSiege: Untold Ages: An action-strategy game from the creators of Aliens: Dark Descent. Additional activities include capturing images of mushrooms in Rova, constructing a mycelial web in ChloroLink, battling vintage supervillains in Marvel Maximum Collection, searching for a sister in Too Well Hidden, harvesting fuel in Venus in Transit, and transforming clouds into sea creatures in The Wide Open Sky is Running out of Catfish. The Treehouse is working on guides for Crimson Desert, evaluating Slay The Spire 2, assessing hardware, and participating in a preview event.

AppWizard

March 22, 2026

Screamer review

Screamer is a futuristic racing game developed and published by Milestone, set to be released on March 26, 2026, with a price of £50. The game features a narrative-driven experience with diverse character representation, where racers communicate in their native languages, supported by subtitles. The first team introduced, the Green Reapers, has a storyline involving revenge against the tournament organizer, Mr. A. The game incorporates an ECHO device for speed boosts and combat mechanics, but its handling model, which mimics exaggerated drifts, may be challenging for players. Customization options are available in Gage’s Workshop, showcasing different vehicle designs. The game includes various event types, offering a rich content experience despite potential issues with driving mechanics.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Kick off the year of the horse with a stableful of discounted horse games in Steam Horse Fest

Steam Horse Fest features a variety of horse-themed games available at discounts until February 23. Notable titles include My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery, discounted by 55%, and Petz Horsez 2, priced at 85p in the UK. Red Dead Redemption 2 remains at full price, offering immersive gameplay with horses in a Wild West setting. Umamusume: Pretty Derby is available as a free-to-play game. The event also announces the early access launch of The Legend of Khiimori on March 3, set in the 13th century.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

The magic and majesty of British Minecraft YouTubers

In the early 2010s, British YouTuber Stampylonghead gained popularity among young gamers for his Minecraft series "Stampy’s Lovely World." His videos featured imaginative adventures, whimsical constructions, and a positive atmosphere, fostering a sense of community and creativity. Viewers, including the author, found joy and inspiration in his content, which included interactions with characters like his dog Barnaby and friends IBallisticSquid and Sqaishey Quack. As the author grew older, they drifted away from Stampy's world but recognized the lasting impact of his optimism and creativity on their life. Andy Robinson is a member of the Class of 2027.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hytale Feels Like Little More Than A Neat Minecraft Texture Pack

Hytale is an early access game that has been in development for a decade, facing a cancellation by Riot Games before its revival in November. The game features mechanics such as jumping two blocks high and a combat system that requires timing for attacks, which are similar to potential mods in Minecraft. Hytale includes familiar mobs like skeletons, spiders, zombies, and golems, alongside new creatures like goblins and Kweebecs, and a mysterious area known as the Void. Crafting in Hytale is more complex than in Minecraft, requiring multiple workstations, and workbenches can recognize adjacent chest contents. Despite its unique elements, Hytale often feels derivative of Minecraft, with similar sounds and inventory mechanics. Future updates, including an anticipated Adventure Mode, aim to introduce RPG-like storylines and quests. The game currently faces balancing issues but remains visually appealing, though it has not surpassed Minecraft's foundational elements.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

How I Fell Back In Love With Minecraft After 10 Years Away

The author first played Minecraft in 2010 and was captivated by its charm, comparing it to a digital Lego set. Over time, they drifted away from the game due to burnout and political controversies surrounding its creator, Markus “Notch” Persson. The author visited Mojang in March 2011 when Minecraft had sold over a million copies, a figure that has since grown to over 350 million. Persson's demeanor changed after the game's acquisition by Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014 and the emergence of GamerGate, leading to the author's negative feelings towards the game. The Donut SMP server, created by YouTuber DrDonut, peaked at nearly 46,000 players in a single day and features an in-game economy where players can buy and sell resources. The author's son initially sought a Minecraft Realm for his classmates but later requested to join the Donut SMP server after tensions arose in the Realm. The author, initially hesitant, found common ground with their son on the server, leading to collaborative gameplay that involved resource gathering and crafting. They created a secret base and automated systems, learning about supply and demand in the game's market. This experience rekindled the author's joy in Minecraft and strengthened their bond with their son.

BetaBeacon

January 3, 2026

What’s Next for Augmented Reality and Casino Games on Android?

- AR in casino gaming refers to digital elements appearing in a real environment, not replacing it - AR casino games on Android rely on ARCore and engines like Unity or Unreal for stability - Early AR casino experiences on Android are about curiosity and low commitment - Most AR casino projects on Android focus on adjusting existing games rather than introducing new concepts - Benefits for players include familiar games feeling different and enhanced social features - Challenges for AR casino gaming on Android include device performance variations and legal considerations - Tips for developers include prioritizing reliability over visual ambition and testing across a broad range of hardware - Tips for players include preparing their environment with good lighting and keeping ARCore and system software up to date - Progress in Android-based AR casino games is expected to come from slow improvements rather than sudden leaps - Wearable AR devices and hands-free interaction through movement and voice capabilities are expected to be the future of AR casino gaming on Android

AppWizard

December 26, 2025

Mark’s most anticipated PC games for 2026

- First Light is an upcoming game from IO Interactive that reimagines the Bond formula, combining stealth mechanics with action-oriented narratives, featuring high-speed chases and shootouts. - The Blood of Dawnwalker, developed by Rebel Wolves, is a vampire RPG inspired by The Witcher series, focusing on a character named Coen who must reclaim his family from a bloodsucker, with dynamic quest mechanics influenced by the time of day. - Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan and aims to replicate diverse biomes and dynamic weather, offering an open-world car collecting experience with urban landscapes and mountain passes. - Star Wars: Galactic Racer features racing mechanics set in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to pilot hovering crafts through off-road trails while experiencing high-speed races.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

YouTube revives in-app direct messaging in surprise test

YouTube is testing a built-in direct messaging feature for users aged 18 and older in Ireland and Poland. Users can initiate chats by tapping the notification bell on videos and inviting others to share content. Invite links expire after seven days, and users can also use the Share button to send messages. This is YouTube's second attempt at direct messaging, having previously tested it from 2017 to 2019 before discontinuing it. The new feature aims to facilitate communication without leaving the platform, allowing creators and brands to build communities and share content. User feedback will determine the future of this feature, and there is currently no commitment to a global rollout.

AppWizard

October 19, 2025

Star Citizen and Elite Dangerous have a new rival as ultra-realistic space combat sim gets a free demo, and I love how bad I am at it

Impeller Studios rebranded its project from Starfighter Inc. to In The Black in May 2022, focusing on creating a realistic interstellar combat simulation. The game aims to provide an authentic experience of a 23rd-century intergalactic combat pilot, blending elements of Counterstrike and World of Warships. The demo features flight and combat tutorials, emphasizing momentum management in gameplay. The development team includes veterans from titles like X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and Crysis. The demo has received updates, including a new cooperative 'drone sweep' mission and improvements to flight mechanics. The demo is available for free on Steam, with plans for early access of the full game by the end of 2025.