ducks Archives

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

The best extraction shooters on PC or: how I learned there are other games like Arc Raiders

Extraction shooters are experiencing a renaissance with a growing selection of titles catering to various playstyles. These games revolve around the concept of "extraction," requiring players to safely leave a mission area with collected loot, risking loss upon death. Arc Raiders is a third-person extraction shooter available on Steam and Epic, where players combat massive flying robots and navigate potential teammate betrayal while scavenging for gear. It features aggressive matchmaking and offers both PvE and PvP experiences, with optional seasonal gear wipes. Marathon, a first-person extraction shooter from Bungie, includes unique character classes with distinct abilities and fast-paced rounds. Players can quickly accumulate gear and have unlimited free loadouts, with a narrative enriched by colorful quest-givers. Escape from Duckov is a top-down extraction shooter where players control ducks on quests, offering easy mechanics, exploration, base building, and gear upgrades, making it suitable for newcomers. Hunt: Showdown is set in the Louisiana bayou, emphasizing stealth and strategic gameplay as players hunt bosses and contend with rival hunters, featuring a long-term progression system. Witchfire blends single-player gameplay with fast-paced action and inventive weapons, maintaining an engaging loop of resource gathering and upgrading, currently in Early Access. The Forever Winter is a third-person shooter set in an apocalyptic world, focusing on survival amidst towering mechs and tanks, still in Early Access with some performance challenges. The extraction shooter genre is diversifying, offering experiences for both casual gamers and seasoned veterans.

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Marathon feels like the yin to my Arc Raiders yang

In Arc Raiders, players can collaborate through features like proximity chat and shared objectives, while also facing formidable foes. The game emphasizes a relaxed atmosphere with opportunities for camaraderie among players. In contrast, Marathon fosters a competitive mindset, encouraging aggressive interactions and a focus on maximizing player-versus-player effectiveness. The first-person perspective in Marathon aligns with a competitive gameplay style, while the third-person viewpoint in Arc Raiders promotes social interaction and community engagement. Both games provide safety nets for players to recover lost resources, but they offer distinctly different experiences in terms of gameplay dynamics and player interactions.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

As Stardew Valley turns ten, ConcernedApe’s life game still holds a personally important record

Stardew Valley is a game known for its engaging mechanics and emotional connections, particularly through its co-op play. The introduction of multiplayer support in update 1.3 transformed the game into a shared experience, enhancing its appeal. Players can collaborate and explore together, which adds depth beyond single-player gameplay. The game features charming simplicity, supernatural elements, and ongoing updates, including the anticipated 1.7 update with new romance options. The personal connection to the game is often tied to shared experiences with loved ones.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Escape From Duckov might look like a parody, but it’s a full-fledged, full-featured singleplayer bottling of extraction shooter juice

Escape From Duckov is an animal-themed parody game that serves as a top-down shooter, reimagining the extraction shooter format for single-player gameplay. Players can customize their characters to resemble various birds or whimsical figures, rather than being confined to the role of a duck. The game features engaging gunplay with customizable weapons and a crafting system for base upgrades. It includes a quest structure that provides a clear sense of progression, encouraging exploration and avoiding aimless repetition. Players may encounter frustrating situations regarding item rarity and value. Duckov supports Steam Workshop for mods and UI tweaks, enhancing the gaming experience. The duck theme serves as a charming backdrop, offering a unique aesthetic compared to typical shooters. The game appeals to those who enjoy roguelikes without the competitive nature of multiplayer.

AppWizard

October 23, 2025

Battlefield 6 has just been dethroned on Steam by 2025’s weirdest military shooter

Escape From Duckov, developed by Team Soda, is a parody of the extraction shooter Escape from Tarkov, featuring rubber duckies instead of scavs. Since its launch on October 16, it has gained significant popularity, achieving a peak of 255,556 active players and securing a spot among Steam's most played games, surpassing Battlefield 6. The game has received a 96% positive rating, placing it in Valve's 'overwhelmingly positive' category. Escape From Duckov is currently available on Steam for .83 until October 30.

AppWizard

October 20, 2025

I definitely didn’t expect Tarkov parody Escape From Duckov to be this good, or this popular

Escape From Duckov has received an overwhelmingly positive reception, with 95% of reviews on Steam praising its mechanics and design. The game has sold 500,000 copies within four days of its release. It offers a unique single-player extraction shooter experience, diverging from the high-stakes gameplay of similar titles like Tarkov, and features engaging gunplay and structured quests. Players appreciate its more forgiving environment compared to other survival games. The game has generated buzz through word-of-mouth recommendations and appeals to a broad audience, even those with initial misconceptions about its gameplay.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

Already flying on Steam, this new duck-based shooter is Tarkov-like by name, but not by nature

Escape From Duckov is a newly released top-down looter shooter that features ducks instead of mercenaries, diverging significantly from its namesake, Escape From Tarkov. The game has seen nearly 35,000 concurrent players on Steam on its launch day. It includes customizable difficulty modes and will receive free content updates based on community feedback. A hotfix has been released to address bugs, and players may need to start a fresh save to progress in the full game. Escape From Duckov is available on Steam for .83.