empire Archives

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

Age of Empire 4’s new DLC drops today, and the Jin Dynasty is a beautifully-realized civ

Age of Empires 4's latest expansion, Yue Fei's Legacy, introduces a new campaign featuring eight missions centered on the general Yue Fei and his ally Han Shizhong, tasked with protecting the Song Dynasty's last prince from Jin forces. The campaign begins with the Jiankang Incident of 1127 and includes various challenges such as evading Jin pursuers and reclaiming territory. The expansion also adds the Jin Dynasty as a new civilization, characterized by efficient horse-mounted villagers and the elite Iron Pagoda cavalry units. The Jin Dynasty features a unique defensive mechanism called the Meng'an Mouke Emplacement, which automatically deploys defensive cavalry units when enemies approach.

AppWizard

May 3, 2026

Space strategy game Sins of a Solar Empire 2 drops its gen-AI artwork amid a huge new UI overhaul

A substantial update for Sins of a Solar Empire 2, named 'UI Horizons,' has been released, removing AI-generated art and replacing it with portraits created by human artists. The update includes a redesigned front-end menu, the return of an in-game map editor, and a new faction selection screen with detailed faction information. Enhancements have been made to single-player and multiplayer lobby screens, along with improved customization options for the random map function. New defensive tools for all factions and balance adjustments have been implemented, including increased costs for certain Vasari capital ships and construction expenses. The Advent faction's AI has received improvements for better strategic use of abilities. Save game files have been compressed by over 70%, and engine improvements have enhanced missile targeting and unit formation handling. Modders will need to update existing mods for compatibility, and players can revert to earlier game versions through Steam if needed.

BetaBeacon

May 1, 2026

My friends and I became the Ninja Turtles, and my Friday nights will never be the same again

- TMNT: Empire City is a new VR game developed by Cortopia Studios. - Players can team up with three friends to take down the Footclan after the death of the Shredder. - The game allows players to climb buildings and structures in an open-world environment. - Each Ninja Turtle character has its own weapon and skillset. - Combat is rewarding and there are puzzles to solve along the way. - Players can collect items to craft upgrades and equipment in the Turtle Lair. - The game is available for .99 and supports crossplay between different platforms.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

PC Users Can Claim 2 Free Games This Week, Save Over $100

The Epic Games Store offers free games weekly, with two titles available this week: Odsparks: An Automation Adventure and Firestone. Odsparks, developed by Massive Miniteam and published by HandyGames, is a cosy automation game released a year ago, typically priced at .99. It invites players to create automation workshops in a whimsical world. Firestone, a free-to-play idle clicker RPG from Holyday Studios launched in 2024, allows players to engage in battles and offers infinite progression offline. Claiming Firestone from the Epic Games Store this week provides worth of in-game bonuses, including various chests and resources. Both games are free until May 7 at 4 PM BST / 8 AM PT. Additionally, Hogwarts Legacy is available for free until May 3.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Total War Warhammer 3 overhauls mod manager, so you’ll no longer have to fight Chaos before even starting the game

Total War: Warhammer 3 has received a significant update to its mod manager, released in late 2025, aimed at improving the user experience for modding. Enhancements include faster mass mod activation, reduced startup times for players with many mods, improved search filters for finding specific mods, clearer tooltips, and fixes for bugs related to mod profiles and text legibility. Players can still create 'mod profiles' for easier management of their favorite mods. The update encourages players to explore new mods and provide feedback to the developer, Creative Assembly.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings retrospective – The millennial medieval masterwork proves that there’s more to RTS than killing and destruction

Age of Empires II features four primary resources: wood, gold, food, and stone, simplifying the strategic landscape. The game is known for its rich visual design, captivating soundtrack, and blend of historical fact with storytelling. It allows players to engage in both military strategy and city-building, creating a tranquil atmosphere despite the looming presence of war. The game's music, composed by Stephen Rippy, enhances the gameplay experience. Historical accuracy is emphasized, with campaigns narrated from unique perspectives and missions reflecting real historical events. Players gain strategic gameplay while absorbing historical knowledge through compelling narratives.

BetaBeacon

April 25, 2026

Today’s Android game and app deals: Lia Hacking Destiny, Ash of Gods, Boxville 2, and more

The highlighted Android app price drops include Black Border 3 for , Lia: Hacking Destiny for .50, Outliver: Tribulation for , Ash of Gods: Redemption for .50, and more.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Minecraft Maps Guide: How to Master the 1.21 Grid and Find Trial Chambers | Attack of the Fanboy

Maps in Minecraft have become essential for navigating underground Trial Chambers introduced in the 1.21 Tricky Trials update. Players can create maps using a Cartography Table, which requires only two pieces of paper and four wooden planks, making it more efficient than the traditional crafting table method. An empty map costs one piece of paper, and scaling maps up or down also only requires one piece of paper. For Bedrock Edition players, creating a locator map with a compass is necessary to display their position. Maps can be scaled from level 0 to level 4, with each level covering increasingly larger areas but with less detail. Level 0 covers a 128 by 128 block area, while level 4 spans 2048 by 2048 blocks. The Trial Explorer Map, obtainable from a Cartographer for 12 emeralds and a compass, helps players locate Trial Chambers, which are hidden within deepslate layers at Y levels between 0 and -64. Minecraft maps do not center on the player but snap to a fixed grid, requiring players to move specific distances to align maps correctly. Players can use a white dot that appears on the edge of their map for navigation and can mark locations using renamed banners. Additionally, maps display the highest block in a vertical column, allowing for creative map art projects. The lore suggests a connection to an ancient civilization of builders, with villagers continuing their legacy through cartography.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Top-rated Steam PC Games Released Last Week (13–19th of April)

- PRAGMATA: 96% positive reviews from 8,155 ratings, Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Genre: Action, Adventure, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - MOUSE: P.I. For Hire: 95% positive reviews from 3,026 ratings, Developer: Fumi Games, Publisher: PlaySide, Genre: Action, Indie, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts: 99% positive reviews from 308 ratings, Developer: Yaza Games, Publisher: Mythwright, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Lucky Tower Ultimate: 94% positive reviews from 1,643 ratings, Developer: Studio Seufz, Publisher: AMC Games, Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - ShantyTown: 100% positive reviews from 111 ratings, Developer: Erik Rempen, Publisher: Kinephantom Games, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Gecko Gods: 97% positive reviews from 157 ratings, Developer: Inresin, Publisher: Super Rare Originals, Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Moves Of The Diamond Hand: 100% positive reviews from 50 ratings, Developer: Cosmo D Studios, Publisher: Cosmo D Studios, Genre: Adventure, Indie, RPG, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Fishing Inc: 92% positive reviews from 307 ratings, Developer: BigBonk Studio, Publisher: BigBonk Studio, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 14 Apr, 2026. - Nekokami - The Human Restoration Project: 100% positive reviews from 50 ratings, Developer: Rocket-in-Bottle, Publisher: Rocket-in-Bottle, Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Gold Edition (Classic): 96% positive reviews from 82 ratings, Developer: Black Hole Entertainment, Publisher: SNEG, Genre: Strategy, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Atomic Heart - Blood On Crystal: 93% positive reviews from 308 ratings, Developer: Mundfish, Publisher: Focus Entertainment, Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Loot Loop: 91% positive reviews from 319 ratings, Developer: BitBrew, Publisher: BitBrew, Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - BUNNY GARDEN 2: 93% positive reviews from 161 ratings, Developer: qureate, Publisher: qureate, Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Release Date: 13 Apr, 2026. - Airborne Empire: 89% positive reviews from 665 ratings, Developer: The Wandering Band LLC, Publisher: Stray Fawn Publishing, Genre: Action, Adventure, Casual, Release Date: 17 Apr, 2026. - Windrose: 86% positive reviews from 13,030 ratings, Developer: Kraken Express, Publisher: Kraken Express, Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG, Release Date: 14 Apr, 2026. - The Angel's Devil Tail - One More Question 2: 90% positive reviews from 21 ratings, Developer: 橘音, Publisher: 橘音, Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie, Release Date: 14 Apr, 2026. - OPUS: Prism Peak: 91% positive reviews from 391 ratings, Developer: SIGONO INC., Publisher: SHUEISHA GAMES, Genre: Adventure, Indie, Release Date: 15 Apr, 2026. - Cozy Sanctuary: 100% positive reviews from 34 ratings, Developer: OverPowered Team, Publisher: Isolated Games Publishing, Genre: Casual, Simulation, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - PRAGMATA: Shelter Variety Pack: 98% positive reviews from 59 ratings, Developer: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Publisher: CAPCOM Co., Ltd., Genre: Action, Adventure, Release Date: 16 Apr, 2026. - Portal 2: Community Edition: 89% positive reviews from 277 ratings, Developer: P2:CE Team, Publisher: P2:CE Team, Genre: Action, Adventure, Casual, Release Date: 17 Apr, 2026. - Electrogical: 94% positive reviews from 67 ratings, Developer: kinjo, Publisher: Phoenixx Inc., Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Release Date: 17 Apr, 2026.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

International transport tycoon game Worldwide Rush gets multiplayer, and it’s an impressive achievement

Worldwide Rush has introduced full multiplayer gameplay, allowing players to compete or collaborate in building an international transport empire. This feature is part of the game's third major update, which also improves rival AI, late-game balance, and adds eleven new vehicles. The game combines various transport modes, including trains, planes, automobiles, and ships, to maximize profits by optimizing routes between cities. The default map is based on real-world geography, with unique challenges generated procedurally. The update enhances single-player experiences with new vehicles and improved AI logic. Players can enjoy a 33% discount on Steam until May 2, and desync protection has been added to improve multiplayer stability. There are currently no plans for dedicated servers, but future developments may occur based on player feedback.