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This week in PC games: synthpunk platforming, haunted house hoovering, and a game about growing a black hole
AppWizard
June 22, 2026

This week in PC games: synthpunk platforming, haunted house hoovering, and a game about growing a black hole

Temperatures in southern Britain are predicted to reach 38 degrees Celsius. The British population is generally unaccustomed to such extreme heat. The author, a games journalist, is focused on curating a list of new PC games instead of dealing with the heat. Notable game releases include: - Desolation Seed (early access): An immersive open-air combat prison experience. - Dark Scrolls: A roguelite platformer with whimsical characters. - Idle Chapel: An idle game involving converting cultists. - Relief: A game combining Chinese mythology with anime aesthetics. - Dimhaven: A photography puzzler set in a misty resort. - Deer & Boy: An emotive platforming experience in a frozen landscape. - Heavydelic (early access): A visually striking Slavic Synthpunk game. - Rift Wizard 3 (early access): A sandbox game focused on spell-crafting. - Empulse: A 6v6 shooter reminiscent of Titanfall 3. - S.A.N.D.Y. - Beach Cleaner: A post-apocalyptic beach game. - 7 Nights with Vroombi: A robot vacuum cleaning a haunted house. - nophenia: An exploration game featuring a wolfgirl. - Omen Exitio: Hunger: A Lovecraftian mystery set in 1927 New York. - Eyes of the ElderWood (early access): A horror and folklore adventure game. The editorial team is focused on finding ways to stay cool during the heatwave while remaining committed to uncovering new PC gaming titles.
Steam Gets 11 New Free Games You Can Check Out Now
AppWizard
June 21, 2026

Steam Gets 11 New Free Games You Can Check Out Now

Steam has released a new collection of free games, including: - The Unrealtor: A couch co-op puzzle adventure for two players involving perspective-based puzzles. - Operation P.L.U.S.H: A horde defender game for 1-4 players where dream-powered plushies protect a child's nightlight. - Cave Of Treats: A Halloween-themed arcade game where players control a skeleton disguised as a mummy to battle creatures. - Dragon Kisser: A third-person soulslike game where players charm a dragon to save their village. - Moon River: A short RPG adventure focused on music and exploration. - Tarot Spell: A typing survival game that involves learning about Tarot cards to cast spells. - Once Upon A Card: A card-based game where players help a royal child navigate dreams and face challenges. - Bloxzer: A puzzle game that involves rolling blocks into holes and activating bridges, with the first 15 levels free. - Without Sanctuary: An underground fighting game set in a nightclub, featuring brutal combat. - Tumble Type: A word puzzle game where players spell quickly to rescue keys and climb leaderboards. - eXSert: A Dieselpunk 3D beat 'em up game where players confront a genocidal AI. Players should check their PC hardware specifications for optimal performance.
Bryce Clark, game director of Poppy Playtime, has played 23,000 hours of Steam games: 'I'm a bit obsessed with learning the market'
AppWizard
June 21, 2026

Bryce Clark, game director of Poppy Playtime, has played 23,000 hours of Steam games: ‘I’m a bit obsessed with learning the market’

Bryce Clark is the game director of Poppy Playtime and has a history in gaming that began with DOS games. His childhood favorite was the 1994 RTS Dominus, which had technical difficulties that required troubleshooting. He has worked for studios like 343 Industries and Blizzard and became the lead technical artist at Mob Entertainment in 2023 before directing Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5, released in February. Clark enjoys games like Aethus, Strange Antiquities, and Prosperous Universe, and recently played Librarian: Tidy Up the Arcane Library and Forza Horizon 6. The oldest games on his PC are No Man's Sky and The Hunter: Call of The Wild. He has logged over 23,000 hours on Steam, with Rocket League and Ark: Survival Evolved among his top titles. Clark finds comfort in The Hunter: Call of the Wild and Subnautica. He uses Snagit for screenshots and video recording and WinDirStat for disk space management. He has shifted to a minimalist desktop organization style, using the taskbar and search bar instead of desktop shortcuts.
If you like puzzle platformers, multi-dimensional traversal, and ducks—I have the game for you
AppWizard
June 19, 2026

If you like puzzle platformers, multi-dimensional traversal, and ducks—I have the game for you

Dodo Duckie is an indie platformer game where players control Dodo, a duck on a mission to rescue his friends from aliens. The game features dimension-hopping gameplay, allowing players to switch between 2D and 3D using a magical propeller hat. In 2D, players can traverse greater distances, while 3D reveals hidden secrets and aids in precise jumps. The game includes puzzles that require creative thinking and manipulation of objects across dimensions. The mechanics are user-friendly and forgiving, making the game accessible and enjoyable.
Chaos Cubed drop is now available for Minecraft on Nintendo Switch
AppWizard
June 18, 2026

Chaos Cubed drop is now available for Minecraft on Nintendo Switch

The Chaos Cubed game update has launched on the Nintendo Switch, introducing new features such as the sulfur cube, sulfur caves, and various blocks. The sulfur cube is a passive mob found in sulfur caves that can absorb blocks to gain unique effects. Players can leash or scoop them up, or use bouncy wool blocks to launch them. Sulfur caves are home to hostile creatures and contain sulfur and cinnabar blocks, as well as sulfur spikes that are safe for players. On the Overworld surface, sulfur springs and geysers indicate the presence of sulfur caves, with springs emitting toxic gases that cause nausea. Potent sulfur generates bubbles and gas puffs when placed under water and can create geysers when combined with magma blocks. The update also includes a new music disc called Bounce, which can be found in chests within mineshafts that connect to the sulfur caves.
Final Fantasy 11 is one of the greatest MMOs of our time
AppWizard
June 13, 2026

Final Fantasy 11 is one of the greatest MMOs of our time

Revisiting Final Fantasy 11 after nearly two decades evokes nostalgia but highlights a diminished community. The game approaches its 20th anniversary, and while familiar landscapes remain, the sense of belonging has faded. The introduction of NPC party members allows solo players to progress more quickly, altering the gameplay that once emphasized teamwork. This change raises concerns about the value of achievements earned without shared experiences, as the vibrant social dynamics have been replaced by messages from players selling items. The author grapples with the desire to reach max level while questioning the worth of solitary accomplishments.
You can just bypass Fable's 'complex, nuanced' reputation system with enough gold
AppWizard
June 11, 2026

You can just bypass Fable’s ‘complex, nuanced’ reputation system with enough gold

The reboot of Fable features a 30-minute gameplay demonstration showcasing an innovative reputation system that influences player interactions with over a thousand NPCs. Players earn reputational adjectives based on their actions, affecting how NPCs perceive them. Choices such as sparing a life can earn titles like "merciful," while reckless actions may lead to a "reckless" reputation. Players can alter their reputation by paying a fee to a town crier, raising questions about the balance between gameplay challenge and convenience. The developers note that negative reputations, like "killer" or "criminal," will persist unless players invest time to amend them or pay for intervention. This duality reflects trends in RPG design, where the complexity of choices can conflict with the desire for a smooth gameplay experience. The mechanics of the reputation system promise nuanced interactions and varied outcomes based on player decisions.
Microsoft patches a record 206 flaws—and one is already being exploited
Winsage
June 11, 2026

Microsoft patches a record 206 flaws—and one is already being exploited

Microsoft patched 206 vulnerabilities during June's Patch Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 175 vulnerabilities patched in October 2025. Among the patched vulnerabilities, 118 are related to different versions of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. One critical vulnerability, CVE-2026-41091, in Microsoft Defender is actively being exploited, prompting an update to the Malware Protection Engine. Microsoft also addressed ten vulnerabilities in the Security Feature Bypass category due to the expiration of old Secure Boot certificates. Of the 118 Windows vulnerabilities, 19 are classified as critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-47288 and CVE-2026-47291. In Microsoft Office, 54 vulnerabilities were patched, including 25 RCE vulnerabilities, with nine classified as critical. Microsoft patched eight vulnerabilities in Exchange Server, including CVE-2026-45583, which can be exploited in a man-in-the-middle scenario. Additionally, the update for Edge addressed 74 Chromium vulnerabilities, including a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-11645).
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