excitement Archives

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Icarus Is The Perfect Survival Sim No One’s Talking About

The search for the ideal survival game began with the early beta of Minecraft in 2009, leading to the exploration of various titles over nearly two decades. A recent discovery, Icarus, released in December 2021 by Dean Hall, has garnered 29,000 positive reviews on Steam and maintains a vibrant player base. Icarus allows players to experience a sense of safety at night while encouraging exploration during the day, set on a planet with terraforming issues. The game features a realistic approach to sustenance, manageable food and water consumption, and introduces an oxygen meter that adds complexity to gameplay. It offers three modes: Open World, Missions, and Outposts, with Missions providing structured quests. Icarus is set to launch on PS5 and Xbox on March 26.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

The Marathon server slam consumed my weekend: 21 hours later, I’ve gone from ‘meh’ to believer

Last year, Embark and Bungie conducted playtests for their extraction shooters, with Bungie's Marathon being their first project outside the Destiny universe in over 15 years. Arc Raiders, developed by Embark, launched as the first mainstream title in the genre, while Marathon faced delays. The author initially felt indifferent towards Marathon but grew enthusiastic after playing for over four days. The game features a PvP experience with looting mechanics, weapon upgrades, and unique gun modifications. Critics compare Marathon to Call of Duty and Apex Legends, but the author finds its pacing more similar to Halo, emphasizing positioning and timing. The game includes movement shooter elements, allowing creative navigation techniques. Weapon designs are visually appealing and feature a variety of modifications. The game's progression system encourages experimentation with builds, and the vendor system aids in resource management. The upcoming full version will include a third map, Outpost, and additional content like the Cryo Archive.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Two Major Upcoming PC Games Confirmed as Steam Deck Verified

Two upcoming PC titles, Slay the Spire 2 and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, have received Steam Deck Verified status. Slay the Spire 2 will launch on March 5 via Steam Early Access, and developer MegaCrit aims for it to maintain this status at launch, although it is already functional on the Steam Deck. The original Slay the Spire sold millions of copies and has an 89 Metacritic score and a 97% approval rating on Steam. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is set to release on March 12 and has confirmed its Steam Deck Verified status. The first Monster Hunter Stories has a Metacritic score of 79, while its sequel scored 82.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

LETS PLAY Mini Golf Resort

The resort offers a variety of amenities including a hotel, juice bars, and relaxation spots, creating a tranquil vacation atmosphere. It features a mini golf course with a par two hole, which is designed to be an easy challenge for players. The experience at the resort is intended to be enjoyable and memorable for both seasoned golfers and casual players.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

This week in PC games: Marathon, Slay The Spire 2, a promising Disco-like RPG and a monastic garden mystery

This week features a variety of new PC game releases, including: - The Abbess' Garden: A life simulation game set in the 17th century where players restore a botanical sanctuary. - Sad God: A game where players navigate a shaft filled with threats to reach the surface before lava engulfs them. - The Legend of Khiimori: An open-world courier game set in 13th-century Mongolia, now in early access. - Esoteric Ebb: A single-player CRPG where players investigate an explosion at a teashop during an election. - Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered: A remaster of the classic title focusing on narrative and choice. - Humanica: A city-building game where players can edit the landscape of their prehistoric city. - Luxman Moonlit Market: A night market simulation game with a unique art style. - Scott Pilgrim EX: A side-scrolling brawler based on the Canadian comic book series. - Slay the Spire 2: The sequel to the roguelite deckbuilder, now in early access. - Card Cultivation: A game combining elements of Cultist Simulator with Chinese mythology. - Planet of Lana II: A puzzle-platformer where players save a cyborg world alongside a kid and their pet. - Age of Barbarians Chronicles: An action game with a sword-and-sorcery theme. - Here Comes The Swarm: An early access survival RTS where players fend off gigabeetles. - Marathon: Bungie's reboot of the classic FPS set in a rich lore universe. - Ratcheter DX: An adventure game challenging players to escape a sunken ice base. - Mr. Peregrino: A game set in the 19th century where players manage food supplies while escorting pilgrims. - Over The Top: WW1: A game where players experience the frontlines of World War I. - Aethus: A game where players investigate a lost science expedition on a desert world. - Post-Apocalyptic Technician: Players repair Stroggs as an underground technician. - Frog Abundance: An exploration game centered around frogs in various time periods. Team members at RPS express interest in different titles, with Ollie favoring Marathon, James interested in Planet of Lana, Mark leaning towards automotive adventures, and Julian considering writing about Slay the Spire 2.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Almost all the cozy games of March have demos to try and I’ve been snapping up as many as I can

Cozy games often shift their release dates shortly before launch, which has been particularly noticeable in March. The anticipated titles include: - The Legend of Khiimori: An open-world game set in 13th century Mongolia focused on horse taming and breeding, developed with input from horse game critic Alice Ruppert. - Cupiclaw: A vibrant pixel art adventure that simplifies the claw machine experience, where players aim to scoop high-value prizes like a lost engagement ring. - The Abbess Garden: A gardening fantasy set in 1643 France, where players restore a neglected abbey garden, emphasizing ecosystem care and creativity. - Bubblegum Galaxy: A tile-based building game featuring a cat with a house-shaped hat, tasked with rebuilding a galaxy in a corporate setting. - Collector's Cove: A farming simulator where players start their farming life on the back of a large aquatic dinosaur, exploring various islands without enemies.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

One of my favorite Next Fest demos turned out to be this speedrunner’s delight modeled after 3D Sonic games, which just added ranked multiplayer races

The Rollin' Rascal demo was recently updated during the Steam Next Fest, appealing to fans of Sonic the Hedgehog's early 3D adventures. It features a vibrant world with expansive levels, momentum-based physics, and online modes, including ranked multiplayer competitions. The races include item boxes similar to those in Mario Kart, but the online community is currently sparse. The demo has some imperfections, such as camera glitches and a lack of enemy variety, but shows promise for future development.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Minecraft Meets No Man’s Sky In New Sci-Fi RPG You Can Try Free

SpaceCraft is an upcoming space exploration game from Shiro Games, set to launch into Steam Early Access in the second quarter of 2026. The game will allow players to explore a vast galaxy with diverse planets, mine and craft resources, design and build ships, and engage in trade with other factions and players.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

Hack-and-Slash Action Game Verminsteel Announced for PC

Developer Glass Bottom Games has announced its upcoming title, Verminsteel, an anthropomorphic hack-and-slash action game set to launch on PC via Steam in 2027. The game features players as a crow warrior fighting against occupying forces, utilizing various weapons and engaging in battles across the Fragarian countryside. Players can also play as other characters, rally allies, and upgrade weapons. The game emphasizes community themes and has been developed without the use of generative AI.

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

In a world of serious videogames, the Valheim devs’ new co-op dungeon crawler is a reminder that having fun is okay

Begraved is a co-op game developed by Grip Jaw, featuring a blend of cozy gameplay and horror elements. Players embark on missions in dungeons, collecting treasures to sell to a character called the Taxman. The game allows for customization of a hideout, which serves as a central hub for missions and social interaction. Players can revive allies at designated points and float as ghosts to assist teammates. The game includes a selfie camera for fun interactions. The demo is currently available and may contain bugs, as it is an early version.