explosion Archives

AppWizard

January 15, 2026

7 Things in Hytale’s Early Game that Surprised Me as a Minecraft Veteran

Hytale has entered early access, offering players a vibrant world to explore. Early-game guides are being developed to assist newcomers with topics like smelting and server setups. The game is inspired by Minecraft but features unique elements. Key observations from the early game include: 1. Players can fell an entire tree with a single punch, resulting in an explosion of wood, sticks, and sap. 2. Overworld mobs, such as squirrels and rabbits, have more health than expected, requiring multiple hits to defeat. 3. Ores glimmer faintly in underground caves, making them easier to spot with torches. 4. The crafting system requires various materials for gear progression, making it more intricate compared to Minecraft. 5. There are enhanced decorative options, allowing for slanted roof blocks, half-block walls, and shelves with candles and books. 6. Exploration reveals unique locations like the "Forgotten Temple Gateway," which features distinctive mobs and NPCs. 7. Farming mechanics are more complex, with players able to construct animal care buildings and use farming aids, and new seeds requiring “Essence of Life.”

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

A dev on Minecraft-like Hytale has already used its creative tools to make a homebrew side-scroller

Hytale, a standalone game inspired by Minecraft, is set to enter early access on January 13. It is developed by Hypixel Studios, founded by Simon Collins-Laflamme, and aims to provide players with extensive custom game creation tools. A level designer at the studio created a 2D side-scroller as a demonstration of the game's potential. The game will feature mechanics for object placement similar to an MMO housing system and include machinima-making tools. Hytale's development has been tumultuous, but it is expected to unleash a wave of creativity in the gaming community upon its launch.

AppWizard

December 20, 2025

History’s most famous wizard is joining the dark fantasy roguelike I can’t put down, so I guess I’m not stopping yet

Merlin will be introduced as the first paid character in the upcoming Ravenswatch DLC, scheduled for release in January 2026, priced at .99. A free update will accompany this DLC, focusing on balancing magical objects and introducing five new magical items. Merlin can choose from nine spells across nature, arcane, and sacred light categories, making him the most adaptable character in the game. The base game is currently available at a 50% discount during the Steam Winter Sale.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

Öoo is a 4 hour platformer about solving problems with bombs, and it’s the cleverest puzzle game I played in 2025

Öoo is a visual puzzle metroidvania game where players control a character named Ö, who uses bombs for navigation and puzzle-solving. The game starts with one bomb, allowing for basic movement through strategic detonation, and later introduces a second bomb to enhance complexity. Discussions on Steam indicate that a third bomb was initially considered but ultimately discarded to maintain balance in gameplay. The design emphasizes minimalist mechanics, requiring players to think critically to overcome challenges.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Helldivers 2 cuts its install size from ‘~154GB to ~23GB’ in a beta you can opt into now, defeating liberty-hating storage reqs with ‘no functional differences’ between versions

In 2025, game file sizes have significantly increased, with many exceeding 100 or 200 GB. Arrowhead has reduced the installation size of Helldivers 2 by 85%, from approximately 154 GB to 23 GB, saving around 131 GB. They credited Sony's port-house, Nixxes, for their support but did not disclose specific methods. A public technical beta for the streamlined version is available on Steam, and players can opt in through the game's Properties menu. The reduction in file size will have minimal impact on load times, and there are no functional differences between the legacy and slim versions; all progress and purchases will carry over.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

YouTuber plays Minecraft on a receipt printer and somehow it actually works

A Minecraft enthusiast, YouTuber Smill, has played the game on a receipt printer, showcasing unconventional gaming setups. This experiment highlights the creativity in the gaming community, where unusual hardware choices have been common. Smill humorously noted that playing Minecraft on a receipt printer feels like "playing Minecraft by mail," with challenges such as delayed jump scares. He is known for embracing unconventional challenges, including playing various games under unique constraints. The full video of his receipt printer experiment is expected to be released soon.

AppWizard

November 24, 2025

Bloodborne sees a massive performance boost thanks to PS4 emulator update, with hunters’ dreams becoming more accessible on Steam Deck

The ShadPS4 emulator's version 0.12.6 significantly enhances the performance of Bloodborne on PC, making it more accessible for users with less powerful hardware. The emulator offers a stable experience, with average frames per second (fps) more than doubling compared to previous versions. A side-by-side comparison showed gameplay at 1440p on a PC with an Intel Core i5-13500 CPU and an RTX 3060 Ti GPU. On the Steam Deck OLED, the game maintains around 60 fps in handheld mode, with dips to approximately 40 fps during intense encounters, while docked mode achieves a stable 30 fps. Additional mods may be necessary for stability, and there is no official remaster planned for Bloodborne.

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Hardcore space sim Ostranauts just joined the legendary patch notes canon: ‘Corpses should no longer become hotter than the Sun and explode the ships/stations they are on’

Ostranauts, an early access hardcore space simulation by Blue Bottle Games, released Update v0.14.5.18, which includes a patch note stating that "Corpses should no longer become hotter than the Sun and explode the ships/stations they are on." This update addresses a flaw in the body heat code that allowed temperatures to rise indefinitely, potentially causing catastrophic thermal events. Blue Bottle founder Daniel Fedor explained that this overheating bug could lead to air inside EVA suits reaching extremely high temperatures, resulting in explosions if a helmet were removed.

AppWizard

November 4, 2025

All Black Ops 7 Zombies field upgrades

The latest installment of Black Ops 7 Zombies features six field upgrades: Toxic Growth, Dark Flare, Healing Aura, Frenzied Guard, Energy Mine, and Aether Shroud. Each upgrade can be selected during the loadout phase and swapped mid-game, requiring players to defeat enemies to charge them, with increasing costs for subsequent uses. 1. Toxic Growth: A defensive upgrade that creates poisonous thorns to block pathways and damage enemies. Players can deploy up to three at once. - Major Augments: Urticant, Cordyception, Pollination, Zoochory. - Minor Augments: Ankle Shredder, Green Thumb, Extra Charge, Plant Food. 2. Dark Flare: Unleashes a beam of energy that inflicts shadow damage. - Major Augments: Extension, Supernova, Dark Pact, Adjustment, Muzzle Blast. - Minor Augments: Broad Beam, Heavy Gloom, Extra Charge, Dusk Flame. 3. Healing Aura: Restores health to allies completely. - Major Augments: Resilience, Enduring Radiance, Persistence, Necromancer. - Minor Augments: Inner Strength, Protection, Stoic Presence, Cornucopia. 4. Frenzied Guard: Repairs the user's armor and redirects enemy attacks to the armor. - Major Augments: Phalanx, Retribution, Frenzy Fire, Fists of Frenzy. - Minor Augments: Repair Boost, Extension, Rally, Dual Layer. 5. Energy Mine: Deploys a mine that detonates multiple times near enemies. - Major Augments: Scatter, Turret, Carousel, Smart Mine. - Minor Augments: Frequency Boost, Extra Charge, Siren, Recycle. 6. Aether Shroud: Grants invisibility and allows players to phase into the Dark Aether. - Major Augments: Group Shroud, Burst Dash, Void Sheath, Afterimage. - Minor Augments: Instant Reload, Extra Charge, Extension, Impulse.

AppWizard

October 31, 2025

Mojang is finally revealing all of Minecraft: Java Edition’s code after 16 years to “make it quicker and easier for modders to create and improve mods”

Mojang has announced the removal of obfuscation from the Java Edition of Minecraft, allowing modders greater access to the game's code. This decision follows the Mounts of Mayhem update and aims to enhance creativity and innovation within the Minecraft community. The developer has engaged with the community by asking about their interests in modding and tinkering with builds. Additionally, Mojang's Chief Creative Officer commented on the Creeper's design, reflecting the importance of community feedback in game development.