first-person RPG Archives

AppWizard

September 26, 2026

My favorite $6 RPG on Steam just got a beastmode free ‘Enhanced Edition’ update

FlyKnight is a first-person RPG inspired by classics like King's Field and Lunacid, priced affordably. It recently received a free update called the GOTY/Enhanced/Definitive Edition, which includes multiple difficulty levels, item and enemy randomization, four new weapon types, performance improvements for Steam Deck users, and various refinements. The game features a unique combat system with locational limb damage, allowing players to target specific weak spots. The gameplay is slow-paced and skill-demanding, focusing on distance control and perfect blocks. The game is currently available at a limited-time sale price until September 30.

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

Dishonored was a last-ditch effort by Arkane Studios after years of fruitless contract work, according to the game’s co-creator: ‘I think we had four months of money left’

Harvey Smith, former head of Arkane Austin, has launched a new studio called Black Pony Immersive, focusing on immersive simulations inspired by titles like Deus Ex and System Shock. Smith's previous experience at Arkane included a critical period of financial uncertainty, which led to a decision to concentrate on their core vision, resulting in the successful creation of Dishonored. With Black Pony Immersive, Smith aims to foster creativity without succumbing to industry trends, following the less successful title Redfall. The immersive sim genre is seeing a resurgence, with other projects like Gloomwood and Fallen Aces, as well as an unnamed RPG from WolfEye Studios, indicating a promising future for the genre.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

‘The last time I liked everything about a game was probably Baldur’s Gate 3’: Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, talks us through the games installed on his PC

Raphaël Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, was inspired to enter the gaming industry after playing Ultima 7, which led him to co-found Arkane in 1999. The studio's first game was Arx Fatalis, and it has since produced titles like Dishonored and Prey, with their latest project being Weird West. Colantonio is currently playing Mewgenics, having previously completed Cyberpunk 2077 and enjoyed Baldur's Gate 3. He has revisited Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth for enjoyment and research. Colantonio has logged 649 hours in Wasteland 2 and expresses nostalgia for Thief, Fallout, and Deus Ex, noting their influence on his work. He uses DaVinci Resolve for video editing and DiskState for managing hard drive space. Colantonio maintains a tidy desktop with minimal icons and folders.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Obsidian is reportedly making a new Fallout game headed by Josh Sawyer after Microsoft pulled the plug on an Avowed sequel

Obsidian Entertainment has canceled several projects, including a sequel to Avowed, to focus on developing a new Fallout game. The layoffs at Xbox led to the departure of 52 employees, about 25% of Obsidian's workforce. The new Fallout game will be led by Josh Sawyer, the design director known for his work on Fallout: New Vegas. The cancellation of other projects, especially those in the Pillars universe, has disappointed some fans.

AppWizard

May 7, 2026

Atari just bought the rights to the big daddy of PC RPGs, and a reissue campaign is afoot

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, released in 1981, is recognized as the first grid-based, first-person RPG. The game featured simple monochrome graphics but provided a complex gaming experience, particularly popular in Japan. Different platform versions showed variations, with Nintendo ports offering enhanced visuals. The first five Wizardry games are becoming less available, except for a remake of Proving Grounds set for release in 2024. Recent Wizardry titles have adopted an anime aesthetic in character design. Atari's CEO Wade Rosen announced plans to revive and remaster the early games, which have been unavailable for over two decades. The revival comes as blobbers are gaining popularity, with recent titles indicating renewed interest in the genre.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Avowed was always great, but now that it costs what it should have at launch and nobody’s being weird about it online, it’s kinda perfect

The gaming community's perception of Avowed has improved significantly one year after its release, with players now recognizing its merits more favorably. The game received a collection of minor enhancements in its recent anniversary update, similar to improvements seen in Cyberpunk 2077. Initial reactions were mixed, with some players struggling with mechanics and expectations, but criticisms have lessened over time. Bloomberg's early interview indicated that Avowed was meeting sales targets, though recent reports suggested it was slightly underperforming. The game received respectable reviews, with a rating of 82% from PCG Australia and an 80% score on Metacritic. The narrative around Avowed has evolved, with some players expressing acceptance after initially disliking the game. Its price has been reduced, making it more appealing for new players.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

Painkiller’s creator “disagreed with every single thing” the reboot does, says it “wasted” the IP

Adrian Chmielarz, co-founder of The Astronauts, has contributed to the development of notable video games, including the Gears of War series, Bulletstorm, and Painkiller. He expressed concerns about the upcoming 2025 reboot of Painkiller by Anshar Studio, stating it lacks the essence of the original game. Chmielarz criticized the design choices of the reboot, noting that it feels disconnected from the foundational elements of Painkiller. He emphasized the importance of atmosphere in gaming, arguing that previous iterations had failed to capture the original's spirit by focusing too much on mechanics rather than immersion. He believes that rebranding the game could have resulted in a more positive reception, as many fans are disappointed with the current direction. The 2025 version has received a 'Mixed' rating of 55% on Steam, with negative reviews highlighting its disconnect from the original. Chmielarz is currently working on Witchfire, an early-access first-person RPG.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Forget Half-Life 3, the talking rat in Fatekeeper’s latest trailer is the best thing you’ll see this week

Fatekeeper is a grimdark first-person slasher game developed by Paraglacial using Unreal Engine 5, inspired primarily by Hexen rather than Dark Messiah. The game features a talking rat companion that offers cryptic advice and has gained popularity among players. It emphasizes character progression, tactical choices, and exploration, allowing players to evolve their characters into various archetypes. The combat is designed to be challenging yet not overly punishing, with hints of a Soulslike experience. Fatekeeper is set to be released as an early access title in 2026.

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

Somebody spilled some Minecraft in this hardcore first-person RPG, and I love the result way more than I ever thought possible

The demo of Nox Mortalis initially disappointed the player due to its cryptic nature and frustrating melee combat mechanics, including a reliance on a parry system and the absence of a compass. However, after reviewing the in-game manual, the player discovered that crafting a compass was part of the gameplay experience. The game incorporates resource management, requiring players to gather materials like wood, coal, and metals to craft weapons and unlock treasure chests. The crafting system is intuitive, with recipes unlocking automatically as players collect materials. The demo allows for approximately four hours of gameplay, including exploration of side dungeons and the initial levels of a central megadungeon. The player experienced a satisfying progression, starting with basic crafting and advancing to more powerful weapons. There is concern about whether the developer can maintain the engaging gameplay loop in the full release, which currently has no set date, as feedback from the demo is being gathered. Players can wishlist the game and access the demo on Steam.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

I defeated a bird by talking to it about the Bible in this lo-fi first-person RPG where you’re a 19th century daemon summoner

During the Frosty Games Fest, a trailer for the first-person RPG Your Holy & Virtuous Heretic was showcased, drawing comparisons to indie games like Dread Delusion and Felvidek. The game is set in the year 18XX, where players assume the role of an occultist who inadvertently enters a bizarre alternate reality after a failed ritual to summon Asmodeus. This realm features supernatural entities, magical crystals, and even computers, including a talking computer called the Statistics and Attributes Virtualization Engine. The game includes characters known as arm daemons that provide advice on attributes. It will be available on platforms like Steam and itch.io.