first-person shooters Archives

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

The remarkable story of Unreal 2, the sequel rescued from development hell by dooming it to failure: ‘There was just no way we could succeed’

Weird Weekend is a feature celebrating PC gaming oddities. Unreal 2 was highly anticipated following the success of the original Unreal, which revolutionized first-person shooters. The sequel promised a cinematic campaign, dynamic factions, and advanced multiplayer, developed by Legend Entertainment under Glen Dahlgren and Mike Verdu. Verdu faced personal challenges that complicated project management, leading to strained team dynamics and internal conflicts. After taking control, Dahlgren inherited a troubled project that was behind schedule and faced technical challenges. The game launched on February 4, 2003, receiving mixed reviews due to the lack of multiplayer and a short campaign, ultimately leading to Legend Entertainment's closure in January 2004. Both Dahlgren and Verdu acknowledge the project's shortcomings, but Unreal 2 has gained a more favorable reputation over time.

AppWizard

May 29, 2026

Steam may have just thrown its weight behind bullet heaven, but last week’s standout game was a one-of-a-kind bullet hell FPS

Luna Abyss is a bullet hell shooter that redefines the genre by adopting a first-person perspective, creating an intense gameplay experience as players navigate through a three-dimensional landscape filled with projectiles. The game draws inspiration from Returnal and features intricate patterns of fire, requiring players to skillfully maneuver while attacking enemies. Its design includes a stunning array of orbs and obelisks, showcasing the potential for bullet hell first-person shooters to establish a niche in gaming.

AppWizard

May 29, 2026

Modern Warfare 4 is sending us to North Korea, but its new bullet tech is perhaps its best bit

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on October 23, 2026, for PC, current-generation Xbox consoles, PlayStation 5, and a version for the upcoming Switch 2. The campaign is set in the Korean Peninsula, focusing on South Korea, with a narrative exploring a hypothetical North Korean attack. Players will control a novice recruit amidst the chaos, with a storyline featuring a mix of American and South Korean soldiers. Key characters include Price and Ghost, while Soap will not return. The multiplayer aspect will introduce significant innovations, including a new technology called Ballistic Authority to improve weapon mechanics, specifically addressing weapon bloom for a more natural bullet trajectory and enhanced hipfire experience.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

There is no discovery on this earth more pure than a closet full of your dad’s ’90s big box PC games

A Redditor named Mestizoc discovered a collection of classic games while cleaning his father's cluttered closet, which included titles like Dreamfall, Quake 1, Half-Life, SimTower, Thief, Sin, Mortyr, and Red Alert. Mestizoc reminisced about his gaming experiences, particularly his connection to Quake 1 and his old gaming clan, Negative Burn. His father, who remains an active gamer in his 80s, recently finished playing Subnautica and is currently enjoying Starfield.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

I played Boltgun 2 and it’s sick

Boltgun 2 is a sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, developed by Auroch Digital. It retains the essence of the original game while introducing new features, including an expanded arsenal, diverse biomes, and dual protagonists. Players can choose between two characters at the start: Nyra Veyrath, an Adepta Sororitas battle sister with a crossbow and flamethrower, and Malum Caedo, who uses a plasma gun and shotgun. The game features two demo missions set in a swampy jungle and a frozen industrial complex. Gameplay mechanics have been simplified, with a single type of grenade and a removal of the complex toughness system. The missions are more linear, focusing on straightforward objectives, but the full campaign will include more complex levels. The game is set to be released in 2026.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

You can thank a bad Dungeons and Dragons DM for one of Shin Megami Tensei’s coolest mechanics

A British Doom reviewer once expressed a desire to converse with monsters in first-person shooters, which was already explored in the 1987 game Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei, featuring a negotiation system. Former Atlus developer Kazunari Suzuki was inspired to create this system after being denied permission by his Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master to engage goblins in conversation instead of combat. This experience led Suzuki to the idea of creating new rules, resulting in the negotiation mechanic that became a hallmark of the Megami Tensei franchise.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

The problem with bodycam shooters

Better Than Dead is a bodycam first-person shooter that recently launched in early access on Steam, allowing players to assume the role of a victim of a human trafficking ring in Hong Kong. Players are equipped with a pistol and a bodycam, embarking on a journey of revenge. The game emphasizes realism in gunfights, contributing to a trend of bodycam shooters influenced by the game Unrecord. It presents chaotic and unpredictable armed conflict, challenging players' perceptions of violence and its portrayal in media. The game's unsettling realism raises moral questions about gun control and the glorification of violence, leading to discomfort for some players who struggle with the boundaries between fantasy and reality.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Doom is 10 years old today, and you can pick it up for just $2 on Steam

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 reboot of Doom, which has established its own legacy in the first-person shooter genre. Bethesda Softworks has reduced the price of Doom on Steam to £1.59/€2, a 90% discount from its regular price. The sale includes a variety of other titles and will end on May 15.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

The Garry’s Mod ‘successor’ is, tragically, more Roblox than anything else

S&box, a first-person shooter and successor to Garry's Mod, offers a map editor and sandbox mode for constructing vehicles, but does not fully meet the expectations set by its predecessor. The innovative toolset that empowered modders in Garry's Mod is less prominent in S&box, which introduces a business model that may disappoint fans of the original's community-driven content. Currently, S&box faces technical challenges, including a low success rate for multiplayer server connections at around 30%. The front page features remakes of classic Garry's Mod games like Prop Hunt, highlighting ongoing nostalgia for the original.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

I feel like my screenshots are coming to life through the oil paintings created by ArtbyEri

ArtbyEri is an artist who transforms gaming screenshots into oil paintings, elevating them to art pieces. Her portfolio includes works inspired by games like Valorant, Call of Duty, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. One notable painting, titled "Just 5 More Minutes," depicts a Sim from The Sims 4, capturing the relatable experience of gaming. ArtbyEri shares her creative process through TikTok videos, showcasing the transformation of colors into vibrant artworks and encouraging viewers to appreciate their own screenshots as potential art.