free-to-play Archives

AppWizard

August 16, 2025

‘The Day Before 2?’: Everyone is skeptical about this survival game promising a map five times the size of DayZ and 5,000 players per server

CrisisX is a free-to-play open-world survival game developed by HK Hero Entertainment. It features elements such as tree-chopping, base construction, zombie encounters, and player-versus-player combat. The game boasts a 1200x1200 km map, significantly larger than Chernarus from DayZ, and can support up to 5,000 players on a single server. However, there are concerns about the game's depth and engagement, as it follows familiar survival mechanics and may feel empty without meaningful content. Combat animations appear stiff, and the overall presentation lacks originality. The game includes poker and slot machines as unique features. The free-to-play model allows players to try the game with minimal risk.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Japan’s PC gaming population has decreased by 3 million in the past decade, studies suggest

The Famitsu Game Hakusho 2025 report indicates that the Japanese gaming market grew by 3.4% from 2023 to 2024, reaching 2,396 billion yen. The domestic gamer population has decreased to 54.7 million from 55.5 million the previous year. Mobile gaming leads with 42.77 million users, followed by console gamers at 29.51 million, and PC gamers at 14.52 million. Although active PC gamers increased slightly from 14.45 million to 14.52 million in 2024, this number is down from 17.49 million in 2015. Console users rose from 26.12 million to 29.51 million, and mobile users increased from 14.11 million to 42.77 million over the same period. The PC gaming population has not surpassed 17.49 million since 2015, and hardware pricing has significantly increased, with a 40% rise in pre-built desktop PC prices over six years. JEITA reported a decline in domestic PC shipments, with 6.667 million units sold in 2023, marking a 2.9% decrease and the lowest sales since 2007. The global PC gaming landscape is shifting towards gacha and free-to-play games, leading players to prefer mobile devices.

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

New Free Steam Game Is One of the Best of 2025 So Far

A new free game, Summer in Mara, is being offered through Fanatical for 48 hours, expiring on August 13, contingent on stock availability. It is a cozy farming adventure developed by Chibig, originally released in 2020, and has received over 1,300 user reviews with a 76% approval rating. This is the first time the game has been available for free on Steam or any other platform. The game typically costs a certain amount and offers 20 to 30 hours of gameplay. Its compatibility with the Steam Deck is currently listed as “Unknown,” indicating potential performance variability. To access the free game, players must sign up for the Fanatical newsletter.

AppWizard

August 4, 2025

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Reveals Visual, Cast for New Smartphone, PC Game

TOHO Games has announced a new mobile and PC game titled Tensui no Sakuna Hime: Hinuka Junreitan, which combines rice cultivation simulation with exploration and battle RPG elements. The game will be released as a free-to-play title with optional in-game purchases and features characters Sakuna and Hinuka, voiced by Naomi Ōzora and Machico, respectively. It is developed by Edelweiss and TOHO Games, with G2 Studios leading the development and Ryōta Murayama overseeing character design. The Sakuna franchise is expanding with an anime adaptation that premiered in July 2024 and a sequel in production. The original game was released in November 2020. Additionally, a spinoff game titled Sakuna Chronicles: Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation will be published in the West by XSEED and Marvelous Europe, and a manga adaptation ran from November 2021 to November 2022.

AppWizard

August 1, 2025

Battlefield 6 requirements suggest it’ll run on surprisingly modest PCs — EA VP says it still won’t work on Steam Deck, though

Battlefield 6 (BF6) is scheduled for release on October 10, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game requires a 10th-generation Intel processor or an AMD Ryzen 3000 series chip, along with an Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti or an AMD RX 6700 XT graphics card for optimal performance. It will not be playable on the Steam Deck but may work on other handheld devices that support external GPUs. Recommended specifications for BF6 include 16GB of memory and 80GB of storage. The Battlefield series has historically been less demanding in terms of graphics compared to other AAA titles.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

Revolutionizing Android Casino Apps with Hybrid Monetization

In 2025, Android casino apps are adopting a hybrid monetization model that combines free play, in-app purchases, advertising, and subscription services, moving away from traditional revenue streams like paid downloads. This model allows for free downloads and offers players various options, such as watching ads for rewards or subscribing for premium features. Developers are utilizing online casino content aggregators to access a wide range of games without the need for in-house development, which streamlines licensing and updates. The success of this model relies on selecting the right content aggregator, which can vary in terms of game library size, certification coverage, API integration, analytics capabilities, and revenue share structures. Continuous analysis of player behavior is essential to optimize monetization strategies, allowing developers to adjust ad frequency, subscription pricing, and game offerings based on user feedback.

AppWizard

July 31, 2025

This freaky Lovecraftian horror FPS is coming to Xbox and PS5, with a demo on Steam now — the devs said “you never know” about Game Pass, too

Beneath is an upcoming survival horror first-person shooter set to launch in 2025 on Xbox, PS5, and PC, developed by Camel 101 and published by Wired Productions. The game combines stealth mechanics and ammunition scarcity similar to Metro with intense combat and supernatural elements akin to F.E.A.R. It features Lovecraftian themes and is set primarily near, on, or beneath the ocean. Players will assume the role of Noah Quinn, an experienced diver facing nightmarish creatures and an ancient evil while trying to protect his daughter and humanity. The game includes adaptive AI enemies and limited ammunition, requiring players to strategize and use stealth. A free-to-play demo is available on Steam until August 4, 2025.

AppWizard

July 27, 2025

GeForce NOW on Samsung TV: The Easiest Way to Play PC Games Without a Console or PC

Cloud gaming allows users to play games on various devices without the need for expensive gaming PCs or graphics cards. It streams high-quality video from powerful data center computers, providing smooth gameplay as long as the internet connection is stable. The Samsung Gaming Hub, exclusive to Samsung TVs, features a user-friendly interface and includes the GeForce Now app, which utilizes Nvidia GPUs for enhanced graphics and performance. Users can access the GeForce Now app without downloading or installing anything, and they can create or log into an Nvidia account directly on their TV. GeForce Now offers free and paid membership options, with the free tier allowing access to free-to-play titles, while paid memberships provide additional features like 4K resolution and extended session times. Users can link their game libraries from platforms like Steam, Epic, and Origin securely through QR codes. The app is compatible with most game controllers, and performance may vary based on the TV’s resolution and internet speed. Players can start new save files or continue existing ones with synced statistics across platforms.

AppWizard

July 26, 2025

Two Brand New PC Games Are Free on Steam

Steam has added two new games to its library that are currently available for free. One game, Oil Sheik, was released on July 24 and has an 88 percent approval rating, described as a turn-based strategic puzzle game about creating and expanding companies and trading stocks. The other game, Inverta, entered Early Access on July 18 and is a 2.5D puzzle-platformer with a focus on gravity manipulation, but has received only three positive user reviews. One game is marked as “Unsupported” on the Steam Deck, while the other has an “Unknown” compatibility status.

BetaBeacon

July 24, 2025

It Took Me 10 Minutes To Hit A Paywall In The New Free-To-Play Pokémon Puzzle Game

The game Pokémon Friends combines puzzles and plush collecting, with beloved Pokémon characters featured in engaging puzzles. The free version of the game has a paywall that limits gameplay, but making a one-time purchase unlocks more content and makes the game more enjoyable. The game avoids excessive microtransactions and offers periodic updates to introduce new plushies, providing a lighthearted and engaging experience for fans of Pokémon.