game genres Archives

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

How have the genres of hit PC games changed since 2021?

- The unreleased Steam game Wardogs, a 100-player FPS, is trending at #1 with a peak of 105,000 concurrent users during its playtest. - Sally Face 2 is at #2, Dear Passengers at #3, Phantom Blade Zero at #4, Rerouted at #5, Tulpa The Unseen Lover at #7, and Heatwarped at #10. - Steam is testing personalized recommendations for its Midweek Deals for logged-in users. - Silent Hill: Townfall will be a PS5 exclusive for at least six months post-release. - Valve was founded 30 years ago. - There is a decline in physical retail for games, particularly with fewer Xbox consoles in big box stores. - Indie developer Kernel Hearts announced 50,000 pre-orders on the Epic Games Store, influenced by a promotional Fortnite skin. - Steam updated its documentation for pre-orders, advising developers to enable encrypted preloads for anticipated games. - Roblox has blocked certain bots, leading to decreased concurrent users, while the game Steal an Egg set a record for reaching 500,000 concurrent users quickly. - Entity raised .8 million to develop console-quality games for web browsers. - The issue of 'keyword squatting' on consoles continues, with the release of Lethal Corporation drawing attention for its misleading title. - The PC game market has shifted from survival games, city builders, and action RPGs in 2021 to a rise in Roguelite and Roguelike genres by 2025. - Roguelite gained 39 spots, Roguelike gained 37 spots, and Life Sim games climbed 31 spots to #6. - The Idler genre rose 46 spots to #15, while Survival Horror dropped to #26. - The 2025 list of top games includes three titles priced below , compared to only one in 2021.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

This week in PC games: a battle royale detective game, a broken Y2K metaverse, a laptop tycoon sim, and a new Company of Heroes RTS

- Endacopia: A point-and-click horror game inspired by 90s edutainment software. - Broken Reality 2000: A first-person puzzle-platforming adventure set in a Y2K-themed metaverse. - Plum Road Tea Dream: A semi-autobiographical journey of a queer POC developer through seven distinct graphical worlds. - Moon Crashers: A game where players gather resources to build an escape rocket after crash-landing on the moon. - Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call: A third-person fantasy adventure set in a beleaguered city. - Kinny and the Cosmic Cauldron: A roguelike deckbuilder where players create soups for eldritch clientele. - Dissolution of the Silent Union: A narrative with gloomy anime aesthetics and themes of decay. - Orbital Hell: A hallucinatory score-attacker game battling geometric boglins. - Désorienté: A narrative-driven experience set in a violent world with intestines as currency. - CipherMind: A battle royale detective game for eight players in a concrete labyrinth. - Lunarium: An action-RPG featuring a knight and a floating sorceress. - Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand: A strategic spin-off involving tactical gameplay against waves of enemies. - Joy Malignant: A dice-based RPG set in a city filled with despair. - Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!: A humorous isekai game featuring a truck driver. - Outfield: An exploration of agricultural growth and its implications. - Olga: A cozy adventure game without combat. - Legacy of Sail: A nostalgic real-time naval tactics game. - Culdcept The First: A modern adaptation of a board/card game fusion. - Mistfall Hunter: A PvPvE extraction RPG. - Turnip Mountain: A 2D climbing simulator in a whimsical world. - Signy & Mino: Against All Gods: A side-scrolling RPG featuring a girl and her dog. - Devil's Hand: A card game where players form poker hands on a grid. - Parkside: Decayed Soul Manipulation: A sim shooter set in a dystopian California. - Cloud Sculptor: A 3D puzzle-platformer where players create sculptures for ghosts.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

EA believes that planning for in-game advertising placement should be done during the development stage

Alexander Dao, Vice President of Advertising and Sponsorship at Electronic Arts (EA), discussed the strategic advantages of integrating advertising into console and PC games from the outset, enhancing monetization and user experience. He emphasized the importance of designing games with advertising in mind for a more organic inclusion, which varies by game genre. Dao cited the collaboration between The Sims 4 and Coach as a successful example of unobtrusive brand integration. He also mentioned EA's launch of EA Advertising, a platform to facilitate brand advertising within its games, reflecting EA's commitment to innovative advertising strategies.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

[Exclusive] Asia Game Buzz & GameDev Reports: China’s Steam & PC Gaming Market in 2025

The Chinese gaming market is valued at approximately .6 billion and is projected to have over 683 million players by the end of 2025, with 42.4 million users on the Steam platform. Client-based PC games make up about 22.28% of the market, equating to around .5 billion, while the legal console market is estimated at .1-1.2 billion for 2025. Steam holds 87% of all monthly active users in the PC and console market, while PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox account for 6%, 5%, and 2%, respectively. As of the end of 2022, there were over 16.7 million console players in China, with total console revenue reaching approximately .3 billion. Major gaming events like ChinaJoy and Bilibili World attracted over 410,000 and 300,000 visitors, respectively, in 2025. The demand for gaming merchandise is growing, with over 100 million users searching for related products by 2025. Heybox is the primary distribution channel for PC keys, with TapTap and Sonkwo also gaining popularity. Effective marketing relies on platforms like Heybox, Bilibili, and Douyin, while Xiaohongshu and Weibo remain influential. The leading game genres in China include action/shooters (33%), RPG/adventure (24%), and simulation/management (16%).

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

Cozy god game Ornelia announced for PC

Gameleon Studio has announced Ornelia, a village builder and god game set to enter Early Access on Steam for PC, with a release date yet to be revealed. In Ornelia, players act as guardians nurturing the Kinous, creatures that thrive under the Kiskanu tree, emphasizing kindness over destruction. The game features a Create Mode for personalized village building and will later introduce an Adventure Mode focused on reviving the Kiskanu tree while facing the threat of the "Black Mass." Key features include complete freedom in village design, real-time interactions with the Kinous, and two gameplay modes: Endless Mode and Adventure Mode.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

Top 11 Most Anticipated Upcoming PC Games in 2026 You Should Keep on Your Radar

In 2026, PC gamers can expect a diverse lineup of highly anticipated titles across various genres, including action RPGs, strategic games, and open-world adventures. Notable upcoming games include: 1. "Light No Fire" - A large-scale exploration title with ambitious world design. 2. "Phantom Blade Zero" - An action game known for fast-paced combat and stylish visuals. 3. "Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis" - A continuation of the franchise focusing on exploration and puzzle-solving. 4. "007 First Light" - A cinematic spy adventure blending action with storytelling. 5. "Atomic Heart 2" - A sequel expanding on its surreal setting and action gameplay. 6. "Onimusha: Way of the Sword" - A revival of a classic series focusing on sword-based combat. 7. "Fable" - A fantasy RPG known for humor and choice-driven gameplay. 8. "Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000" - A strategy title combining large-scale warfare with sci-fi lore. 9. "Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2" - A fast-paced sequel with retro-style shooting gameplay. 10. "Kingmakers" - A unique concept mixing modern weaponry with historical battlefields. 11. "Tides of Annihilation" - A fantasy action title with a focus on cinematic combat in a dark fantasy world. The variety of these anticipated titles ensures that players will have experiences tailored to their preferences, whether they enjoy story-driven adventures or strategic battles. Players can track upcoming releases by focusing on preferred genres, following official trailers, and utilizing release calendars and wishlists.

BetaBeacon

May 15, 2026

Samsung could turn the Galaxy S27 Ultra into a true gaming beast

RedMagic has integrated touch-sensitive trigger buttons into their gaming smartphones, allowing users to map them to on-screen actions for a more immersive gaming experience. Samsung should consider bringing this feature to the Galaxy S27 Ultra to cater to the growing mobile gaming community and differentiate itself from competitors like Apple.

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Turns out you yearn for the return of PC Gamer’s two favourite genres just as much as we do

A recent poll gauged which "dead" or "dying" video game genres gamers would like to see revived. The results showed that real-time strategy (RTS) games received 29% of the votes, while immersive simulations (immsims) garnered 28%. Other genres of interest included massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) at 16% and point-and-click adventures at 11%. There was also interest in the return of text adventures and beat-'em-ups.

BetaBeacon

April 17, 2026

Google tests Play Store UI change that should help picky gamers save time

The Google Play Store is testing a redesigned Games tab that includes genre-specific shortcut bubbles like Simulation, Puzzle, and Life to streamline the user experience and make it easier for gamers to navigate and explore games.

BetaBeacon

January 27, 2026

How to Play PC Games on Your Android Phone: Smooth and Zero lag

- Remote gaming allows players to play PC games from their couch by connecting their phone to their gaming PC with DeskIn. - Remote gaming also allows players to continue their gaming streak while traveling or on a business trip by remotely accessing their home PC. - DeskIn's screen mirroring function allows players to project their mobile games onto a big screen without the need for emulators. - Remote gaming with DeskIn offers low latency, customizable controls, and support for Bluetooth controllers. - DeskIn is compared to Parsec and offers features such as high frame rates, low latency, virtual keyboard, controller support, and multi-language support.