Game of the Year Archives

AppWizard

February 10, 2026

Newly Released Tactical RPG Is an Instant Hit on PC (And It Could Be a Game of the Year Contender)

Mewgenics, a tactical cat RPG created by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, launched on Steam on February 12th and quickly attracted over 58,900 concurrent players. The game has received overwhelmingly positive initial reviews, achieving a Metacritic score of 89, making it the highest-rated game of the year so far. Players engage in building a cat army and face strategic decisions through a tactical breeding system. The main campaign offers over 200 hours of gameplay with a roguelite progression system. Mewgenics is currently available exclusively on Steam for PC and Steam Deck, priced at .99 with a 10% introductory discount until February 24th.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Nioh 3’s demo just hit Steam, and it’s achieving higher peak player counts than some full games

Game demos are becoming popular again, particularly during events like Steam Next Fests. A demo for Nioh 3, set to release on February 6th, is available for download on Steam and has reached a peak of 19,590 concurrent players, indicating its success in generating interest. The demo's player count has surpassed that of many full-sized games over their entire lifespan, showcasing its effectiveness as a marketing tool. Nioh 3 offers challenging gameplay with faster combat mechanics and a Diablo-inspired loot system. Feedback has been positive, with some suggesting it could rival games from FromSoftware. Players can add Nioh 3 to their Steam wishlist to receive notifications upon its release.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

After Expedition 33’s success, Split Fiction’s Josef Fares warns publishers not to “only do” double-A

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has received critical acclaim and commercial success, winning Game of the Year at the previous year’s Game Awards. Josef Fares, founder of Hazelight Studios, warns the triple-A gaming sector against merely replicating trends from Expedition 33's success, emphasizing the need for innovation rather than imitation. He highlights the importance of diversity in gaming, asserting that both triple-A and double-A titles have their place in the industry. Fares points out that while high-budget games face pressure to avoid risks, innovation is still possible, citing examples from studios like Naughty Dog, Rockstar, and Nintendo. He also mentions that other major studios, such as Capcom, are exploring unconventional ideas.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

Blue Prince, the best game of 2025 (don’t check our GOTY just trust me) is on sale on Steam for under $20 for the first time

PC gamers can purchase the acclaimed 2025 Game of the Year, Blue Prince, at a 34% discount during the Steam Detective Fest, bringing the price to .79 / £16.49. Blue Prince was recognized as the Best Designed game of 2025 by PC Gamer but finished as the runner-up to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. The game features intricate puzzle design and a unique approach to puzzles and discovery, developed over eight years. Players have expressed frustrations with the game's random number generation (RNG), which is integral to its challenge. The Steam Detective Fest runs through January 19, offering various games on sale.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

As the Amazon series hits its stride, these excellent Fallout games are cheaper than ever

The Fallout franchise has gained renewed popularity due to the anticipation of a fifth mainline entry, an upcoming Amazon series, and improvements in Fallout 76. Fallout: New Vegas is highlighted as a significant title in the series, known for its RPG mechanics and narrative depth. Fallout 76, initially criticized at launch in 2018, has evolved into a more enjoyable experience. The Best of Platinum Collection from Fanatical offers Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 3, and Fallout 76 for .33 / £3.33 each, along with a variety of other games. Recommendations include Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 76, Amnesia: The Bunker, and RoboCop: Rogue City, with potential discounts for purchasing multiple titles.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 developer seems to be working on a secret Unreal Engine project

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 ranked fourth in Game of the Year discussions for 2025 and is recognized as one of the best medieval games. Developer Warhorse Studios is speculated to be transitioning to Unreal Engine for future projects, as indicated by job listings that require experience with Unreal Engine. A user named Jakub Holík, tech ops lead at Warhorse, has also linked to job ads for an upcoming Unreal Engine project. The publisher, Plaion, has not confirmed any details regarding these speculations. Warhorse may be considering multiple projects or a complete engine overhaul, but it is unclear if Kingdom Come Deliverance 3 will use Unreal Engine. Community manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling stated that while the narrative of Henry has concluded, the Kingdom Come Deliverance IP is not shelved, and immersive RPGs will remain a focus for the studio.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Hollow Knight Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year with a staggering 43 million votes from PC players

Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year at the 2025 Steam Awards, receiving 43.8 million votes. It also won the award for Best Game You Suck At. The game was released on September 4, 2025, and experienced significant traffic that caused outages on platforms like Steam and Xbox. It did not win the Game Awards' GOTY, which went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Players can expect additional content with the upcoming Sea of Sorrow expansion. Other notable awards included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for Best Soundtrack, Hades 2 as Best Game on Steam Deck, Silent Hill F for Outstanding Visual Style, and The Midnight Walk as VR Game of the Year. Team Cherry is also developing a new release for the Nintendo Switch 2. Baldur’s Gate 3 received the Labor of Love award.

AppWizard

January 4, 2026

PC players hand Silksong their Game of the Year gong over Expedition 33 as the 2025 Steam Awards winners are announced

Hollow Knight Silksong won the Game of the Year title at the 2025 Steam Awards, determined by user votes. It also received the 'Best Game You Suck At' award, making it the only title to secure two wins that year. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won Best Soundtrack. Baldur's Gate 3 received the 'Labor of Love' award, while Hades 2 was named 'Best Game on Steam Deck.' Dispatch won 'Outstanding Story-Rich Game,' Silent Hill f received 'Outstanding Visual Style,' The Midnight Walk was named 'VR Game of the Year,' and RV There Yet won the 'Sit Back and Relax' award. Arc Raiders was recognized for 'Most Innovative Gameplay.' Hollow Knight Silksong reached the 'platinum' tier of bestsellers during the Steam Winter Sale.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Can you guess which games these bizarre 2025 patch notes are from?

PC Gamer has created a collection of quizzes covering various gaming topics, including patch notes from 2025. The quizzes challenge players to identify games based on peculiar patch notes, with multiple-choice options provided. Participants are encouraged to share their results in the comments.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

‘Friendslop’ dominated 2025 by proving time and time again that graphics are overrated

In 2025, the PC gaming industry has shifted away from the pursuit of cutting-edge graphics, as advancements have plateaued and often yield only marginal improvements. AI-generated enhancements have not generated the expected enthusiasm, especially given their high costs. Successful games like Peak and REPO demonstrate that engaging gameplay can thrive on budget-friendly PCs, some nearly a decade old. The term "friendslop" describes a genre of games that, despite being labeled low-effort, feature intentional design choices that enhance enjoyment. REPO involves transporting a fragile vase, creating tension and humor, while Peak utilizes immersive sound design and dynamic lighting to convey danger and adventure. Abiotic Factor, a survival game, runs smoothly on older hardware while using modern lighting effects. Larger productions like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Battlefield 6 prioritize performance over graphics, optimizing for mid-range and minimum-spec PCs. The common thread among these titles is that gameplay is prioritized over graphics, suggesting a potential turning point in the industry towards valuing engaging mechanics and narratives over visual fidelity.