Game of the Year Archives

AppWizard

July 5, 2026

PC Gamers Can Claim 9 Free Games This Month, Including 2025 Award Winner Dispatch

PC gamers can claim the free game Dispatch, which won the Steam Awards 2025 Game of the Year. Amazon Luna, a gaming service that allows streaming on various devices, is offering Dispatch along with other titles for July 2026. The game is developed by AdHoc Studio, whose team includes former members of Telltale Games. Dispatch features engaging storytelling, humor, and animation, and is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2. Other games available on Amazon Luna this month include Sonic Mania Plus, Courtroom Chaos: Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Centipede Swarm, LEGO: Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, YouTuber’s Life, Arcade Paradise, Jackbox Party Pack 8, and Angry Birds Mystery Island.

AppWizard

July 2, 2026

15 indie games we saw during the Big Indie Pitch at NAGIS that you’ve got to check out

The Big Indie Pitch event recently took place in Canada, showcasing indie developers and their PC and console games. Sponsored by Xsolla, the event featured a speed-dating format where developers presented their games to a panel of industry experts for five minutes. This format allowed for feedback and insights from professionals in publishing, scouting, and media. The event attracted developers at various project stages and served as a networking opportunity. The pitching sessions are a staple of Pocket Gamer Connects conferences and other gaming events worldwide. Interested participants can visit the Big Indie Pitch website for information on future events.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Looks like there’s no firm favourite for 2026’s GOTY just yet, though there are two standouts

As of mid-2026, standout games in the gaming industry include Mixtape, Lego Batman, and Crimson Desert. A recent poll indicated that Resident Evil Requiem is leading with 16% of votes, followed by Crimson Desert at 12%, and 007 First Light at 9%. Slay the Spire 2 and Forza Horizon 6 each received 8%, while Pragmata and Mewgenics garnered 7% and 5%, respectively. A tie occurred at the bottom of the poll between World of Warcraft: Midnight and Bungie's Marathon, each with 383 votes.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

I’ve played countless Doom engine games, so believe me when I say this one that combines the FPS with JRPG combat might be the coolest one in 30 years

End of Starchild is a free standalone game developed by Em Essex, notable for its unique levels and aesthetic diversity. It features beautifully animated title cards, impactful weaponry, and an exploration-focused gameplay experience with hidden secrets and a challenging super-boss. The game takes approximately 15 hours to complete and is recommended for both Doom fans and newcomers, with adjustable difficulty settings available. Some virus scanners may mistakenly flag the game as containing a trojan, but this has been identified as a false positive.

AppWizard

June 24, 2026

14 indie games we saw at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona that you’ve got to check out

The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2026, sponsored by Xsolla, showcased indie game development through a speed-dating style competition where developers presented their games to industry experts for feedback. The event included both mobile and PC/console segments, featuring a variety of innovative projects. It served as a networking opportunity for developers and highlighted work-in-progress titles. The pitching sessions are a staple of PG Connects conferences, offering insights into regional development scenes and connecting indie developers with industry professionals.

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Data analyst finds ‘AI stigma’ on Steam can reduce the number of reviews a game gets by around 53%—and the reviews it does get are more negative

Ross Burton's analysis examined 9,879 games released between January and October 2025, revealing that 17.9% of these games openly acknowledged their use of AI technology. Notable titles like Clair Obscur and Crimson Desert have successfully utilized AI in their development, while discussions about AI usage have overshadowed the new Crazy Taxi game. High-profile figures, including Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, oppose the need for disclaimers regarding AI use, and major studios like Sony continue to invest heavily in AI technologies.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

‘An evolved game of cat and mouse:’ Alien: Isolation 2 leads on taking the alien outside, the good kind of AI, and why a sequel took so long

Two years ago, Sega and Creative Assembly announced a sequel to Alien: Isolation, which won game of the year in 2014. The original game has maintained a strong reputation in the stealth genre, known for its unique enemy AI that enhances the horror experience. As the game nears its 10th anniversary, it continues to attract new fans. The sequel's development team includes veterans from the original game and new members, fostering innovative gameplay design. The team aims to create a "survival sandbox" that offers players multiple choices and paths, enhancing player-driven narratives. They are also addressing pacing issues from the original game and integrating mechanics from the start for a cohesive design. The team is committed to delivering an authentic Alien experience while exploring the franchise's lore and connecting the game to broader narratives.

AppWizard

June 6, 2026

Guild Wars 3, Modern Evolution of the MMORPG, Announced at Summer Game Fest for PC and PlayStation 5

The official debut trailer for Guild Wars 3 has been released, featuring the first in-engine gameplay footage. The game is set over a thousand years before the original and takes place in the Tyrian region of Orr, inhabited by Vael spirits. Players will assume the role of a Vaelwarden, part of a guild focused on protecting the spirits and land. The combat system emphasizes strategic positioning and movement. Further details regarding pricing, beta tests, and release dates will be revealed in late 2026 and into 2027. Guild Wars 3 will be available from GuildWars3.com, and players can wishlist it on Steam and the PlayStation Store. The Guild Wars franchise, launched in 2005, has welcomed over 29 million players and is known for its fast-paced action combat and friendly community. ArenaNet, founded in 2000, is the developer of the Guild Wars series and operates as a subsidiary of NCSOFT.

AppWizard

June 1, 2026

Patient gamers unite, as 25% of you only buy your games during Steam sales

A recent poll revealed that 25% of gamers refrain from paying full price for games, choosing to wait for sales or price drops. 51% of participants buy games at full price only when excited about a release, while 18% are willing to pay full price for indie games. Only 4% consistently purchase games at full price, and just 3% still pre-order games.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

Balatro publisher Playstack only discovered it because they had a guy checking all the new releases on Steam every day: ‘I saw the game the day it went up on Steam’

Patrick Johnson, head of discovery at Playstack, discussed the indie publisher's involvement with the game Balatro, which is anticipated to be the 2024 game of the year. He emphasized the importance of diligent effort in game publishing and noted that Playstack scouts games across various platforms, reviewing titles on Steam daily. Despite skepticism about the significance of Steam wishlists, Playstack chose to support Balatro, which had few followers and wishlists at the time. Johnson reached out to the game's developer, LocalThunk, via Twitter, leading to a pivotal interaction during a challenging time for the developer. Playstack's early involvement was highlighted as a key factor in the game's potential success. Additionally, Playstack is in discussions to sell its majority stake to Integrated Media Company (IMC) for million, indicating a significant transition for the indie publisher.