games Archives

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns (PC) Review – CGMagazine

Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns is set in 1149 during a power struggle in England following the king's assassination, with players tasked to rally lands, defeat rival armies, and claim the throne. The game features turn-based strategy mechanics, including army building, castle raiding, and tournament hosting, and offers both the original MS-DOS version and an enhanced iteration. It includes a deck-building roguelike mode that introduces card-based battles. The Jousting and Swordplay modes have been improved with new mechanics like blocking and parrying. However, the game has shortcomings in tutorial explanations and battle mechanics, which can lead to confusion. Visuals are enhanced while retaining a nostalgic pixelated style, and the audio has been upgraded.

Winsage

August 13, 2026

How to Turn Your Idle Home PC into a File Server Using Built-in Windows Features

Many individuals are repurposing older PCs into home file servers, especially those not eligible for the Windows 11 update. This process utilizes built-in Windows features, allowing families to share files across devices without additional software, making it cost-effective since it leverages existing hardware. The setup involves four steps: preparing storage, creating a local account, creating shared folders, and accessing them from other PCs. Guidelines suggest around 500GB for photos and 1TB for videos. Compared to commercially available NAS devices, repurposing a PC incurs virtually no cost, while NAS options range from approximately ¥30,000 to ¥80,000. Performance tests show that mini PCs as file servers can achieve read speeds of about 4.8GB/s and write speeds of around 4.5GB/s on a 2.5GbE network. This method is particularly appealing for older PCs, allowing users to maximize resources rather than discard them, while also addressing the growing demand for efficient file sharing in households. Data backup and security measures are essential considerations when operating a file server.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

“I’m not interested in bypassing DRM” – Preservationist brings back physical PC games using discs and even mechanical HDD “cartridges”

Preservationists are finding innovative ways to keep physical media alive, including modern PC games. Archades Games, led by Ryan Enstrom, offers options to transfer new titles onto discs and cartridges. At the Utah Retro GameXpo, Enstrom showcased discs compatible with platforms like Steam, GOG, and the Xbox app. He uses GOG's DRM-free installers, emphasizing adherence to licensing agreements. Enstrom notes that most games released before 2020 can run from mechanical drives, and the Xbox app can dynamically detect drive changes, unlike Steam. He has developed a custom user interface for multi-carts and created custom Blu-rays for retro games. While these products are not for sale, there is potential for publishers to adopt this idea, promoting physical PC games. Archades Games provides video tutorials and resources for those interested in converting digital collections into physical formats.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

H2 Interactive launches IGS Classic Arcade Collection worldwide on PC via Steam

H2 Interactive launched the IGS Classic Arcade Collection for PC via Steam on August 13, 2026, featuring eight iconic arcade titles, including the Knights of Valour series, Demon Front, and Martial Masters. The collection is available at a 10% discount for the first two weeks and supports multiple languages: English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It includes online multiplayer support for up to four players, modern quality-of-life features like adjustable difficulty and customizable key mapping, and various display modes. The included titles are: - Knights of Valour: Super Heroes - Knights of Valour Plus - Knights of Valour 2 - Nine Dragons - Oriental Legend - Oriental Legend Spooky - Martial Masters - Demon Front - The Gladiator The collection was developed by International Games System Co., Ltd. (IGS) and published by H2 Interactive.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

PC Gamer magazine’s new issue is on sale now: Onimusha: Way of the Sword

PC Gamer has an exclusive feature on Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a new action sword-fighting game from Capcom, marking its return after two decades. The magazine includes insights from seven developers and highlights the game's unique swordfight experience. Additionally, it features a 32-page supplement titled PC Gamer's Top 100, showcasing the top 100 games for PC gamers in 2026. The issue also includes an A1 poster of Onimusha, discusses favorite co-op games, and provides hands-on impressions of upcoming titles like The Blood of Dawnwalker and others. It reviews new releases such as Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and is available in PDF and EPUB formats.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Game Pass titles will receive unofficial support on Linux

Enthusiasts are working on the Xodus project, an unofficial open-source initiative aimed at enabling Xbox PC games, including those from Game Pass, to run on Linux and Mac systems. The project is a reverse-engineering effort that allows users to log in, download packages, and obtain game licenses for Xbox titles. The team has experience from previous projects like the Heroic Games Launcher and aims to support a wide range of Xbox games formatted in GDK and MSIXVC. While Xodus can download and run these games, additional patches may be required for optimal performance.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam (PC) Review

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has officially launched after a series of open betas and a brief delay. Expression Games has adapted the 50 vs 50 first-person combat experience from World War II to the Vietnam War, featuring dynamic firefights, strategic planning, expansive maps, and historically accurate weaponry. The game combines elements of an arcade shooter and a military simulator, with gameplay that is faster and more fluid than its predecessor. Players can swim, climb ladders, and utilize helicopters, gunboats, logistics trucks, and tanks, although vehicle controls can be clunky. The game has visual and technical challenges, including texture popping and difficulty in differentiating maps due to similar appearances. Recent improvements have been made in hit detection and overall stability. The game has received positive feedback despite its challenges, offering a unique take on the franchise.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

2D toybox fighting game Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination launches in 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC

Bit Bot Media has announced its collaboration with Mechaghidora to publish the 2D toybox fighting game, Knock Off: The Battle for Imagination, set to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam. The game features fast-paced combat, a roster of unique characters inspired by '80s and '90s toys, an arcade mode, online multiplayer battles, and a retro soundtrack. Players will control Johnny, who faces off against Maximus, his first brand-name action figure. The game aims to evoke nostalgia while providing an engaging gaming experience. A new trailer and screenshots have been released.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Big Walk devs talk the Australian bush and friendslop: ‘I’d prefer the second word wasn’t slop’

Big Walk is a co-op online game that encourages players to solve puzzles together with friends. It is part of a trend referred to as "friendslop," which emphasizes games that are enjoyable for groups of friends. Nico Disseldorp from House House supports the concept of friendslop, highlighting the importance of social interaction in gaming. In contrast, Christopher Livingston describes Big Walk as a "joyous jaunt" through a world filled with thoughtfully-designed puzzles, suggesting it focuses on creativity and collaboration rather than fitting into the friendslop category.

AppWizard

August 13, 2026

Is Aptoide safe? I tried Android’s first alternative app store on Google Play

Google has introduced Aptoide, a decentralized marketplace for Android applications, to its Play Store following an antitrust ruling that requires Google to allow certified third-party app stores. Aptoide is available for installation in the US through the Play Store, while users outside the US can sideload it from its website. The Aptoide Games app is available on the Play Store but offers a limited selection of games, while the full Aptoide app, which has a broader range of software, must be sideloaded. Aptoide's safety depends on the applications installed, and while it previously had a feature to indicate safe apps, this is no longer present in the app. Users should verify app developers to ensure safety, as Aptoide allows anyone to upload apps.