gaming trends Archives

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Industry report says Steam users play more noncompetitive games than console players—and our interest in PvE keeps growing

According to a report by market research firm Newzoo, 58% of games played by Steam users in 2024 were noncompetitive, player-versus-environment (PvE) titles, an increase from 47% in 2021. In contrast, only 42% and 41% of games played on PlayStation and Xbox, respectively, fell into the PvE category. The report analyzed gameplay data from over one million players and noted that players who engage with more games are more likely to prefer PvE experiences. Additionally, the trend indicates that once Steam users play more than one game in a year, their interest in PvE titles increases significantly.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

Report: An Overwhelming Majority of PC Gamers Prefer Older Video Games

Players dedicated 15% of their total gaming time to newly released titles in 2024, 47% to games released within the last one to seven years, and 37% to titles released eight years ago or earlier. There is a perceived decline in the quality of AAA games released in 2024, with high-profile launches failing to excite many gamers.

AppWizard

March 10, 2025

Terror At Oakheart (PC) Review – Video Game News & Reviews

Terror at Oakheart is the latest game from Tainted Pact, diverging from their previous title, Suffer the Night, by focusing on a classic side-scrolling adventure with a retro aesthetic. The game is structured into several chapters and pays homage to slasher films, featuring a storyline where players control a killer named Teddy, who is manipulated by a Lovecraftian creature into committing gruesome acts. Tainted Pact aims to revive the essence of 1990s and early 2000s gaming, emphasizing authenticity and creativity in a market dominated by modern trends. Minimum system requirements include: - OS: Microsoft Windows 7 - Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz / AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHz - Memory: 4 MB RAM - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 760 - Storage: 2 GB available space Recommended system requirements include: - Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system - OS: Microsoft Windows 10 - Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9600K CPU @ 3.70GHz - Memory: 6 MB RAM - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 - Storage: 4 GB available space The game received a score of 8.5.

AppWizard

March 10, 2025

At least it’s not NFTs this time: The new Wizardry RPG is a gacha game

The original Wizardry, released in 1981, was a pioneering title in party-based computer role-playing games (CRPGs) and inspired an anime adaptation. The franchise has seen a revival, including a faithful remake and unconventional offerings like a blockchain-based game and a gacha game. Wizardry Variants Daphne, available on mobile and Steam, features first-person dungeon-crawling and grid-based movement. Players can collect treasures, including bones of fallen adventurers, which can be revived with a randomized selection system. The game includes a complex economy with various currencies and season passes, and players can engage without spending, although there is an energy mechanic called Fortitude. Reviving characters with low Fortitude carries risks, but is less punishing than in the original game. The original anime adaptation reflects the game's themes and elements, and Wizardry has significantly influenced both CRPGs and JRPGs, inspiring contemporary titles.

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

‘These kids do not care about romance’: Game devs want to know what today’s teens want, and surveys say sex and romance isn’t it

Surveys indicate that today's youth prefer narratives focused on platonic friendships and social connections over romance and sexual themes. At the D.I.C.E. Summit, industry leaders shared that 73% of individuals aged 16 to 24 report feelings of loneliness, attributed to various factors including global events and social media. Research from UCLA shows young people value safety, kindness, acceptance, friendship, and spiritual connection, with a growing disinterest in romance. The 2024 Teens and Screens report reveals that "romance and/or sex" ranked 15th out of 21 media preferences among adolescents, while "friendships and social groups" ranked 5th. The desire for content focused on platonic relationships rose from 51.5% in 2023 to 63.5% in 2024, and the belief that sexual content is not essential to advance a plot increased from 47.5% to 62.4%. Additionally, adolescents are engaging in sexual activity less frequently than previous generations. Mainstream video games have historically featured minimal sexual and romantic content, with recent titles like Baldur's Gate 3 exploring these themes more deeply.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Older games dominate Steam as 85% of playtime in 2024 was spent on titles released before this year

Steam gamers have shown a preference for older titles, with 47% of total playtime in 2024 spent on games released between one and seven years ago and 37% on games that are eight years or older. Only 15% of playtime was dedicated to games released in 2024, an increase from 9% the previous year. Live service games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS are currently the most popular on Steam. Despite the popularity of older games, several new titles have been released in 2024, including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Baldur's Gate 3.