hand-drawn Archives

AppWizard

April 20, 2026

This week in PC games: the “final” Molyneux game, Game Boy horror, ski resort management, and a glamcore heist sim

Returning from a holiday, the author feels invigorated and is excited to explore new PC game releases. The new games include: - Space Drilling Station: An early access vertical outpost builder set in a magma pool. - TownsFolk: A hexagonal survival strategy game focused on rebuilding a home in the wilderness. - The Third Shift: A nostalgic horror game where players patrol a museum. - Vampire Crawlers: A game combining turn-based strategy, dungeon exploration, and deckbuilding roguelite mechanics. - Legendary Pilots: A flight simulator with sepia pixel art inspired by the golden age of aviation. - Tides of Tomorrow: A "plasticpunk" game with online features for shared storytelling in a post-apocalyptic setting. - Masters of Albion: An early access god simulation game from former Lionhead and Bullfrog developers, including Peter Molyneux. - Factory 95: A factory management game set in a nostalgic Windows OS environment. - Titanium Court: A surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals. - Offering App: A violent introspective journey with minigames and hand-drawn art. - Rollick N Roll: A collection of 3D marble runs involving toy trains. - Above the Snow: A management game focused on designing hiking trails for an alpine ski resort. - Snap & Grab: A game where players, as a burglar disguised as a fashion photographer, plan heists by capturing images. The RPS team is engaged in hands-on impressions and discussions about upcoming titles, including a focus on god sims and a recurring pirate theme in games.

AppWizard

April 19, 2026

XCOM spiritual successor Warhounds dumps its gen-AI portraits, and I’m breathing a sigh of relief

Everplay is developing a turn-based strategy game called Warhounds, inspired by classics like XCOM and Jagged Alliance. The game faced criticism during its Steam Next Fest demo for using generative AI for character portraits, which were described as "shiny, unrealistic, and completely at odds with the look of the game." In response to community feedback, Everplay clarified that the AI-generated portraits were temporary placeholders and announced plans to replace them with over 100 hand-crafted designs. The new portrait system will create images directly from each character's in-game 3D model, ensuring visual consistency and accommodating custom recruits. Warhounds features an accuracy system that calculates bullets individually, eliminating random misses, and introduces meaningful consequences based on player decisions. The game is set for release in 2026, with a wishlist option available on Steam and a free demo for players.

BetaBeacon

April 16, 2026

Mutants Ate My Carrots Hops onto iOS and Android.

Mutants Ate My Carrots, a point-and-click adventure game, is now available on iOS and Android platforms.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

This week in PC games: gritty GTA 4-coded brawler Samson, Ancient Greek bull defender Minos, and a wobbly violinist battles some stairs

This week features several new PC game releases and upcoming titles: - Nippets: A hand-drawn exploration game with a demo available. - Road to Vostok: An early access post-apocalyptic survival game set in a border zone between Finland and Russia. - Spark in the Dark: An early access medieval dungeon crawler with AI-enhanced accessibility. Upcoming titles include: - Goon-thumping Adventure: A GTA-like game developed by Liquid Swords, set in an industrial town. - I Eat Paintings When Guards Aren't Looking: A hidden object game about taking bites out of artworks. - Faultline.Exe: A sci-fi thriller focused on hacking a malfunctioning deep space station. Other games highlighted are: - Minos: A roguelike adventure involving labyrinths and Greek adventurers. - Prop Sumo: A party game where players push friends while disguised as objects. - Beneath Cloudvein: An RPG with retro visuals centered on a dwarven mining expedition. - A Planet Full of Cats: A whimsical quest to find cats. Unique gameplay mechanics are showcased in: - Bow and Banister: A game where a violinist navigates stairs. - Pick Three!!!: A strategic game involving choices in battles with spinning discs.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

I’m sick to death of the April Fool’s dating sim trend. Thankfully, Discord is doing something different

April 1 has become a day of mixed feelings in the gaming industry, with media professionals navigating through numerous exaggerated claims and jokes. This year, the creativity of April Fool's pranks appears to have diminished. One notable release is Last Meadow Online, a "multiplayer quadruple-A sequel" to The Last Meadow, described as a DIMMIRPG (Discord-Based Massively Multiplayer Incremental Role Playing Game). Players join Wumpus, a Discord mascot, to face a dragon named 'Grass Toucher' threatening his hometown. The game features a hand-drawn clicker style, allowing players to choose from three classes—Paladin, Ranger, or Priest—and craft items, but they must wait 24 hours to switch classes or craft. Players can attack, craft, or gather resources, engaging in battles by holding down an 'adventure' button. Last Meadow Online is accessible on Discord until April 7, offering participants a limited-edition badge.

AppWizard

March 29, 2026

The Avatar fighting game will release on July 2 for PC and consoles

This summer, the fighting game community will see the release of "Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game" on July 2, priced at .99. The game features 12 characters from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "The Legend of Korra," with over 900 hand-drawn frames for each character. It will include casual and ranked matches, rollback netcode, and be available on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The game also offers a single-player story mode and a gallery mode. Pre-orders start at .99, with a deluxe edition available for .99 that includes additional content. Pre-order bonuses include a Samurai skin for Appa and voting privileges for future characters.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Banquet For Fools review

Banquet for Fools is an immersive role-playing game set to release on March 5, 2026, by Hannah and Joseph Games. Players engage deeply with the game world, which lacks traditional quest logs and markers, requiring them to take notes to track objectives. The game begins with a chaotic scene and spans three centuries into the future, where players create questing parties with unconventional characters. The narrative is intentionally vague, and players must interpret information conveyed through elaborate scrolls and hand-drawn notes. Traveling in the game is a significant experience, with players choosing routes that impact their resources and survival. Encounters with friendly groups or hostile enemies add tension, and combat is real-time, requiring tactical decisions and quick reactions. The combat system emphasizes a personal connection to attacks and encourages players to unlock new abilities that enhance tactical options. Challenges include vague directions from NPCs and a strict day/night cycle, which can lead to frustration but also deepen player engagement with the game world. Each setback offers opportunities to learn and adapt, making the experience rewarding despite its complexities.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Claim $45 Worth of Free PC Games In Limited Time Offer

A selection of complimentary games is available on the Epic Games Store for PC users, including Cozy Grove and Isonzo. Cozy Grove, developed by Spry Fox, is a narrative-driven adventure game that typically retails for .99. It features over 40 hours of gameplay, a Very Positive rating of 90% on Steam, and a score of 71 on MetaCritic. Isonzo, a first-person shooter developed by BlackMill Games, is usually priced at .99 and focuses on World War I battles. It has a Very Positive review score of 86% on Steam and a score of 67 on MetaCritic. Both games are available for free until 3 PM GMT on March 19. After this date, they will be replaced by Electrician Simulator and World of Warships - Epic Anniversary Tachibana Pack.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

You might think hidden object games aren’t cool, but that’s only because you haven’t tried the Find My Frogs: Branches demo yet

Find My Frogs is a hidden object game released in 2025, set in a hand-drawn woodland village featuring hundreds of frogs. Its sequel, Find My Frogs: Branches, enhances the original experience with detailed graphics, a mesmerizing ambient soundtrack, and a dynamic day/night cycle. The game includes soothing sound effects and some mature content, such as humorous depictions of frog anatomy. It aims to appeal to a broad demographic and is recommended for both fans of the genre and newcomers.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Cozy-punk record shop sim Wax Heads is spinning onto PC and consoles on May 5, 2026

Indie developer Patattie Games, in collaboration with publisher Curve Games, will launch the game Wax Heads on May 5, 2026, available on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Players will take on the role of a team member at Repeater Records, a vinyl shop, engaging with customers and making choices that affect their experience. A playable demo will be available during Steam Next Fest from February 23 to March 3. The game features over 80 in-game records, more than 60 hand-drawn characters, and over 30 original songs. Key features include a handcrafted musical world, an emotional narrative, puzzle designs, and a comic book art style. Patattie Games is co-founded by Murray Somerwolff and Rothio Tome, while Curve Games is an award-winning publisher based in London.