haunting Archives

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

A classic Giger-inspired adventure game just got a sequel

Tormentum II is a standalone sequel to the original Tormentum: Dark Sorrow, which was heavily influenced by H. R. Giger's biomechanical art. The sequel, developed over eight years, offers a fresh narrative while maintaining similar thematic elements. It is currently available on Steam with a 15% discount, and a demo is also offered. The original game is on sale with a 67% discount.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Videogame villains who sing at you are the best

The villain's monologue is a common trope in video games, often replaced by musical performances from antagonists in some titles. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, The Singer is an orc who sings operatic verses about battles, enhancing the experience. In Hades 2, Scylla's performances are humorously interrupted by a witch, contrasting her siren songs with Melinoe's indifference. The Joker in the Arkham series incorporates musical interludes, including a haunting rendition of "Only You" during the credits of Arkham City. In Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Teh Earworm is a creature that plays catchy tunes, leaving players with memorable melodies. GLaDOS's song "Still Alive" from Portal has become a cultural touchstone, reflecting her personality and enhancing her character's narrative. Total Distortion features guitar warriors, where failure results in a memorable game-over song, integrating music into gameplay. Conroy Bumpus in Sam & Max: Hit the Road offers a satirical country song, critiquing the big-game hunter archetype. In Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell, Satan sings with Broadway flair, adding humor and depth to his character. Ursula in Kingdom Hearts 2 showcases her villainy through song, providing comedic relief with her playful references. I.M. Meen opens with a song that sets the tone for a game blending education and entertainment. In Cuphead, King Dice performs a jazzy number in "Die House," enhancing the stakes and his flamboyant personality.

AppWizard

July 20, 2026

Rehaunted, a First-Person Psychological Horror Detective Game, Announced for PC

Rehaunted is a first-person detective game where players assume the role of Connor Raines, investigating a mysterious house filled with misleading clues. Players will use tools like UV lights, cameras, and a magnifying glass to uncover evidence such as blood traces and hidden recordings. The game features real-time communication with another detective via radio and includes an evidence board for organizing clues. Rehaunted is currently in development for PC, and its first trailer has been released, generating interest in its psychological narrative and gameplay. Players can add it to their wishlist on Steam for updates.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

What’s the best summer-themed videogame track?

The text discusses the impact of summer on video game music, highlighting how game developers create summer-themed soundtracks that often feature beachy or aquatic melodies. Examples include the tunes from Destiny Islands in Kingdom Hearts and Ginger Island in Stardew Valley, which capture the essence of summer. The piece also mentions the ethereal track New Bodhum from Final Fantasy 13-2 and the Seaside Resort theme from Tekken 8, both of which evoke summer nostalgia. The author invites readers to share their favorite summer-themed video game tracks.

AppWizard

July 19, 2026

Claim two more free PC games on the Epic Games Store before they’re gone

The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles for the week: Echo Generation: Midnight Edition and Luto, available until July 23. Echo Generation is a turn-based adventure set in the 1990s, featuring a group of young adventurers exploring mysteries in their hometown, enhanced with quality-of-life upgrades in its Midnight Edition. Luto is a first-person psychological horror game that focuses on atmospheric storytelling and environmental puzzles, exploring themes like anxiety and grief. Once claimed, these titles will remain in the user's Epic Games library permanently. After this promotion, the next free game will be Foretales.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

This week’s Epic Games Store free games go spooky with mystery and psychological horror

This week, the Epic Games Store is offering two games for free: Luto, a first-person psychological horror game that explores themes of dreams, secrets, love, loss, and regret, and Echo Generation, a nostalgic adventure game inspired by pop culture references. Luto features a haunting narrative and an unsettling environment, while Echo Generation includes a vibrant voxel art style and engaging combat with button-mashing mini-games. Both games are available from July 16 to July 23 and will remain in players' libraries indefinitely once claimed.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

Survival Horror RPG GRAFT Debuts Story Trailer During Convergence Games Showcase 2026

GRAFT is a survival horror RPG set in a deteriorating megastructure called the Arc. The game features a haunting world filled with challenges, where players must master forgotten technologies and navigate through various environments. Players will engage in a dark RPG story, forming alliances that can lead to danger. Combat involves facing ancient experiments and a deranged AI, requiring strategic resource management. The player's body can be transformed into a weapon through Grafts, enhancing abilities and presenting moral choices linked to fragmented memories. GRAFT is available for wishlisting on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

‘Lord Of The Rings’ and ‘Minecraft’ inspired Au/Ra’s alt-pop debut

Alt-pop artist Au/Ra has released her debut album, ‘Heartcore,’ inspired by her childhood experiences and escapism into fantasy worlds. The album reflects her journey of healing from childhood traumas, which she began addressing through therapy. Growing up between Ibiza and Antigua, she found solace in video games and creative writing, particularly influenced by titles like Final Fantasy 15 and The Lord Of The Rings. Au/Ra debuted with the track ‘Concrete Jungle’ at age 14 and faced challenges with her label, Sony, which affected her music release. Despite these obstacles, she maintained a connection with her fans through gaming and community engagement. The first song she wrote for ‘Heartcore’ was ‘Blah,’ expressing her feelings of betrayal and abandonment, which helped her gain clarity for the album's creative process.

AppWizard

July 16, 2026

Desktop Explorer is a mystery/horror game about the last time when computers were good

Desktop Explorer is a mystery/horror game that allows players to explore a Windows 95 machine left by an uncle. Players solve puzzles by gathering clues and using era-appropriate software to uncover the uncle's story. The game emphasizes the chaotic charm of '90s computing, featuring a labyrinth of files and folders, and evokes a sense of adventure without modern conveniences like cloud storage. As players progress, they encounter unsettling phenomena such as corrupted files and ghostly faces, highlighting the fragility of technology and the narratives it holds.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

A Silent Hill fan is making a PC port of Silent Hill: Downpour that restores a cut boss battle and plenty more

Silent Hill: Downpour is a semi-open world installment of the Silent Hill franchise, focusing on a prison escapee and featuring engaging side quests that explore the town's ghostly lore. One notable quest involves following color-coded ribbons to find a missing girl. The game has been compared to Silent Hill 2, though some consider it derivative. Anticipation is building for Silent Hill: Townfall, a new project from Screen Burn Interactive, which aims to bring a fresh Scottish perspective to the series, following mixed reactions to Silent Hill F's arena battles.