heavy metal Archives

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August 27, 2026

Double Fine Productions Makes Brutal Legend Free for 666 Minutes to Honor Tim Curry

Double Fine Productions has reclaimed the rights to its entire catalog after parting ways with Microsoft. The studio is offering fans the chance to download the game Brutal Legend for free for 666 minutes in tribute to Tim Curry, who voiced a character in the game and passed away at the age of 80. This offer is available until 3:06 AM PT / 6:06 AM ET on August 27. IGN's Daemon Hatfield rated Brutal Legend 9 out of 10, praising its unique blend of humor, music, and gameplay. Double Fine plans to revive its Amnesia Fortnight game jam as it prepares for future projects.

AppWizard

August 17, 2026

Mortal Shell 2 review: A monumental heavy metal sequel with the spirit of a ’90s PC game

Mortal Shell 2 features a tavern called The One Legged Wolf, where patrons gather amidst a chaotic environment, enjoying music from a lute-player. The game blends modern dark fantasy with humor and classic PC gaming elements, enhancing its predecessor's gameplay and lore. Players control the Harbinger, who can inhabit eight different Shells, each with unique abilities and skill trees. Combat mechanics have evolved to allow for a more aggressive playstyle without a stamina bar, offering various damage mitigation methods. The game includes an easy mode, the Slayer Seal, and a secret hard mode for different player preferences. Level design pays homage to classic gaming, with intricate dungeons and hidden passages. Despite some bugs and a focus on specific Shells, the game is praised for its creativity and engaging experience.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Next Week on XBOX: New Games for August 17 to 21

Next week, several games are set to launch for Xbox platforms: - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope - Release Date: August 20, Developer: GSC Game World. - Backyard Baseball - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Playground Productions, Price: .99. - The Sinking City 2 - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Frogwares, Price: .99. - Mortal Shell II - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Playstack, Price: .99. - Black Flower - Release Date: August 17, Developer: Triomatica Games. - Archerio - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Webnetic s. r. o., Price: .99. - Driving is Hard - Release Date: August 18, Developer: Elegant Horse Studios, Price: .99. - Arcade Archives 2 CYBER CYCLES - Release Date: August 19, Developer: HAMSTER Corporation. - Cloudy Day - Release Date: August 19, Developer: RainForest Game Studio. - Dark Reflection - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Stamina Zero LLC, Price: .99. - Dungeon Antiqua 2 - Release Date: August 19, Developer: AMATA K.K. - Grim Trials - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Soft Source Pte Ltd., Price: .99. - Hidden Cats in Barcelona - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Silesia Games Sp. z o.o. - WonderCat Adventures - Release Date: August 19, Developer: Obscure Cloud. - Berry Bury Berry - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Black Lantern Collective. - Educational Family Games - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Crazysoft Limited. - Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre - Release Date: August 20, Developer: EpiXR Games, Price: .99. - Find The Cats 2 - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Ember Box Studio. - Gallipoli - Release Date: August 20, Developer: BlackMill Games. - Ground Zero Hero - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Acclaim, Inc. - Wings of Beyond - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Little Giant, Bad Minion. - Yet Another Zombie Survivors - Release Date: August 20, Developer: Awesome Games Studio, Price: .99. - Creepy Shift: Uncle Joe’s Motel - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Red Limb Studio. - Dark Dungeon Head Haze - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Sweet Bread Games. - KEYQUACK QUEST - Release Date: August 21, Developer: YUME GAME STUDIO. - Mega City Force - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Ravenage Games. - No More Slimes!! - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Minimum Studio. - Pay To Path - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Afil Games. - Psalm 5:9-13 - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Axyos Games. - With Eyes of Ice - Release Date: August 21, Developer: Ratalaika Games S.L.

AppWizard

August 15, 2026

Everything Coming to Xbox August 17-21

Next week, between August 17th and 21st, Xbox will launch several new titles, including: - The Sinking City 2: A third-person survival horror game set in 1920s Arkham, featuring puzzles and resource management. - Backyard Baseball: A reimagined version of the classic game with new modes and 30 characters across 11 remastered stadiums. - Mortal Shell II: A standalone sequel with faster combat and deeper weapon customization in a compact open world. - Black Flower: A roguelike game focused on managing a garden through unpredictable weather. - Grim Trials (August 19): An action roguelite where players craft weapons and face demons as a Reaper. - Find The Cats 2: A hidden object adventure game centered on finding cats in colorful environments. - Ground Zero Hero: A post-apocalyptic game where defeating enemies enhances player evolution. - Gallipoli (August 20): A PvP game based on World War I beach landings that emphasizes teamwork. - Uncle Joe’s Motel: A sim-horror adventure that combines simulation tasks with psychological drama.

AppWizard

August 5, 2026

Crimson Moon debuts Sept. 1 for $20 on PC and consoles

GB MAX membership provides access to a global B2B leadership community in gaming, entertainment, and tech, along with a VIP ticket to the GamesBeat Next event on November 2-3 in San Francisco. ProbablyMonsters is set to release the action-adventure RPG Crimson Moon on September 1 for PC and consoles. The game will be available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It features contributions from metal musicians for its soundtrack and offers a Deluxe Edition with exclusive content. Players will take on the role of Nephilim in a gothic high renaissance setting, engaging in combat and character progression. The game supports both solo and cooperative play, with challenges against world bosses. The music is composed by Chris Wilson and Steve Pardo, featuring original tracks for the game.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

Dark Sun, D&D’s most heavy metal setting, will be back in 2027

In the 1990s, the Dungeons & Dragons setting known as Dark Sun emerged, depicting a world ravaged by exploitative sorcerer-kings and featuring warriors with psychic abilities. Dark Sun briefly returned during D&D's 4th edition, and there has been growing demand for its revival in the 5th edition. At Gen Con's D&D keynote, Wizards of the Coast announced the return of Dark Sun, along with a new rulebook titled Blood and Power, a setting guide called Edge of Oblivion, and a special edition of the Player's Handbook. All three publications are set for release next year. Due to mature content, these books will be shrink-wrapped and rated 18+ for profanity, bloodshed, nudity, and sexuality.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

After a delay in 2025 and two delays this year (plus two more short delays this morning) mech fortress-builder Sand has finally launched

Sand: Raiders of Sophie is a PvPvE extraction shooter set in an alien desert where players build and pilot mechanical bases while battling rivals and their own creations. The game's early access launch was initially scheduled for April 2025 but was postponed to March 2026, then to June 10, and finally delayed to June 22, reverting to an early access model. On the launch day, technical issues caused a delay of "an hour or two" before the game was released on Steam after a countdown. The game is currently available at a 21% discount for two weeks.

AppWizard

March 5, 2026

From Metal to Minecraft: Slipknot’s Shawn Crahan New Chapter

Shawn Crahan, co-founder of Slipknot, discussed his journey from Iowa to California and the creation of his Minecraft server, Vernearth, which aims to build a community reflecting the camaraderie found in his music. He introduced the concept of the "God frequency" in their music, emphasizing the emotional connection it fosters with fans. Through Vernearth, Crahan seeks to merge music and gaming, encouraging creativity and collaboration among players.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Why I love Diablo 2, Act 1

Diablo 2's Act 1 features haunting landscapes that evoke nostalgia and adventure, connecting players to the original Diablo through familiar settings like Blood Moor, graveyards, and the monastery. The environments draw inspiration from classic horror films, offering a cinematic quality. Players can explore various points of interest or venture into hidden dungeons. Combat includes diverse enemies such as corrupted rogues and goatmen, with an engaging soundtrack enhancing the experience. Returning to Tristram reveals its destruction, with the blacksmith Griswold transformed into an undead figure. The Catacombs serve as a nod to the first game, filled with rat men and gargoyles, creating an atmosphere of mystery and danger.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

I couldn’t survive the Mörk Borg PC game for more than five minutes

Mörk Borg Heresy Supreme released a demo on January 23, featuring a dark Gothic aesthetic and punishing gameplay. The game retains the essence of the original tabletop RPG while transforming it into an arcade-style hack-and-slash adventure. Character creation includes randomly generated heroes, with an option to re-roll for a better build. The tutorial introduces mechanics gradually, but can feel incomplete. The map is accessed via the M key, which is crucial for navigation, and the control layout is considered unintuitive. Quick reflexes are essential due to the game's high difficulty, with players facing immediate character deaths. The game displays a "FAILURE" message upon death, indicating survival time. The full release is expected in Q1 2026, and the visuals and soundtrack pay homage to the RPG's heavy metal roots.