hidden gems Archives

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Valorant gets its biggest VCT shake-up ever, and it could be the best thing to happen to it

Riot Games is restructuring the Valorant Champions Tour for 2027, moving away from the current league format to a more inclusive regional free-for-all system. The new format will feature open qualifiers and regular regional tournaments called 'VCT Cups,' allowing teams of all skill levels to compete for spots in international events. Riot plans to host over 20 tournaments annually across 16 cities, with a prize pool exceeding a million dollars each year. Partnered teams will still have advantages but will operate on a two-year cycle. The changes aim to foster compelling narratives and enhance competitiveness by allowing organization-less teams to emerge. Leo Faria stated that the shift to a tournament-driven system will create a dynamic ecosystem where every match matters and every team has a chance at the global stage.

Winsage

April 4, 2026

Windows 11 is getting a native Feature Flags page, and it could make Vivetool obsolete

Microsoft is set to introduce a "Feature Flags" page in Windows 11 that will allow users to enable experimental features more easily. Currently, users rely on the third-party application Vivetool to access hidden functionalities in preview builds. The Feature Flags page is still in an experimental phase and not yet active. It was discovered by a user known as PhantomOfEarth, who has been using Vivetool. The page aims to provide a list of features under development, but it may only display features closer to completion, potentially keeping some tools hidden.

Winsage

April 3, 2026

Windows 11 buries its best features for power-users deep behind the worst menus

Windows 11 features a modern interface but retains complex elements that challenge users. It combines the Settings app with the Control Panel, leading to navigation difficulties. The taskbar's right-click context menu has become more cumbersome, requiring additional clicks for essential options. Storage settings are modern but require access to legacy tools like Disk Management, which is less accessible. Sound settings are also split across different interfaces, complicating access to advanced configurations. Sysinternals, a suite of powerful utilities, is largely unknown to users. PowerToys and the "God Mode" folder offer valuable features but are not readily available and require manual activation. Overall, while Windows 11 is powerful, essential tools are often buried under outdated interfaces and inconsistent navigation.

AppWizard

March 30, 2026

Five new Steam games you probably missed (March 30, 2026)

Steam releases approximately a dozen new games daily. "The Wide Open Sky is Running out of Catfish" is set to release on March 28, developed by Zipit! Games. It is a first-person horror game set in '90s Vietnam, focusing on a protagonist dealing with delusions and despair while solving puzzles and evading threats. "Chained Wheels" will also release on March 28, developed by Karga Games. It features cooperative gameplay where two players are chained together, navigating trucks through obstacle courses. "Dungeon Bodega Simulator" is scheduled for release on March 24, developed by Alien Fruit. Players take on the role of Elm Myrkwater, transforming a dungeon into a potion shop, with a narrative-focused gameplay experience lasting around four hours and an infinite mode. "DVD Survivors" is set to release on March 26, developed by Signal Spike Games. It is inspired by the DVD player screensaver from the '90s and offers a gameplay experience reminiscent of Vampire Survivors.

Winsage

March 24, 2026

Microsoft quietly announced upcoming WSL upgrades, including a “more streamlined first-time setup and onboarding”

Microsoft has introduced several updates for Windows 11, including a simplified installation process for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing users to install it with a single command or via the Microsoft Store. Additionally, there are enhancements in interoperability between Windows and Linux file systems, as well as improvements in networking capabilities. WSL provides a genuine Linux kernel and supports GUI applications, facilitating seamless communication with the Windows environment.

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

These are my 20 RPG freak pick must-plays for $10 or less in the Steam Spring Sale

- Fallout: New Vegas is priced at 99 cents. - Disco Elysium is available for an undisclosed price. - Deus Ex: Invisible War is priced at £1.49. - Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is priced at £3.89. - Pillars of Eternity is available for 99 cents. - Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is priced at 99 cents. - Alpha Protocol is available for 99 cents. - Bloodlines 2 is priced at 99 cents.

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

10 games to grab during the Steam Spring Sale 2026

March has seen the release of several notable gaming titles including Slay the Spire 2, Crimson Desert, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and Timberborn. The Steam Spring Sale offers discounts on a variety of PC games, running from March 19 to March 26. Featured titles in the sale include: 1. Dispatch: 20% off - .99 / £19.99 2. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: 50% off - .99 / £24.99 3. Routine: 20% off - .59 / £26.79 4. Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader: 60% off - .19 / £17.19 5. Maze Mice: 50% off - .49 / £4.49 6. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown: 50% off - .49 / £12.49 7. Blue Prince: 34% off - .84 / £14.84 8. Dungeons of Hinterberg: 66% off - .45 / £6.45 9. Star Wars Jedi Survivor: 90% off - .99 / £5.99 10. Dread Delusion: 50% off - .74 / £7.74

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

This Steam RPG is a great example of how PC gaming can beat the PS5 Pro or Switch 2

The author has a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti in their PC gaming rig, alongside a PS5 Pro and a Switch 2. They believe that investing in a Switch 2 or PS5 is often a more sensible value than building or purchasing a gaming PC, especially due to the ongoing RAM crisis. The game Esoteric Ebb, which has a Metacritic score of 87, is highlighted as a standout title that offers a memorable narrative and is accessible on lower-end and mid-range systems. The author notes minor logical inconsistencies in the game but considers them trivial compared to its unique charm. PC gaming allows players to discover hidden gems that may not achieve commercial success.

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

This open-source app turns Microsoft’s GitHub into an app store for your Android phone — and your Windows PC, too

GitHub Store is a new feature on GitHub that enhances discoverability and provides a mobile app store experience. It is designed to be user-friendly, with tabs for trending projects, hot releases, and popular selections. Users can search for mobile-compatible applications and filter results by platform. Installation is straightforward, similar to downloading apps from the Play Store, but does not include automatic updates unless using an additional app called Obtainium. GitHub Store also has a Windows version that showcases desktop-friendly projects. The app offers aesthetic customization options, including font choices and basic theming features.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

Top PC Games Under 200MB: Fun Without The Gigabytes!

Lightweight PC games under 200MB are gaining popularity due to their storage efficiency, quick download and installation times, and accessibility on older systems. These games offer diverse genres, including action, puzzle, strategy, RPGs, racing, simulation, and adventure. They can be easily transferred to USB drives for on-the-go gaming and often feature retro-inspired graphics. Resources for finding these games include indie platforms like Itch.io and GameJolt, abandonware sites, and online gaming communities. To ensure smooth performance, players should check system requirements, use compatibility modes, keep graphics drivers updated, and adjust in-game settings.