horror narrative Archives

AppWizard

September 29, 2025

PC Gaming Show @ TGS 2025 Coverage

The PC Gaming Show at TGS 2025 showcased over 30 upcoming PC games. Key announcements include: - Nightdive Studios is remaking "Blood," set to launch on December 4th. - "Earth Must Die," a point-and-click adventure, features a voice cast including Ben Starr and Tamsin Greig; release date TBA. - A demo for "Minos," where players build labyrinths, is available now. - "Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth," a sequel to Snufkin, is in development. - "Awaysis," a dungeon brawler, has playtest sign-ups available. - "Billie Bust Up," a 3D platformer, has a new gameplay trailer; release date TBA. - "Yakuza Kiwami 3" will launch on February 11th, 2026, featuring an alternative storyline. - "Gravebound," an online extraction shooter, has a free playtest available now. - "Kaiju Cleanup" has playtest signups available. - "HOTEL BARCELONA" is out now, blending horror and action. - "Mars Tactics" will release in May 2026. - "CLAWPUNK," a roguelite, is set to launch on November 14th. - "Killing Floor 3" will receive a major update on Halloween. - "Farmbotic," a co-op farming game, is launching in 2026. - "Denshattack!" is a train stunt game coming in 2026. - "Doomspire," a roguelike deckbuilder, is out now. - "MotionRec," a puzzle platformer, is coming later this year. - "Mind Diver," a mystery adventure, is out now. - "JOIN US," a cult simulation game, is set for 2026. - "Threads of Time," a visually stunning title, has no release date yet. - "Soulmask" will leave Early Access in Q4 2025. - "Outward 2" is set for a Summer 2026 release. - "House Flipper 2" will introduce a Pets DLC next year. - "OKU," a narrative-driven game, has no release date yet. - "Morbid Metal," a single-player hack and slash roguelite, will open playtests soon. - "Huntsman," a horror game featuring giant spiders, is set to release in November 2025. - "RAEV: Kingdom on the Distant Shores" is coming in 2026. - "Absolum," a beat 'em up roguelite, launches on October 9th. - "Task Time," a competitive party game, has a playtest available now. - "BrokenLore: DON'T LIE," a psychological horror game, is in development.

AppWizard

September 27, 2025

The Witcher’s forgotten minigame gets a grisly revival where you bet your own digits trying to roll high-scoring poker hands against demonic billionaires

Dead Finger Dice is a roguelike game that combines digital tabletop gaming with a horror narrative, where players use their character's fingers as currency for betting. Players can wager multiple fingers per round and use a finger-guillotine to enhance their betting strategy. The objective is to liberate a demon from its digits, but failure results in starting over with a new character. Between rounds, players can explore their cell to gather items and craft new dice using fingers collected from defeated demons. The game features a 1-bit art style and is in development, with no release date announced. Additionally, The Killing Stone, another demon-themed virtual board game, has been announced by the creators of Bioshock.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

It’s a golden age for weird Eastern European games—you can tell because I’m in love with a horror puzzler about 2 old men trying to find evil in the woods

One-Eyed Likho is a game set in Eastern Europe that draws on Slavic mythology, where players take on the role of a village smith alongside a tailor to explore the concept of 'evil.' The gameplay is primarily puzzle-based, requiring players to ignite objects to progress. The game features a black-and-white aesthetic reminiscent of silent films and employs straightforward mechanics, with players navigating limited environments to collect items and solve puzzles. The narrative includes introspective monologues from the smith, reflecting on Biblical figures and existential themes. Influences from the game Pathologic are present, and the game balances surreal elements with moments of intensity. Players engage with the narrative while exploring themes of evil through various settings, including a forest and a dilapidated house.

AppWizard

July 26, 2025

Luto Has Been Released For PC & Consoles This Week

Luto is a psychological horror game available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It features a first-person narrative centered on themes of loss and anxiety within a haunted home. Players navigate shifting environments filled with hidden secrets and horror encounters driven by phobias. The game allows for narrative-driven exploration, where players can unravel the story at their own pace using sound, symbolism, and fragmented memories. The free demo of Luto has been updated by indie developer Broken Bird Games in collaboration with publishers Selecta Play and Astrolabe Games. The game was officially announced during the Future Games Show 2025 showcase.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Tormented Souls II demo for PC now available

Publisher PQube and developer Dual Effect have released a demo for Tormented Souls II on PC via Steam. The demo features about 60 minutes of gameplay, starting with Caroline Walker and her sister Anna's journey to Villa Hess, a clinic in southern Chile. Upon arrival, Anna goes missing, leading Caroline to confront captors and a sinister plan involving the Wildberger twins. Caroline's character design has evolved, featuring a blood-red dress and rugged leather jacket, reflecting her growth as a protective older sister. Tormented Souls II is set to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC in 2025.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

I pride myself on keeping up with Steam’s under-the-radar gems, but April was packed with enough new games to keep me busy for the rest of 2025

In April 2025, over 100 games launched, with notable titles including Blue Prince and Clair Obscur, the latter receiving significant attention. Clair Obscur was released on April 22nd and has a 94% rating from 39 reviews. Maliki: Poison Of The Past, inspired by a French comic, was released on April 20th. Mythical Concept Starnaut, a narrative-driven game, was released on April 28th with a 97% rating from 45 reviews. Bionic Bay, a stylish platformer, was released on April 17th and has a 90% rating from 264 reviews. Asura The Striker, released on April 23rd, has a 93% rating from 49 reviews. Traveler's Refrain, an action RPG, was released on April 11th with a 92% rating from 26 reviews. Voidborn, a low-fi shooter, was released on April 7th with a 90% rating from 262 reviews. I, Robot, a reimagining of an arcade classic, was released on April 17th and has a 95% rating from 20 reviews. Lab Rat, a dystopian comedy, was released on April 15th with a 97% rating from 188 reviews. Peppered: An Existential Platformer, released on April 7th, has a 95% rating from 266 reviews. Repose, a workplace horror game, was released on April 14th and has a 90% rating from 74 reviews.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

Oblivion reigns over PC games this week, but there is still time for football, space cats and ghastly mansions

This week in gaming features several new titles: - On April 28th, "Icaria," a programmable robot block-building game, will be released. - April 29th is noted as an unremarkable day for gaming. - On April 30th, two games will launch: "Moroi," a Slavic horror narrative, and "Skin Deep," an immersive sim. - May 1st will see the release of "Despelote," an Ecuadorian soccer adventure, and "The Horror At Highrook," a Lovecraftian mystery. - On May 2nd, "Sirocco," a no-roles naval MOBA, will be introduced. Additionally, discussions about the Oblivion remaster, a beloved RPG from 2006, are expected to continue, alongside a deeper exploration of "Skin Deep" and "The Horror At Highrook."

AppWizard

February 6, 2025

Skald: Against the Black Priory review

Skald: Against the Black Priory is a throwback roleplaying game that combines old-school aesthetics with modern gameplay elements. It features a polished experience that balances complexity and accessibility, with a compelling cosmic horror narrative. The game uses a unique progression system based on 2d6 dice rolls and allows for character customization primarily during creation. Combat is turn-based on a grid, with distinct tactical advantages for each class. Non-combat gameplay elements include diplomacy and skills that enhance exploration. One notable quest involves infiltrating a city controlled by cultist barbarians, allowing for strategic decision-making. The game offers flexibility in party composition with preset characters and customizable mercenaries. The worldbuilding includes a unique magic system and hints at greater cosmic horror, with writing quality reminiscent of classics like Planescape: Torment. Skald is recognized as one of the standout RPGs of the past year.

AppWizard

October 19, 2024

The creator of Dusk and Iron Lung is making a gruesome but surprisingly funny horror game about beating killer cultists with lead pipes and 2x4s

David Szymanski is developing a first-person horror game titled Butcher's Creek, which focuses on melee combat and features a narrative involving torture cultists in rural Appalachia. The game draws inspiration from classic horror titles, particularly Condemned: Criminal Origins. It includes elements of dark humor, with quirky interactions among cult members. The demo showcases melee mechanics, though players have noted that the cultists could be more aggressive. The game is set to be released in January, and players can currently explore the demo and add it to their Steam wishlists.