imagery Archives

AppWizard

February 28, 2026

Balatro meets Scrabble in this new roguelike from the creators of TimeSplitters—and I’m just thrilled to finally find a word game that lets me score with swear words

Renowned game developers Steve Ellis and David Doak have created a spelling game called Beyond Words, which features innovative gameplay mechanics that differentiate it from other word game roguelikes. Players navigate a Scrabble-like board aiming for a target score within a limited number of moves, with progressively challenging rounds and a boss round introducing unique gameplay modifiers. Between rounds, players can acquire cards that activate bonuses to enhance scoring potential. The game boasts an expansive dictionary that includes a wide array of terms, adding humor and enjoyment. It includes wildcard tiles for creative word formation and features uniquely shaped maps for each run, enhancing strategic depth. However, the visual presentation has been criticized for lacking a cohesive style. The demo is currently available for free during Steam NextFest.

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

The Epic Games Store’s new, free puzzler is all about boxes, and I can’t believe I’m more excited about it than Marathon

Powerwash Simulator, American Truck Simulator, and A Game About Digging a Hole are popular titles in the gaming industry that offer relaxed experiences. The Epic Games Store is currently offering the free game Boxes: Lost Fragments, developed by Big Loop Studios, where players act as a legendary thief solving puzzles in a mysterious mansion. The game features an Art Deco-inspired aesthetic and has received an average score of 91% on Steam and a rating of 4.5 on the Epic Games Store. Additionally, My Night Job, an arcade-style zombie beat-'em-up, is also available for free on the Epic Games Store until March 5.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

Meta executive called Facebook Messenger encryption plan irresponsible court filing shows

Meta is implementing end-to-end encryption across its messaging services for Facebook and Instagram despite internal warnings about potential risks to child safety. Internal documents reveal that executives, including Monika Bickert, expressed concerns that the encryption would hinder the company's ability to report child exploitation incidents to law enforcement. A lawsuit filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez accuses Meta of enabling predators to access underage users, leading to potential abuse and human trafficking. The New Mexico case is notable as it is the first against Meta to reach a jury amid heightened scrutiny regarding the safety of young users. Over 40 attorneys general are also pursuing claims that Meta's products contribute to youth mental health issues, and various school districts have filed lawsuits. Internal communications indicated that senior safety executives were worried about the implications of encryption, predicting a significant drop in reporting child exploitation cases. A briefing document from February 2019 estimated that child exploitation reporting would decrease by 65% if Messenger were encrypted. In response to these concerns, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated that the apprehensions from 2019 led to the development of additional safety features prior to the launch of encrypted messaging in 2023, including special accounts for underage users to protect them from adult contacts they do not know.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

13-year-old Decima engine allows Death Stranding team to ‘accomplish many things that would be difficult to achieve elsewhere’

Horizon Zero Dawn and Death Stranding were developed using Guerrilla Games' Decima engine, which has been in development for over 13 years. Akio Sakamoto, CTO of Kojima Productions, noted that the Decima engine offers many capabilities for building open-world games, despite some features being less user-friendly than those in commercial engines. The collaboration between Kojima Productions and Guerrilla Games, particularly for Horizon Forbidden West, has demonstrated the benefits of custom software in an industry leaning towards widely adopted engines like Unreal. Sakamoto mentioned that they have been using the Decima engine for nearly ten years, highlighting its effectiveness in achieving goals that would be challenging with other engines.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Reanimal review

Tarsier Studios is set to release a survival horror game titled Reanimal on February 13, 2026, published by THQ Nordic. The game features a brother-sister duo navigating a fog-laden ocean to rescue three friends from a war-torn island. Players can control either character in single-player or cooperative mode. Reanimal employs a fixed 3D camera perspective and includes stealth gameplay reminiscent of Little Nightmares, focusing on atmospheric tension and simple puzzles. The game explores themes of trauma and survival, with sparse dialogue emphasizing despair. It is designed to be compatible with Steam Deck, although confirmation is pending.

AppWizard

January 29, 2026

Bloober Team updated its strange countdown page, and fans of a controversial cult-classic horror game from 20 years ago are getting their hopes up for a big surprise

The countdown initiated by Bloober Team at the end of 2025 is linked to a website featuring a stylized image of a rose and the phrase, "Some things never leave the walls. They only learn to wait." This has led to speculation about a potential remake of the 2006 PlayStation 2 game, Rule of Rose. The website, discovered by Shinobi602, includes a visual of the rose dripping a liquid interpreted as blood and a "play" button that reveals an audio message from William Blake's poem, The Sick Rose. Rule of Rose was controversial at its release, leading to its scarcity and high collector's value. Despite Bloober Team's recent success with the Silent Hill 2 remake, there is skepticism about the demand for a Rule of Rose remake among fans. The countdown is set to conclude in just over 17 days, around February 14 or 15.

AppWizard

January 19, 2026

It’s looking likely Escape From Tarkov lead’s mysterious sci-fi project is a space FPS, and a reveal could be very soon

Escape From Tarkov has launched its full 1.0 version, while director Nikita Buyanov is developing a new project called Cor3, which has been teased through a dedicated website. The project is speculated to be a new space sci-fi FPS game, with recent insights revealing screenshots of space debris and a planet with fires, alongside missile schematics and gameplay elements reminiscent of Escape From Tarkov. An "intel report" mentions a stable location labeled B4, and a countdown timer on a separate website is set to end on February 1, coinciding with an expected official announcement about Cor3. The project may involve various gameplay dynamics, including extraction shooter elements, narrative exploration, and potential cryptocurrency aspects, although the exact nature remains unclear.

AppWizard

January 18, 2026

Once and for all, which game has the best art?

Videogame art captivates audiences, with enthusiasts collecting special editions, design works, and vinyl soundtracks featuring concept art. The Dishonored Soundtrack Collection exemplifies the artistic talent within the franchise. Iconic artists like Viktor Antonov have created striking visuals that blend gothic architecture with futuristic elements, contributing to the lasting impact of games like Half-Life 2 and Dishonored. Character art in Dishonored includes contributions from Cedric Peyravernay, Sergey Kolesov, and Piotr Jabłoński, enhancing the game's visual narrative. In Destiny, Rory Norris highlights the captivating concept art of a post-apocalyptic Chicago and the enigmatic Vex architecture illustrated by Jesse van Dijk. Tyler Colp admires Elden Ring's concept art, which translates into stunning visuals, showcasing detailed character designs. Ted Litchfield expresses excitement for Avowed, noting its comic book-style illustrations and inventive designs that evoke nostalgia. The artistry in gaming enhances gameplay and creates emotional connections with players.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

This week in PC games: Hytale, Quarantine Zone, a weird Batman sim, and a fresh batch of RPGs and shooters

The Maw can manifest in various forms, including a blinking cursor or unreturned messages. New PC game releases include: - Big Hops: A 3D platformer featuring a frog with jumping and tongue skills. - Confidential Killings: A detective game that could use a more imaginative name. - Quarantine Zone: The Last Check: Players act as a border guard during a zombie apocalypse, exploring moral dilemmas. - Hytale: A sandbox building RPG now in early access, developed by Hypixel Studios. - Hank: Drowning on Dry Land: A whimsical narrative game featuring a drunken, time-traveling character. - Cassette Boy: An action RPG puzzler with retro visuals and themes of object permanence. - Streetdog BMX: A game with children performing stunts on bicycles across colorful maps. - The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon: The thirteenth installment in an RPG series. - Tabulo: A roguelite chess game. - Craftlings: A blend of Lemmings and colony-building elements. - The Fortress: A first-person turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG. - NEUROXUS: A fast-paced mech shooter with a neon aesthetic. - Moving Simulator: A game reflecting the moving experience. - Lunar Ascendant: Players become the first mayor of the Moon, navigating social media and factions. James and Julian will attend preview events, while Mark and Ollie are excited about Hytale's launch. A review for Pathologic 3 is being crafted.

AppWizard

January 12, 2026

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney argues banning Twitter over its ability to AI-generate pornographic images of minors is just ‘gatekeepers’ attempting to ‘censor all of their political opponents’

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized a US initiative to ban the social media platform X and its generative AI tool, Grok, following reports of Grok generating inappropriate images, including those of minors. Sweeney emphasized the importance of open platforms and opposed political demands for censorship, labeling it as crony capitalism. Reports indicated that Grok produced troubling content, including altered images of influencers in compromising situations. In response to the controversy, X has placed Grok's image generation feature behind a paywall. Sweeney's stance on free speech contrasts with censorship practices on his own platforms, such as the Epic Games Store's ban on the art game Horses due to pressure from conservative groups. He acknowledged the dangers of AI, noting that major AIs have instances of misuse.