indie gems Archives

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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

February 20, 2026

Epic Games Store locks in two well-rated PC free games to close February 2026

The Epic Games Store has introduced updates to enhance its digital marketplace for both developers and gamers. Key changes include a revamped user interface for easier navigation, improved search functionality, and better tools for game publishing and analytics for developers. The store is expanding its library of exclusive titles through partnerships with game developers and is launching promotional events featuring discounts, free game giveaways, and exclusive content. Additionally, Epic Games is emphasizing community feedback to ensure the platform evolves according to user needs.

AppWizard

February 11, 2026

The 10 Best Funny Games

Games often feature unintentional humor, such as NPCs delivering lines amidst chaos or characters in absurd costumes. Some games intentionally embrace humor, effectively combining player agency and comedic timing. Promise Mascot Agency is a mascot management simulator with a narrative filled with quirky characters and absurd situations, where players manage a mascot business while navigating organized crime. Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery involves players solving lighthearted mysteries in Cowboy County, featuring humorous scenarios like a haunting sloth and a vandalized sign for an invisible wizard. South Park: The Stick of Truth is an RPG where players engage in LARPing, featuring juvenile humor and absurd combat mechanics, with contributions from creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Octodad: Dadliest Catch allows players to control an octopus pretending to be a human, with humor stemming from its physics-based gameplay and emotional stakes. The Stanley Parable is a meta-narrative game where players make choices in an empty office, exploring themes of choice and consequence through clever writing and humor. West of Loathing is a 2D side-scrolling adventure set in the wild West, filled with jokes and witty dialogue that reward player exploration. Portal 2 features witty dialogue and absurd scenarios, with the character Wheatley providing comedic relief as players solve puzzles. Time Gentlemen, Please! is a point-and-click adventure where players seek to watch a Magnum PI marathon, leading to absurd plot developments. The Secret of Monkey Island follows Guybrush Threepwood, a bumbling pirate, and features humor through insult sword-fighting and pop culture references. Disco Elysium presents a hungover protagonist navigating a chaotic world, blending humor with deeper themes of pathos and tragedy.

AppWizard

January 30, 2026

Atom Zombie Smasher, a 15-year-old game, just got updated out of the blue on Steam

Atom Zombie Smasher has received a recent patch to celebrate its 15th anniversary, enhancing the gameplay experience. The game is currently available on Steam with a 50% discount. Blendo Games, the developer, has also created other acclaimed titles such as Gravity Bone, Thirty Flights of Loving, and Skin Deep, which won the Best Immersive Sim award in 2025.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

This new FPS game uses your framerate as your health bar, so I’ll brb after I’ve bought a 240Hz monitor

FPS Quest is a unique meta game that uses framerate as a health bar, allowing players to navigate a low-framerate environment without the discomfort typically associated with performance issues. Players traverse dungeons armed with a shotgun, experiencing framerate dips as they take damage, but can restore it by defeating enemies or adjusting game settings. The game features mechanics such as demolishing walls and removing doors, which affect gameplay and map navigation. It includes roguelike elements, cheats, glitches, and customizable settings, encouraging multiple runs to unlock upgrades and weapons. FPS Quest is set to launch on Steam, with no announced release date yet.

AppWizard

December 29, 2025

“Triple-A is in crisis” and games “don’t have staying power because they’re bad,” says ex Gears of War director and Painkiller creator

Adrian Chmielarz, founder of Astronauts and People Can Fly, discusses the current state of the gaming industry, noting that 2025 is expected to be significant as indie and double-A games gain prominence. This year's Game of the Year nominations highlighted a balance between indie titles and high-budget games, with Metacritic's top-rated games including Hades 2, Expedition 33, and Blue Prince. Chmielarz emphasizes the rise of double-A games, attributing it to changes in the industry that allow developers to bypass traditional publishers due to platforms like Steam. He points out challenges for new releases in maintaining visibility, citing Theorycraft Games’ Supervive as an example of a quality game that struggled to stand out. Chmielarz also notes a lack of immersive single-player shooters in the market and criticizes the focus on gunplay over atmosphere in many indie games. He expresses enthusiasm for Witchfire's dark fantasy aesthetic and its emphasis on fun gameplay.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Best PC Games on Steam for 2026

PC gaming offers flexibility and exclusive titles, with Steam as the primary platform. Notable games include: - Role-Playing Games: - Baldur's Gate 3: Over 60 hours of gameplay, based on Dungeons & Dragons. - Disco Elysium - The Final Cut: Political storytelling and RPG mechanics. - Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: Expanded storylines and refined combat. - Persona 5 Royal: Nearly 100 hours of gameplay with turn-based battles. - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Expansive world and compelling narrative. - Action and Adventure Games: - Diablo IV: Loot-driven combat and high replayability. - Doom: The Dark Ages: Medieval reimagining of the classic series. - Red Dead Redemption 2: Cinematic open-world experience. - Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered: Urban playground with fluid traversal. - Resident Evil 4 Remake: Updated visuals and refined controls. - Returnal and South of Midnight: Unique roguelike and action-adventure experiences. - Trek to Yomi: Cinematic side-scrolling combat inspired by Akira Kurosawa. - Fighting and Competitive Titles: - Street Fighter 6: New mechanics and accessibility options. - Tekken 7: New combat systems and rollback netcode. - Guilty Gear Strive: Simplified systems for newcomers. - The King of Fighters XV: Classic 2D combat with modern graphics. - Strategy, Simulation, and Multiplayer Games: - Dota 2: Competitive MOBA with over 100 heroes. - Gears Tactics: Turn-based combat from the Gears of War franchise. - Super Mega Baseball 3: Strategic depth in baseball gameplay. - Fire Pro Wrestling World: Comprehensive wrestling simulation. - Indie Games: - Hades II: Magic-based combat and multiple replay paths. - Ori and the Will of the Wisps: Family-friendly platforming with stunning visuals. - UFO 50: Anthology of retro-inspired indie games. - Vampire Survivors: Addictive gameplay with minimalistic presentation. Many games are compatible with the Steam Deck, with verified titles running smoothly and others possibly requiring setup. Online connectivity may affect gameplay, especially for titles reliant on it. All mentioned games are available for Windows PCs.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

Epic Games Holiday Sale 2025 slashes up to 75% prices on top PC games: Top deals, free titles, rewards and more

Epic Games' Holiday Sale will take place from December 11, 2025, to January 8, 2026, featuring discounts of up to 75% on various PC and mobile titles. Notable games on sale include Battlefield 6, Borderlands 4, EA SPORTS FC 26, and REMATCH. Free games will be available, starting with Hogwarts Legacy, which can be claimed until December 18, 2025. Players who log two hours in Hogwarts Legacy will receive a Fortnite cosmetic item. The sale will also offer Epic Rewards at a boosted rate of 20% for eligible purchases made using Epic's payment system. Additionally, the gifting feature will allow users to send games or add-ons to friends. Discounts will also be available on the Epic Games Store mobile platform.

AppWizard

December 13, 2025

The Best Games of 2025 — The Windows Central team ranks our favorite titles across Xbox and Windows PC

2025 has seen a diverse range of high-quality gaming titles across multiple platforms, including Xbox, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation. Notable releases include: - Silent Hill F: A return of the franchise set in 1960s Japan, featuring intense combat and an immersive atmosphere. - Elden Ring: Nightreign: Introduces a co-op roguelike format with fast-paced gameplay and randomized upgrades. - Hollow Knight: Silksong: A highly acclaimed metroidvania known for its difficulty, visuals, and tight combat mechanics. - Arc Raiders: Emphasizes player choice and community-driven gameplay, reminiscent of early multiplayer games. - Battlefield 6: A grounded approach to warfare, positively received after previous setbacks in the franchise. - Ball x Pit: Blends classic gameplay with modern auto-battler mechanics, becoming a standout title. - Hades 2: A sequel that expands on the original's success with stunning artwork and engaging gameplay. - Blue Prince: Features intricate puzzles and co-op gameplay that encourages collaboration. - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: An open-world RPG praised for its dynamic systems and immersive storytelling. - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Combines homage to classic JRPGs with modern storytelling in a unique French setting. Honorable mentions include Atomfall, Dying Light: The Beast, DUSK, The Alters, Keeper, Silent Hill 2 (remake), Dispatch, Cronos: The New Dawn, WH40K: Rogue Trader — Lex Imperialis DLC, and remastered versions of Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2.

AppWizard

December 13, 2025

The Game Awards live coverage: Every reveal and announcement as it happens

Geoff Keighley is engaging audiences on social media ahead of The Game Awards, teasing announcements and appearances. Confirmed highlights include potential developments for Tomb Raider, a new look at Resident Evil Requiem, the sci-fi RPG Exodus, and a new project from Neon Giant. The preshow starts at 4:30 PM PT, with live updates from staff writer Morgan Park. Keighley shared coordinates to a mysterious statue in the California desert, leading to speculation about its connection to games, particularly a new project from Larian Studios related to "Divinity." Rumored titles generating buzz include Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Control: Resonant, a Diablo 4 expansion, an Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, and a Max Payne Remake. Game of the Year nominees include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already won Best Independent Game and Best Family Game for Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as Innovation in Accessibility for Doom: The Dark Ages. A demo for Pragmata was announced, set for release in April 2026. Clair Obscur faced its first loss in the Players Voice category but secured the title of Game of the Year, bringing its total awards to ten.