level design Archives

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Stellar Blade review

Stellar Blade is set to launch on June 16, 2025, with a price of £60. It is developed by Shift Up Corporation and published by PlayStation Publishing. The game features the character Eve in a skin-tight suit and is described as a soulslite experience with a robust combat system. It is a well-optimized PC port, maintaining smooth performance on devices like the Steam Deck. However, it has faced criticism for its level design and challenging tutorial.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Every game, trailer, and announcement in the PC Gaming Show 2025

The PC Gaming Show 2025 featured a variety of game trailers, announcements, and interviews. Key highlights include: - Ambrosia Sky: A narrative-driven game with stunning visuals. - Far Far West: An immersive world filled with adventure. - Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition: An enhanced version of the classic RPG. - Fresh Tracks: A rhythm game with combat and heavy metal music, featuring voice work from Peter Stormare. - Terminull Brigade: An action roguelike with contrasting aesthetic styles. - Ratatan: A roguelike rhythm game with online co-op for up to four players. - Moomintroll: A whimsical game based on its source material. - Necesse: A procedurally generated world supporting hundreds of players. - Den of Wolves: A four-player co-op heist FPS set in a techno-thriller future. - All Systems Dance: A rhythm and strategy game about toppling a tech billionaire, entering early access in August. - Spooky Express: A puzzle game set in a Halloween-themed amusement park. - The Rogue Prince of Persia: A fast-paced action game returning with a new trailer. - Enginefall: A survival and crafting game set on trains, releasing in 2026. - EVE Frontier: A hardcore space survival MMO with a Founders Access program. - SkyRig: A game promising an engaging experience in a unique setting. - Kaizen: A Factory Story: A factory management puzzle game with a demo available soon. - Dawn Apart: A space colonization and factory simulation game arriving on Steam later this year. - Modulus: A factory simulation game with intricate mechanics. - Generation Exile: A game about rebuilding society on a generation ship. - The Alters: A sci-fi survival game from the developers of Frostpunk. - Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults: A fantasy RPG with magic and combat specialists. - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault: A game combining store management with action. - Barotrauma: Home and Harbor: An expansion of underwater survival mechanics. - No, I'm Not a Human: A game where players navigate a world that only allows humans. - Botsu: A playful sports game with ragdoll physics. - No More Room in Hell 2: Updates and new content promised for summer. - Farever: A game with unique gameplay mechanics. - Mandrake: A fresh take on familiar genres. - Pizza Bandit: A quirky third-person shooter combining pizza cooking and alien shooting. - Demonschool: A game with an engaging narrative. - The Last Caretaker: A survival shooter with a unique aesthetic. - Railborn: A game developing intriguing gameplay elements. - Voyagers of Nera: A vibrant world exploration game. - ICARUS: Great Hunts: A DLC expanding the PvE survival experience. - Garbage Country: A tower defense game in a post-apocalyptic setting. - DarkSwitch: A fast-paced action game. - Spirit X Strike: A game with a dynamic combo system. - Worship: Players act as a cult leader. - Stars of Icarus: Building anticipation among fans. - 007 First Light: Behind-the-scenes look at the new game from IO Interactive. - goblinAmerica: A psychedelic FPS experience. - EverSiege: Untold Ages: Continuing to develop unique gameplay mechanics. - PIGFACE: A gritty assassination sandbox FPS. - TerraTech Legion: Expanding its universe with new features. - Paralives: Showcasing life simulation features. - Lost Rift: A survival and extraction shooter. - Hell Clock: A dark action RPG. - Militsioner: An immersive sim under constant surveillance. - Arcane Eats: A cooking simulation with deckbuilding. - Guntouchables: A co-op roguelike emphasizing action. - Ultrakill: Showcasing impressive level design. - Stario Haven Tower: A city-building game in the sky. - Dispatch: Managing a team of former supervillains. - Wheel World: An open world exploration game. - FBC Firebreak: A cooperative shooter set in the Oldest House. - Anno 117: Pax Romana: Launching on November 17, allowing city management. - Baby Steps: A unique twist on the power fantasy. - Warhammer 40K: Darktide: New class addition. - Endless Legend 2: Early access on August 7, 2025. - Berserk or Die: A chaotic retro-style battlefield game. - Mycopunk: A co-op FPS with humorous gameplay. - Blippo+: Navigating an alien TV network. - Morbid Metal: Controlling multiple characters simultaneously. - Love Eternal: A psychological horror experience. - Bus Bound: Cozy gameplay mechanics. - Atmosfar: Early access in 2026 for a serene survival experience. - Void/Breaker: Engaging gameplay with destructible environments. - Grave Seasons: Unique gameplay mechanics. - Eyes of Hellfire: Dark themes and engaging narrative. - Deadwire: Fast-paced action with a top-down perspective. - Dinkum: Life simulation and exploration. - Abyssus: A cooperative FPS adventure releasing on August 12. - Ascendant: Chaotic multiplayer shooting experiences. - Mewgenics: An endless cat breeding RPG releasing on February 10, 2026. - Dead Reset: Developing intriguing gameplay mechanics. - Bernband: Showcasing unique gameplay elements. - Wanderburg: A captivating world to explore. - Void Martyrs: A grimdark narrative. - CloverPit: Combining slot machine mechanics with action gameplay. - Eclipsium: Haunting visuals and atmosphere. - Trash Goblin: Transitioned to a full story campaign. - Whiskerwood: A whimsical city-building experience. - Outbound: A cozy camper van simulation. - Capy Castaway: An exploration adventure aiming for release in 2026.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

The absence of Marvel’s Blade during the Xbox Games Showcase has left me worried about Arkane—after a rough couple of years it needs a win

Last night’s Xbox Games Showcase did not provide any updates on the Blade game, disappointing fans who were eager for news. A cinematic teaser was revealed at The Game Awards in 2023, showcasing a Parisian setting designed for vampire slaying, with aesthetic elements reminiscent of 19th-century European architecture and industrial technology. It has been a year and a half since the initial announcement, and details about the game’s mechanics, narrative, and perspective remain unclear. Arkane has faced challenges under Microsoft's ownership, particularly after the poor performance of Redfall, leading to concerns about the studio's future. The lack of communication regarding Blade raises questions about potential development hurdles and the level of support from Microsoft. The decision to align Arkane with a Marvel property like Blade is seen as a calculated risk to generate revenue.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Former BioWare lead writer says the best level in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines gave him ‘ammunition’ to argue that story can be just as engaging as combat

David Gaider, former lead writer at BioWare, expressed concerns about the overuse of "trashmob fights" in gaming, advocating for a balance between combat and narrative. He was influenced by the combat-free level in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which emphasized tension through storytelling rather than action. Gaider argued against the necessity of frequent combat encounters, believing that narrative depth and political intrigue could engage players just as effectively. Despite his vision for a combat-free masquerade ball in Dragon Age: Inquisition, the design team opted to include combat, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing player engagement with narrative flow. Gaider emphasized that storytelling can keep players interested without relying solely on fighting.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a highly acclaimed role-playing game, receiving a perfect score of 100 from DigitalSpy for its emotional narrative. It has also garnered scores of 95 from HookedGamers and WCCFTech, praising its thrilling turn-based combat and gripping narrative. PCWorld rated it 90, highlighting its magical experience and rich storytelling. While PCGamesN gave it an 80 due to some UI challenges, it is still considered a significant addition to the genre. Impulse Gamer rated it 90, noting its distinct identity. IGN and GameSpot both awarded scores of 90, commending its artistic clarity and impressive scale. RPGFan gave it a score of 99, describing it as a timeless experience, while GameInformer also rated it 90, appreciating its unique world and nostalgic elements.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The First Berserker: Khazan

The First Berserker: Khazan is a hardcore action RPG that has received critical acclaim for its intense combat and immersive gameplay. It achieved a perfect score of 100 from screenrant.com, which praised its exceptional gaming experience despite some desires for more weapon types and an open-world environment. Noisypixel.net rated it 90, highlighting thrilling boss fights and diverse level design, while acknowledging weaknesses in narrative depth. Gamingtrend.com and pcmag.com both scored it 80, commending the combat systems and anime aesthetics but noting storytelling and level design shortcomings. Rockpapershotgun.com offered a more critical perspective, describing the plot and level design as uninspiring but recognizing the satisfying combat and challenging boss encounters.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

At one point, Avowed would have taught us to use magic with an explosive Elder Scrolls reference: ‘How about we just have a guy on the road that blows himself up’

Berto Ritger, the regional director of Obsidian, discussed the early development of Avowed, noting that the initial starting point on the docks of Dawnshore was too linear and did not effectively immerse players in the world or its combat mechanics. The tutorialization of gameplay elements was not engaging enough. A humorous reference to the Elder Scrolls character Tarhiel, who fails at using the spell "Icarian Flight," was considered for the game, serving as an introduction to the nature of magic. However, playtesting revealed that both the original opening sequence and the chaotic nature of the pyromancer's spell could lead to players missing essential tutorials. This highlighted the need for a more structured beginning in open-world game design.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Painkiller is back, and maybe they’ll finally get it right this time

A new installment in the Painkiller series, developed by Anshar Studios and published by 3D Realms, was announced during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. The original Painkiller, released in 2004 by People Can Fly, is recognized as a classic first-person shooter known for its level design, weaponry, and heavy metal soundtracks. The new game will feature four distinct characters with unique abilities, a collectible system with Tarot cards, and reimagined enemies, while retaining classic weapons like the Painkiller. The game is set to launch in the fall and is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

You know the drill: Avowed’s default waypoint and UI settings are way too handholdy, so you should change them ASAP

Avowed allows players to customize their gameplay experience through an extensive settings and accessibility menu. Key modifications made include switching the quest tracker mode to "Show on Update," turning off objective markers, and disabling interaction icons. These changes enhanced immersion by reducing intrusive prompts and allowing for more organic exploration. The game includes a compass for active quest objectives, which can also be disabled for a more challenging experience. The UI and navigation options in Avowed blend old-school challenge with modern convenience, catering to different player preferences.

BetaBeacon

February 19, 2025

15 best free Android games with no in app purchases

- AI Factory Limited offers a variety of simple free Android games with no in-app purchases - Alto's Odyssey and Alto's Adventure are free mobile games with in-app purchases that are purely cosmetic - Antiyoy is a turn-based strategy game with simple graphics and rules, featuring multiplayer and no ads or in-app purchases - Crossy Road is a popular free game with in-app purchases that are purely cosmetic - Papers, Please is a simulation game with no in-app purchases available for .99 - Doom and Destiny Advanced is a free JRPG with ads and some limitations, but contains the entire base game - OpenTTD is an open-source version of Transport Tycoon with no in-app purchases - Pathos is a retro roguelike adventure game with no in-app purchases - Pocket City is a city-building simulation game available for .99 with a premium version - Resonance of the Ocean is a short game with no complexity and no in-app purchases - Stardew Valley is a must-play RPG available for .99 without ads or microtransactions - The Spike is a volleyball game sim with optional in-app purchases - Vampire Survivors is a survival RPG with minimal gameplay and optional in-app purchases - Into the Breach is a challenging puzzle/roguelike game available on Netflix Games with no ads or in-app purchases - Vodobanka is a puzzle game where you command a SWAT team with no microtransactions, but a purchase is required after the demo version