match-3 mechanics Archives

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

Best PC Games to Play During the Holidays

The winter holiday break offers PC gamers a chance to enjoy various games, whether solo or with others. Cooperative games for two players include Split Fiction, where players navigate dual worlds, Henry Halfhead, which features a puzzle-solving character, and LEGO Voyagers, which uses LEGO bricks for teamwork. Family-oriented games like Popucom, LEGO Fortnite Odyssey, and Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny emphasize accessible mechanics and cooperative play. For local multiplayer competition, EA SPORTS FC 26, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Mortal Kombat 1 are popular choices. Online co-op games such as Satisfactory, Out of Time, and PowerWash Simulator 2 allow players to connect remotely. Free-to-play options include Where Winds Meet, skate., and Infinity Nikki, which provide engaging experiences without cost. Immersive games like Escape from Duckov, Promise Mascot Agency, and Football Manager 26 offer deep gameplay experiences.

AppWizard

August 26, 2025

This week in PC games: a MGS3 remake, new Blumhouse horror and some freshly peeled spaceships

The Maw has consumed another Monday, and a recent article about a "bank holiday" was a public relations strategy to prevent a stock market downturn. Mark has been on a theoretical holiday since last Wednesday but is actually marooned in the Cretaceous period. James is in a state of limbo, neither at Gamescom nor back at his desk. New PC game releases include: 1. NG Y' STOOD L' SAND OT GN'TH: A cosmic horror experience. 2. Pizza Bandit: A shooter combining culinary creativity with alien defense. 3. Watertight: A free horror adventure set in a troubled submarine exploring the Titanic wreck. 4. good: A minigame collection about a teenager avoiding education. 5. The Supper: New Blood: A point-and-click adventure with a dinner party theme. 6. Pixel Starships 2: An MMO for designing and managing spaceships. 7. Eyes Of Hellfire: A haunted house experience published by Blumhouse. 8. Neon Village: A hybrid game blending match-3, town-building, and roguelike elements. 9. Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance: A revival of a classic Sega side-scroller. The author plans to work on an interview-driven feature and a piece on liminality, while James is expected to handle impressions articles and interviews. Mark may return to regular updates and a review if he escapes his situation.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

I miss old PopCap like you miss old BioWare

From 2000 to 2010, PopCap Games dominated the casual gaming market, influencing the design of many subsequent mobile games. The studio's notable titles included Peggle Extreme, featured in Valve's The Orange Box, and Gyromancer, a collaboration with Square Enix. PopCap's games often drew inspiration from earlier concepts, such as Zuma from Puzz Loop and Bejeweled from the Russian game Shariki. After being acquired by Electronic Arts, PopCap shifted towards mobile and free-to-play models, leading to the decline of its original PC titles. Despite this change, the spirit of PopCap's creativity persists in the indie gaming scene, with games like Donut County and Peglin reflecting its innovative approach. Bookworm Adventures remains accessible through the Internet Archive, contributing to PopCap's lasting legacy.