Most Wanted Archives

BetaBeacon

February 28, 2026

Don’t buy a new phone just for gaming, last-gen flagships still perform just as well

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra and its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor perform similarly to the last year's Xiaomi 15 Ultra and its Snapdragon 8 Elite in popular Android games and emulators. The newer processor offers slightly lower power consumption and potential future-proofing for upcoming games, but overall, there is not a significant performance difference between the two models.

AppWizard

February 22, 2026

The devs of a promising Slay the Spire-alike are delaying their game to Dodge and Roll away from Slay the Spire 2’s launch: ‘You’ll be playing it, we’ll be playing it, everyone will be playing it’

Slay the Spire, a highly acclaimed deckbuilding roguelike, debuted in 2019 and received a 92% review score from PC Gamer's Evan Lahti. Its sequel is set to enter early access on March 6. The studio 58BLADES initially planned to release their game Handmancers during the #TurnBasedThursdayFest but decided to delay it due to the announcement of Slay the Spire 2, fearing it would overshadow their launch. They aim to enhance Handmancers with additional content and polish before release. The gaming industry increasingly avoids launching games on prominent dates to improve visibility and success, as evidenced by data from 2025 showing that nearly half of the 19,000 games released on Steam received fewer than 10 user reviews.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in January

January typically sees a quieter period for PC gaming, with many anticipated titles debuting later in the month. Notable releases include: - January 12: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Steam) - Players act as a checkpoint officer in a zombie apocalypse. - January 26: Highguard (Steam) - A free-to-play hero shooter facing skepticism. - January 29: Cairn (Steam) - A mountain climbing game praised by early players. Upcoming gaming events and sales include: - CES from January 6-9. - Steam Winter Sale (December 18 - January 5). - Detective Fest (January 12 - January 19). - Board Game Fest (January 26 - February 2). - Taipei Game Show (January 29 - February 1). Early access launches in January: - January 6: StarRupture (Steam) - A sci-fi base building and defense game. - January 22: Bladesong (Steam) - Players craft blades in a dark fantasy setting. - January TBA: Echoes of Elysium (Steam) - A co-op airship survival RPG delayed from December. Major updates and events: - January 20: World of Warcraft's Midnight Pre-Expansion Content Update. - January 12: Anthem concludes its service. - January 22: Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven expansion introduces new content. Additional game releases in January include: - January 9: Pathologic 3 (Steam). - January 12: Big Hops (Steam). - January 15: Craftlings (Steam) and Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (Steam). - January 16: BrokenLore: Unfollow (Steam). - January 20: Mio: Memories in Orbit (Steam). - January 21: Dynasty Warriors Origins: Visions of Four Heroes (Steam). - January 22: Nova Roma (Steam) and Arknights: Endfield (Epic). - January 28: The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Steam) and The Midnight Walkers (early access). - January 29: Don't Stop, Girlypop! (Steam).

AppWizard

December 28, 2025

The Recap: Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, Minecraft x Stranger Things and More!

Netflix has released a trailer for the fourth season of Bridgerton, set to premiere on January 29, with the second part on February 26. A teaser for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man has also been unveiled, with the film releasing on March 20. A special Minecraft DLC linked to Stranger Things allows players to explore new chapters in the final season and features characters with unique abilities. SEGA and RGG Studio showcased Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, set for release on February 12. Persona5: The Phantom X's Ver. 2.7 update introduces new stages and characters, with an event ending on January 22. Wuthering Waves has launched its Chapter III update, adding new areas and characters. Gachiakuta: The Game has been revealed as a survival action RPG with cel-shaded visuals, focusing on combat and missions in monster-infested zones.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Slay the Spire gets the best Christmas present a deckbuilder could ask for: a new all-time concurrent player peak on Steam nearly 7 years after release

Slay the Spire recently achieved an all-time high for concurrent players on Steam, surpassing its previous peak of over 33,000 players from early access in 2018, with a current count of around 35,000 players. During the 2025 winter sale, the game was offered at a low price of .49, attracting many new players. Anticipation for Slay the Spire 2 and the popularity of the Slay the Spire board game, which has a user rating of 8.7/10 on BoardGameGeek, have also contributed to the game's resurgence.

BetaBeacon

December 22, 2025

I tested the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s driver upgrade — here are the real winners and losers

- The text discusses testing Android games, including Genshin Impact, Asphalt Legends, and COD Mobile's Battle Royale, at different graphics settings and frame rates. - Emulator tests were also conducted, showing improvements in average and worst-case frames for games like Mario Kart Wii and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. - The transition to Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 resulted in an average frame rate increase of around 9% for games and emulators, with some scenarios showing up to a 15-25% performance uplift. - The update offers a significant gaming performance boost for Pixel 10 users essentially for free.

AppWizard

December 19, 2025

We’re hitting peak saturation for first person dungeon crawlers, but Queen’s Domain stands apart from the crowd

Queen's Domain is an indie first-person dungeon crawler that features a lo-fi visual style reminiscent of the early PlayStation era, with intentionally crunchy graphics and beautifully crafted art assets. The soundtrack combines euphoric melodies with primal percussion, creating a nostalgic yet fresh atmosphere. The gameplay includes a demo showcasing exceptional exploration and immersive atmosphere, with combat mechanics that offer depth and fluidity. Notable features include a unique throwing weapon system based on cooldowns, allowing for dynamic combat strategies, and a melee dash attack that enhances offense and mobility. The game aims to provide a rich experience of exploration, combat, and atmospheric storytelling.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

Cellar Door Games announces roguelike tactical RPG Neath, set to release for PC in 2026

Cellar Door Games has announced their new project, Neath, a roguelike tactical RPG set to launch in 2026 on PC via Steam. The game features a dynamic timeline system with a shifting turn order, allowing players to influence actions of allies and enemies. Co-founder Kenny Lee expressed excitement about the project, which draws inspiration from games like Into the Breach and tabletop games such as Mansions of Madness. The development team is exploring new concepts like "engagement locking" and the "attack resolve system." Players can join the developer’s Discord channel for information on closed beta tests, and an announcement trailer, descriptions, and screenshots are available on the official website.

AppWizard

December 6, 2025

Round Up: Every Switch And Switch 2 Announcement From The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025

PC Gamer hosted its annual PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, showcasing several upcoming titles for the Switch and Switch 2. - Blood: Refreshed Supply - Switch (Out Now) - Carmageddon: Rogue Shift - Switch 2 (Early 2026) - MIO: Memories In Orbit - Switch 2 & Switch (20th January 2026) - Grave Seasons - Switch (2026) - Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! - Switch 2 (Early 2026) - Tamer Town - Switch 2 (2026) - Starsand Island - Switch 2 (2026) - Dungeons of Dusk - Switch 2 & Switch (2026)

AppWizard

December 6, 2025

Every space and sci-fi game at the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025

The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025 stream showcased several upcoming space and sci-fi games, including: - High On Life: A sequel featuring a vibrant universe, quirky humor, and a new skateboarding mechanic for traversing alien landscapes. - Remnant Protocol: A space flight simulator with full VR support, focusing on a galactic rebellion with procedurally generated missions. - Lunar Strike: A narrative adventure set on the Moon’s South Pole in 2119, where players navigate a colony facing sabotage, emphasizing survival mechanics. - Luna Abyss: A single-player adventure exploring a derelict megastructure with intense shooting mechanics, inspired by 'bullet hell' genres, with a demo available on Steam. - Down with the Ship: A strategic auto battler where players design spaceships and engage in combat, available in single-player and multiplayer modes with a demo on Steam. - Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!: A game featuring nostalgic bug-hunting action with retro visuals and FMV cutscenes starring Casper Van Dien as Johnny Rico. - Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes: A roguelite game combining narrative-driven gameplay with real-time tactical battles, focusing on managing ships and crews. - SOL Shogunate: An action-RPG described as a "samurai space opera," set on the Moon with vast cities and epic battles among samurai families.