PC game Archives

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

This week in PC games: Stronghold, Destiny and Neverwinter Nights lead a host of drifters, necromancers and Pac-Monsters

The latest PC game releases include factory-themed titles such as "Kaizen: A Factory Story," an automation puzzle game by former Zachtronics developers, and "MoteMancer," which features real-time factory construction across dimensions with generative AI-inspired art. For those preferring different genres, "Arashi Gaiden" offers a turn-based ninja adventure. Notable revivals include "Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition" and "Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition." "Destiny 2" has released the Year Of Prophecy edition with new content. New games also feature "Becoming Saint," a real-time tactics roguelite, "Worship," which explores occult tactics, and "The Necromancer's Tale," an open-world RPG. Other titles include "Fill Up The Hole," a 2D landfill simulator, "Shadow Labyrinth," a horror twist on Pac-Man, and "The Drifter," a pulp adventure game. "Phantom Squad" promises action-packed gameplay.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (July 14, 2025)

Steam releases approximately a dozen new games daily, which can make it difficult for players to find new favorites. Recent notable PC game releases include: - Everdeep Aurora: Released on July 10, developed by Nautilus Games. - Dread Flats: A first-person horror game set in a "murder building" in 1990s China. - Last Report: Released on July 12, developed by Moonpixel Games, this point-and-click adventure follows a park ranger uncovering disturbing events through CCTV footage. - Occlude: Released on July 11, developed by Tributary Games, this occult card game features a "reality-bending" narrative. - Azrael's Tear: Released on July 12, developed by Intelligent Games Ltd., this retro game originally from 1996 involves a quest for the Holy Grail in a futuristic setting, focusing on puzzles and exploration.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Weekend PC Game Deals: Final Fantasy for cheap, bundled Borderlands, and free strategy games

Slitherine is offering three free titles on Steam for its 25th anniversary until July 17: Battlestar Galactica Deadlock, Fantasy General II, and Field of Glory II: Medieval. The Borderlands X Wonderlands package is available in three tiers, with the first tier including Borderlands 3, Borderlands 2, Borderlands 2 VR, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Borderlands Game of the Year Enhanced. The second tier adds Tales from the Borderlands and its sequel, while the third tier includes Tiny Tina's Wonderland: Chaotic Great Edition. The Humblecraft RTS Rush bundle features 11 tactical games such as Men of War: Assault Squad 2 and Stronghold Definitive Edition. The Epic Games Store is offering Figment 2: Creed Valley and Sky Racket for free until July 17, when Civilization VI Platinum Edition will also be available for free. The Steam Summer Sale has ended, and the GOG store has new weekend offers following its summer sale.

AppWizard

July 12, 2025

Ken Levine wanted System Shock 2’s final level to be set in outer space, but the idea was shot down by its senior designers: ‘They’re like dude, we have 14 months to make this game’

System Shock 2 is a highly regarded PC game known for its storytelling and gameplay, but its final act, The Body of the Many, has received criticism for not matching the quality of earlier parts. This level features a challenging environment that can leave players unprepared for the final confrontation with the antagonist, Shodan. Ken Levine, the game's designer, acknowledged that the finale's shortcomings stemmed from his ambitious vision for a zero-gravity environment outside the ship, which was impractical given the tight development timeline. Despite his colleagues' skepticism, he created a level that differed significantly in appearance and gameplay, which he later admitted was not one of the game's strongest. Levine's initial concept of an exterior level influenced later games like Dead Space and Prey. System Shock 2 recently received a remaster from Nightdive, which has been well-received, while Levine is working on a new project called Judas.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

Call Of Duty: WW2 Is Missing From PC Game Pass, And There’s A Good Reason For It

Call of Duty: WW2 was added to the Xbox Game Pass lineup for console users in June 2025, but the PC version is currently unavailable due to a significant issue. On July 5, 2025, Activision acknowledged that an unpatched version of the game was uploaded to the Xbox PC app, leading to serious security concerns, including hacking incidents. Players have been warned about an RCE exploit, and it is advised that they run anti-virus scans. Meanwhile, the console version continues to receive player feedback through a satisfaction poll.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

“Why I Deleted My Steam Account After 20 Years”: Modder who spent “over a decade” fixing broken games with the “Swiss Army Knife of PC gaming” drops Valve, saying it has “fragmented PC gaming irreparably”

Kaldaien, known for his Special K utility mod, recently posted on GitHub about his decision to delete his Steam account after 20 years, criticizing Valve's Steam platform. He has spent over a decade improving PC game ports and argues that alternative platforms like the Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store offer better value without unnecessary features. He also praises GOG for promoting user control and version preservation, while acknowledging the challenges faced by all gaming platforms, including Steam. An expert noted that Valve has effectively managed issues that other services struggle with, comparing their approach to Netflix's user engagement strategies.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Activision pulls game after PC hacking reports

Activision has removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass due to reports of hackers exploiting a critical vulnerability in the game's PC versions. Players experienced hijacked computers during gameplay, with evidence of remote code execution attacks. An outdated and insecure build of the game was uploaded to Microsoft’s services, despite having been patched on other platforms. The game is still accessible via Steam and console versions. Activision has not reinstated access to the game and is investigating the security breach.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Shark Dentist Announced for PC

Alice Games has released a PC game called Shark Dentist, where players act as dentists performing dental procedures on anaesthetized sharks. Players must manage anesthesia doses, monitor the shark's pulse, administer medications, and use various dental instruments while avoiding awakening the sharks. The game features randomized events that introduce challenges such as sudden pain spikes, tool malfunctions, and debuffs, ensuring varied gameplay experiences. A game trailer is available, and players can wishlist Shark Dentist on Steam.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Call of Duty: WWII pulled from PC Game Pass after hackers hijack players’ PCs

Activision has removed Call of Duty: WWII from the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass due to reports of player hacks linked to a critical security vulnerability that allowed hackers to gain remote access to players' computers. This issue arose shortly after the game's introduction to Microsoft’s Game Pass in late June 2025, with players experiencing computer freezes, unexpected command prompts, shutdowns, and direct messages from hackers. The vulnerability, known as Remote Code Execution (RCE), was present in the outdated version on the Microsoft Store, while the Steam version had been patched. Activision has not provided details on the removal or a timeline for the game's return, and players are advised against downloading it from any platform until security concerns are addressed.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Can you guess the PC game based only on the health bar?

Health bars are essential informational tools in gaming, experiencing a resurgence in RPGs while declining in popularity among big-budget shooters. Recent years have seen the creation of aesthetically pleasing and uniquely designed health bars. Players often spend significant time looking at these indicators, raising questions about their memorability. A quiz is available to test players' ability to identify games by their health bars, featuring a mix of classic and contemporary titles. Some iconic health bars, like Isaac's from Dead Space, may not be included in the quiz.