PC gamer Archives

AppWizard

March 21, 2026

How many games can you identify just from a screenshot of their open world?

PC Gamer has released a collection of quizzes covering various gaming topics, including a quiz focused on open worlds. This quiz challenges players to identify games from 15 screenshots of landscapes, with a time limit of four minutes to complete it.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Ultima’s Robert Garriott was worried about there being too many PC games on the market… 37 years ago

Richard Garriott, co-founder of Origin Systems and creator of the Ultima RPG series, attended the 1989 Computer Game Developers Conference as a business strategist. He discussed the decline in sales of in-depth PC RPGs and strategy games, attributing it to decreased PC hardware sales and "product proliferation," where the number of new titles increased significantly, leading to lower sales per title. Garriott noted that while the computer game industry saw a 15-25% annual sales increase, the number of new titles rose by 25-50%, causing confusion among consumers. He expressed concern about the quality of games and the need for publishers to understand these market dynamics. Garriott emphasized the importance of developing unique, high-quality products that cannot be easily replicated on consoles.

AppWizard

March 18, 2026

Crimson Desert is the most hyped game I’ve seen in a minute

Crimson Desert is set to launch this Thursday and is currently ranked #4 on Steam's top wishlists chart. A preview by Harvey has generated significant excitement, making it PC Gamer's most-read article for March. The game features a variety of activities, including cooking, lumber gathering, bounty mechanics, gambling, wrestling minigames, building faction reputations, and fishing. The gaming community is eagerly anticipating a vast, immersive world, especially following delays with Grand Theft Auto 6. A review will be available soon, and potential buyers may consider waiting for patches and sales.

AppWizard

March 18, 2026

Unofficial Animal Crossing Port Brings The OG Cozy Game To PC

A PC port of the 2002 classic Animal Crossing has been developed by modders, allowing players to experience the game on personal computers. The port, created by a GitHub user named FlyingMeta, requires users to provide their own original game copy or ROM and supports enhanced resolutions, modding, and both keyboard and controller inputs. It is based on the Animal Crossing Decompilation fan project, which took over two years to develop. The port has some audio issues, memory glitches, and texture bugs, but improvements are planned. Similar decompilation efforts have been made for other Nintendo games, and the lack of distributed game files has made it difficult for Nintendo to intervene legally. This process helps preserve classic games for future generations.

AppWizard

March 18, 2026

Pragmata’s devs urge players to test out the demo beforehand to figure out whether controller or mouse and keyboard is best for them: ‘There are some people who find keyboard and mouse too tricky’

Joining PC Gamer led to a significant change in gaming habits, including the destruction of a PS5 and Switch, while controllers remain useful for certain games. Controllers are essential for titles like FromSoftware games, the Resident Evil series, and others, enhancing the gameplay experience. Director Cho Yonghee emphasized the careful design of control schemes for different platforms, noting that hacking mechanics in Pragmata are more fluid with a controller compared to a mouse. The free Pragmata sketchbook demo serves as a tutorial for essential skills and allows players to experiment with both control schemes. Yonghee acknowledged that preferences vary between players, and both control methods have been optimized for a great experience. Mastering controls is crucial for effectively navigating and combating AI-controlled adversaries in Pragmata.

AppWizard

March 15, 2026

Can you identify these iconic PC games from just a piece of concept art?

A new quiz featuring 20 pieces of video game concept art challenges participants to identify the games for which the artworks were created. Testers report that scoring above 5 out of 20 is commendable, while a perfect score of 20 is considered exceptional. The quiz encourages a deeper appreciation for game design and invites participants to share their scores in the comments.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Throwback XCOM successor Xenonauts 2 leaves early access in April, though the developer says the milestone ‘doesn’t mean our work is done’

Xenonauts 2 is approaching its official launch on April 2, following a three-year early access period during which it received seven major updates. These updates introduced four new alien species, five distinct UFO types, innovative geoscape systems, expanded storylines and mission types, and over 180 battlefields. The developers, Goldhawk Interactive, plan to continue patching and improving the game after the 1.0 release, with confirmed post-launch features including modding tools. The first installment of the Xenonauts series debuted in 2014 and is a homage to the original X-COM: UFO Defense.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Starfield’s composer says the game will become ‘legendary’, Todd Howard’s a ‘visionary’, and maybe you ‘were just not ready for it’

Composer Inon Zur has worked in the gaming industry for nearly three decades, contributing to numerous titles, including Bethesda's Fallout series and Starfield. In an interview, he praised Todd Howard for his creativity and vision, despite mixed reviews for Starfield, which received a 75% score from PC Gamer. Zur described the score for Starfield as a standout feature, emphasizing the duality of vastness and motion in space. He used unconventional orchestration techniques, with woodwinds creating rapid patterns and brass and strings providing a stable backdrop. Zur aimed to capture the relationship between individuals and the enormity of space, which influenced his compositional process.

AppWizard

March 5, 2026

After planning 2 more paid acts, narrative scifi power-washer Ambrosia Sky is instead finishing its story in one free update to ‘maximize’ its focus on what players loved: ‘People got in on that sapphic yearning right away’

Ambrosia Sky: Act One was released in November 2025, featuring Dalia, a researcher in a decaying space station. Developer Soft Rains initially planned a trilogy but will now conclude Dalia's story in a free update, Ambrosia Sky: Act Two, set for release later this year. Act Two will resolve the mysteries from Act One and introduce new mission locations, exo-fungus to harvest, and an updated progression system. The decision to streamline the narrative was influenced by player feedback. Act One is available on Steam, and owners will receive Act Two for free. After Act Two's release, the game's price will increase for new players. A 15% discount on Act One is available until March 13.

AppWizard

March 5, 2026

How many of these MMORPGs can you name in just 6 minutes based on a handful of vague details?

The author began their MMORPG journey in 2002 with the Korean MMO Priston Tale. They transitioned to a subscription model, requiring their mother’s assistance to pay with a money order due to their young age. Over time, they gained financial independence and now primarily play Final Fantasy 14, appreciating its nostalgic elements. The author reflects on the enduring popularity of some early MMORPGs and enjoys discussions about them with fellow gamers. They invite readers to test their knowledge of MMORPGs by identifying games based on town names or features.