player agency Archives

BetaBeacon

December 31, 2025

Best Android Games To Play When You’re Stuck Waiting in Coffee Shops, During Commutes & More

- Candy Crush Saga is a popular casual Android game that combines strategy with chance. - Roblox and Minecraft are digital playgrounds where players can create and explore unique worlds. - Five Nights at Freddy's is a horror game that has gained popularity for its simple mechanics and tense gameplay. - Garena's Free Fire is a popular battle royale game on Android with over a billion downloads. - There are many other great Android games for short gaming sessions that cater to different preferences and needs.

AppWizard

December 12, 2025

Ten years in the making, Jonathan Blow’s new game breaks all the rules of gaming’s greatest puzzle

Jonathan Blow is developing a new game titled Order of the Sinking Star, which has evolved from a modest engine test for his programming language, Jai, into a full-fledged Sokoban-style puzzle game. The game combines elements from four lesser-known freeware puzzle games and features multiple worlds, each with distinct realms and mechanics. Players will navigate challenges involving various characters, each with unique abilities that enhance gameplay. The narrative follows a deposed queen in a fantastical setting, with gameplay focused on exploration and puzzle-solving. Blow's design philosophy emphasizes the interaction of game mechanics and player agency, diverging from traditional storytelling methods. He is collaborating with a publisher for the first time to address the challenges of a saturated market.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Creative Assembly has been busy—Total War: Medieval 3 is coming, along with more Warhammer DLC and another game that will be revealed next week, ‘marking the beginning of an exciting new era’

Creative Assembly has announced the development of Total War: Medieval 3, returning to the Middle Ages after two decades since Total War: Medieval 2. The announcement was made during a 25th anniversary showcase by Sega and Creative Assembly. The game is described as a tribute to its predecessors and an evolution for the franchise, promising historical authenticity and player agency. It is currently in pre-production. Creative Assembly's last major release, Total War: Three Kingdoms, received acclaim but lacked ongoing support. The studio also continues to develop content for Total War: Warhammer 3, with a new DLC titled Lords of the End Times set for release next summer. Additionally, another announcement is expected during The Game Awards on December 11, which is described as one of the most ambitious projects in the franchise's history.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Rue Valley review

Rue Valley, developed by Emotion Spark and published by Owlcat, is set to launch on November 11, 2025, priced at £25. Players assume the role of Eugene Harrow, who is experiencing a mental breakdown and is trapped in a 47-minute time loop while undergoing therapy in a remote motel. The game features isometric maps and emphasizes dialogue over combat, allowing for character customization along various personality traits. Players can use inspiration points to activate "intentions," but the gameplay can become tedious due to the need to gather sufficient inspiration before acting on information learned during the loop. The narrative includes rich background lore but struggles to engage players meaningfully, resulting in a disjointed experience. Despite some moments of brilliance, the overall gameplay is criticized for its repetitiveness and lack of meaningful player agency.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Here’s how Old School Runescape’s Sailing skill came to be, as Jagex’s 18-year odyssey finally arrives in port

Old School Runescape has fully illuminated its world map, marking the end of an era with the introduction of the Sailing skill set to launch on November 19, 2023. This skill allows players to navigate uncharted waters and commandeer their own vessels, a concept that has been discussed in the community since 2007. The game has expanded its landmass over the years, notably with the continent of Zeah in 2016, and the Sailing update will introduce diverse biomes and activities at sea. The new mechanics will allow for faster movement across the ocean, fundamentally altering gameplay. Sailing will integrate with over ten other skills, ensuring continuity within the game while maintaining balance so it does not overshadow existing skills. The narrative integration has been facilitated by prior groundwork, allowing for a smooth transition into the new content. Community feedback has been positive, with growing excitement for the upcoming update.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

Minecraft Probably Wouldn’t Add Creepers Today as They’d Be Too ‘Controversial’ — But Don’t Worry, They’re Not Going Anywhere Now They’re So Iconic

Mojang's chief creative officer Jens Bergensten discussed the studio's evolving game design philosophy, emphasizing that challenges in Minecraft should arise from player actions to avoid unfairness. He noted that past mechanics, like Iron Golems attacking Creepers and Endermen stealing blocks, did not align with this principle. While Mojang aims to introduce significant challenges, players should make conscious decisions to face them. Bergensten acknowledged that the Creeper, which can instantly eliminate characters and destroy constructions, might be considered controversial under this new philosophy, yet it remains an iconic part of gaming culture.

AppWizard

October 13, 2025

Skyrim’s lead designer reckons open world games are ‘almost a cliché statement’ these days, and that Skyrim owes its continued popularity to a focus on player agency: ‘We didn’t put anything off limits’

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has maintained its relevance in the gaming community since its initial release, supported by numerous re-releases and a dedicated modding community. Bruce Nesmith, the game's lead designer, expressed surprise at its lasting popularity, noting that it continues to attract over 24,000 concurrent players on Steam for the Special Edition, significantly more than Oblivion Remastered. Nesmith attributes Skyrim's success to its player-driven experience, emphasizing the game's open-world design that allows for personal adventures filled with quests and discoveries.

AppWizard

September 6, 2025

Everwind Preview: Minecraft meets Forever Skies

Everwind, previously known as Skyverse, was rebranded by developer Enjoy Studio earlier this year. The game will have a console edition, announced in the spring, and features a customizable airship that players can design and upgrade. It employs voxel design with complex construction mechanics and has a vertical gameplay style reminiscent of Metroidvania games. Players will explore floating islands, engage in first-person combat, and navigate procedurally-generated environments. The game also offers cooperative play and is set to launch on PC and consoles in the future.

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

Somebody spilled some Minecraft in this hardcore first-person RPG, and I love the result way more than I ever thought possible

The demo of Nox Mortalis initially disappointed the player due to its cryptic nature and frustrating melee combat mechanics, including a reliance on a parry system and the absence of a compass. However, after reviewing the in-game manual, the player discovered that crafting a compass was part of the gameplay experience. The game incorporates resource management, requiring players to gather materials like wood, coal, and metals to craft weapons and unlock treasure chests. The crafting system is intuitive, with recipes unlocking automatically as players collect materials. The demo allows for approximately four hours of gameplay, including exploration of side dungeons and the initial levels of a central megadungeon. The player experienced a satisfying progression, starting with basic crafting and advancing to more powerful weapons. There is concern about whether the developer can maintain the engaging gameplay loop in the full release, which currently has no set date, as feedback from the demo is being gathered. Players can wishlist the game and access the demo on Steam.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

I’ve been obsessed with a single dialogue choice in an underappreciated Obsidian game for 10 years, so I tracked down the guy who wrote it to learn everything about my favorite joke in RPG history

In Pillars of Eternity's expansion, The White March: Part One, players encounter a character named Zahua, a martial artist hiding in a barrel of fish as part of his quest for self-debasement. Upon meeting the player, Zahua asks, "Are you real?" This interaction offers various dialogue choices, including responses like "Yes," "[Lie] Yes," and "There is no way to be certain." The character's introduction was designed by Eric Fenstermaker to convey Zahua's detachment from reality and to allow players to explore their interpretations of reality. Fenstermaker emphasizes the importance of player agency in RPGs, suggesting that if an NPC can reject reality, so can the player. He also reflects on the need for dialogue to facilitate self-expression and discovery for players, recognizing the diverse motivations they bring to the genre.