player choices Archives

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

I pride myself on keeping up with Steam’s under-the-radar gems, but April was packed with enough new games to keep me busy for the rest of 2025

In April 2025, over 100 games launched, with notable titles including Blue Prince and Clair Obscur, the latter receiving significant attention. Clair Obscur was released on April 22nd and has a 94% rating from 39 reviews. Maliki: Poison Of The Past, inspired by a French comic, was released on April 20th. Mythical Concept Starnaut, a narrative-driven game, was released on April 28th with a 97% rating from 45 reviews. Bionic Bay, a stylish platformer, was released on April 17th and has a 90% rating from 264 reviews. Asura The Striker, released on April 23rd, has a 93% rating from 49 reviews. Traveler's Refrain, an action RPG, was released on April 11th with a 92% rating from 26 reviews. Voidborn, a low-fi shooter, was released on April 7th with a 90% rating from 262 reviews. I, Robot, a reimagining of an arcade classic, was released on April 17th and has a 95% rating from 20 reviews. Lab Rat, a dystopian comedy, was released on April 15th with a 97% rating from 188 reviews. Peppered: An Existential Platformer, released on April 7th, has a 95% rating from 266 reviews. Repose, a workplace horror game, was released on April 14th and has a 90% rating from 74 reviews.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

The Best PC Games of 2025 So Far (Spring Edition)

Spring 2025 has seen the release of several notable PC games, including: - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: Released on April 24, 2025, by Sandfall Interactive, it sold over 1 million copies in three days and features a blend of French art nouveau aesthetics and JRPG combat mechanics. - Monster Hunter Wilds: Released on February 28, 2025, by Capcom, it introduces full narrative integration and dynamic monster interactions. - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered: Released on April 22, 2025, by Bethesda Game Studios, it attracted over 4 million players shortly after launch and features enhanced visuals and gameplay updates. Other early 2025 releases include: - Blue Prince (April 10, 2025) - Split Fiction (March 6, 2025) - Atomfall (March 27, 2025) - Assassin’s Creed Shadows (March 20, 2025) - Two Point Museum (March 5, 2025) - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (January 23, 2025) - Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (January 22, 2025) - Ninja Gaiden II Black (January 23, 2025) - The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10, 2025) Highly anticipated titles for later in 2025 include: - Grand Theft Auto VI (Late 2025) - Doom: The Dark Ages (May 15, 2025) - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (August 28, 2025) - The Outer Worlds 2 (Expected 2025) - Borderlands 4 (September 12, 2025) - Marvel’s Blade (TBA 2025) - Hades II (Full Release later 2025) - Frostpunk 2 (Summer 2025) - Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access Expected 2025) - Anno 117: Pax Romana (Expected 2025) - Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (October 2025) - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Expected 2025) - Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Expected 2025) In 2024, top-rated PC games included: 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 2. Metaphor: ReFantazio 3. UFO 50 4. Tekken 8 5. Caves of Qud 6. Animal Well 7. Satisfactory 8. Balatro 9. Thank Goodness You’re Here! 10. The Last of Us Part II Remastered The PC gaming landscape in 2024 was characterized by significant hardware advancements, improved game integration and compatibility, and thriving online communities.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Best Single-Player PC Games to Play in 2025

Single-player PC games are thriving in 2025, featuring captivating narratives, intricate gameplay, and stunning visuals. Notable titles include: 1. Blue Prince - An indie roguelike puzzle game with a Metacritic score of 93, set in a shifting manor where players solve interconnected puzzles. 2. Assassin’s Creed Shadows - Set in feudal Japan, this game features two protagonists with distinct playstyles and has been praised for its narrative pacing and environmental design. 3. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - A cinematic first-person adventure focusing on exploration and puzzle-solving, released on PC in late 2024. 4. South of Midnight - A magical adventure following a girl with weaving abilities, notable for its claymation art style and emotional depth. 5. Avowed - A first-person fantasy RPG with choice-driven storytelling, set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity. Upcoming games include: - Blades of Fire (May 22, 2025) - A Soulslike combat game with a focus on cinematic storytelling. - Cairn (TBA 2025) - A survival climbing simulator emphasizing precision control mechanics. - Hell Is Us (September 4, 2025) - A narrative-driven action game that eschews traditional open-world design. - Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream (Late 2025) - A stealth-adventure game featuring orphans uncovering a conspiracy. The PC platform remains the best for single-player games due to mod support, performance flexibility, a vast library, and indie innovation. The evolution of gaming technology has led to cutting-edge graphics, immersive storytelling, and innovative exploration mechanics, enhancing player engagement.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

Avowed’s rarest ending has only been seen by 0.2% of players and demands you make the correct choice at every major quest to not get your head chopped off

In Avowed, players can achieve a challenging ending known as the Steel Garrote Ending by making specific pro-Aedyr, pro-Lödwyn, or anti-Sapadal choices. Key decisions include eliminating Ygwulf, allowing the Steel Garrote to incinerate Fior, permitting Kostya to destroy Solace Keep, and dispatching Sapadal. Successfully aligning with Lödwyn grants the "Tyranny" achievement, held by only 0.2% of players on Steam, and results in her granting knighthood instead of killing the player character. However, this choice leads to all companions abandoning the player, and the ending depicts Lödwyn's oppressive vision for the Living Lands. The game emphasizes the impact of player choices, though it lacks the systemic interactions found in Baldur's Gate 3. The project director has hinted at potential sequels or downloadable content.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Spencer: Xbox isn’t trying to move players away from owning games

Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, clarified that Microsoft is not trying to move players away from game ownership but aims to provide various options for gaming, including traditional ownership and subscription models like Xbox Game Pass. He reassured gamers about the future of hardware and the ability to continue playing their games, emphasizing the company's commitment to maintaining players' libraries through features like backward compatibility and Play Anywhere. Spencer stated that players can purchase any game available on Game Pass, reinforcing the flexibility in gaming experiences. He acknowledged the need for profitability while focusing on maximizing options for gamers. Additionally, he noted that embracing Windows and cloud technology has been crucial for Microsoft's growth, particularly in Asia, where cloud and PC gaming are expanding rapidly.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Experience the magic of Avowed day one with PC Game Pass

Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed is a first-person fantasy adventure game set in the Living Lands, where players act as an envoy investigating a plague. The game features a flexible combat system that allows various playstyles, including spells, shields, bows, and firearms. Players can form relationships with diverse companions whose narratives evolve based on player choices. Avowed is available on PC Game Pass from launch day, allowing subscribers to access it without additional fees. The monthly subscription fee is .95 AUD, and members can purchase Premium Skin Packs for .95, which include companion skins, a digital artbook, and the original soundtrack.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog captures the spirit, as well as the sprites, of the past

Gun-Dog is a sci-fi adventure game inspired by the PC-98 era, featuring pixel art and nostalgic design elements such as chunky save points and CRT-style monitors. The gameplay includes basic verb commands and a limited inventory, reminiscent of classic gaming experiences. The narrative follows a rookie security officer on a chaotic mission aboard a ship with diverse characters, where player choices influence the story. The game combines retro aesthetics with modern gameplay, offering an engaging experience that honors the depth and quality of past adventures while remaining accessible to new players.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

FMV Psychological Horror Game ‘Hello Stranger’ Coming to PC in May

Aviary Studios is set to release the full-motion video psychological horror-thriller game "Hello Stranger" on PC via Steam in May 2025. The game, written and directed by Paul Raschid, follows Cam, a man whose life is dominated by his smart home and a video chatting app. The narrative escalates when Cam encounters a masked stranger during a chat, leading to a series of life-or-death games that depend on player choices. The game features a cast including George Blagden, Danny Griffin, Christina Wolfe, Kulvinder Ghir, Laura Whitmore, Yasmin Finney, and Derek Jacobi. It includes over four hours of filmed content, choice-based mechanics, and ten possible endings, enhancing replayability. "Hello Stranger" was showcased at the Dinard Film Festival 2024 and the Red Sea Film Festival 2024. It is priced at .99 and is available for wishlisting on Steam.

BetaBeacon

February 7, 2025

Top 7 mobile games like The Last of Us

Life is Strange is a captivating mobile game available on iOS, Android, PC, consoles, and Nintendo Switch. The game offers an episodic experience with a choice-based narrative where players control Max, a photography senior with the ability to rewind time, shaping the storyline with their decisions.