player engagement Archives

AppWizard

March 4, 2026

Lost Judgement fuses serial killings and a skateboarding detective. You should play it.

Lost Judgment features a narrative centered around a serial killer targeting former school bullies, exploring the consequences of bullying. Players engage in various light-hearted activities such as skateboarding, building battle robots, and participating in dance tournaments, contrasting with the game's darker themes. The storyline follows Yagami as he investigates bullying in a school, focusing on motivations behind crimes rather than just solving them. The game includes rich side activities, such as advising a high school club and participating in competitions, enhancing player engagement. Combat mechanics feature three fighting styles: Crane, Tiger, and Snake, allowing for strategic gameplay. The Kaito Files expansion introduces new combat styles and a substantial storyline. The future of the Judgment series is uncertain due to issues surrounding the actor's image rights and the departure of a key developer.

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

Resident Evil Requiem is the only horror game to scare me in over ten years, and that’s why you should buy it

Resident Evil Requiem is the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise, focusing on horror rather than action. The game features dual protagonists, Grace, an inexperienced FBI analyst, and Leon Kennedy, a seasoned action hero, allowing players to switch between them for different gameplay experiences. Grace's segments are in first-person, enhancing horror elements, while Leon's sections are more action-oriented. The game alternates between the two characters, creating a dynamic narrative that heightens tension and player engagement. The reception has been positive, with the game balancing action and horror effectively. It is currently available for .39 / £49.19 at Fanatical, representing an 18% discount, and includes a free game or coupon with purchase.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Resident Evil Requiem is currently Metacritic users’ top-rated game of all time

Resident Evil Requiem has achieved a 9.5 average user score on Metacritic, matching Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and has an average critic score of 88, positioning it as a top contender for Game of the Year. It shares the top spot on the 2026 charts with Mewgenics, both holding an average score of 89 on Opencritic. Requiem is currently ranked number one on Metacritic's 'Best Games by User Score' page, indicating strong public sentiment. The game has received close to 2,500 user reviews, while Expedition 33 has over 24,000. On Steam, it has an 'overwhelmingly positive' user score of 96%, based on 18,000 English-language reviews.

AppWizard

March 2, 2026

Sony Will Reportedly Lessen the Number of Games It Brings to PC Moving Forward

Sony's strategy for porting PlayStation exclusives to PC is shifting, with a potential move towards keeping single-player titles exclusive to consoles for longer periods. The focus may now be on live service games rather than traditional single-player experiences. While Sony continues to port select titles to PC, player engagement data shows mixed results; games like Horizon Zero Dawn, Spider-Man Remastered, and Ghost of Tsushima achieved high peak concurrent players, while others like Horizon Forbidden West and Last of Us Part II had lower peaks. HellDivers 2 has outperformed other titles in Sony's PC offerings. Sony's relationship with the PC gaming community has been strained due to initial registration requirements for the PlayStation Network, which were later reversed. Upcoming console exclusives, such as Marvel’s Wolverine, suggest Sony may prioritize hardware sales over PC releases.

AppWizard

February 23, 2026

New report says older games like CS2 and League of Legends take up 35% of PC playtime, but Roblox reigns supreme

The gaming industry is experiencing significant changes, with a few major titles dominating player engagement. The "big five" PC games—Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, League of Legends, and Roblox—account for 35% of player hours, while older titles make up about 10%. In 2025, newly released games, including annual franchises like Call of Duty, represented only 14% of player hours on Steam. A large portion of PC gamers, 45%, engage with games that are one to seven years old, and 41% play titles that are eight years or older. Despite challenges, industry revenue has been maintained or grown through price increases rather than expanding the player base. Roblox has emerged as a significant market driver, representing over 4.5% of non-China spending and accounting for 67% of net growth in 2025. Developers on Roblox are earning over 0 million annually, with a 70% year-on-year growth. Titles like Grow a Garden have surpassed engagement metrics for Blizzard's games, and others have outperformed Valve's Dota 2. The anticipated release of GTA 6 could signal a new era, although its 2026 launch is uncertain.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Helldivers 2’s siege of Cyberstan is the greatest galactic campaign the game has seen so far

The recent update for Helldivers 2, titled Machinery of Oppression, features an offensive on the Automaton stronghold of Cyberstan, introducing new gameplay elements such as the Bastion Tank and colossal Vox Engines. Players face challenges from Cyborg enemies and must navigate the heightened difficulty of Cyberstan, which is considered the most challenging phase of the game to date. The game's narrative involves players acting as the Empire while trying to thwart the Automaton's plans to use the 'Star of Peace' weapon. The campaign is directed by a mastermind named Joel, who enhances player engagement through a responsive order system. As of now, the lives tally stands at 97,272,293 out of 410,000,000, with over 300 million divers having perished in the current assault. Players can earn additional lives through 'Strategic Imperatives' and engage in community-driven events that shape the game's narrative. Helldivers 2 has shown significant growth and continues to attract players two years post-launch.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Epic Games Store locks in two well-rated PC free games to close February 2026

The Epic Games Store has introduced updates to enhance its digital marketplace for both developers and gamers. Key changes include a revamped user interface for easier navigation, improved search functionality, and better tools for game publishing and analytics for developers. The store is expanding its library of exclusive titles through partnerships with game developers and is launching promotional events featuring discounts, free game giveaways, and exclusive content. Additionally, Epic Games is emphasizing community feedback to ensure the platform evolves according to user needs.

AppWizard

February 17, 2026

Battlefield 6 Season 2 is all about ‘delivering the bread and butter of the game’ — but is it enough to bring players back?

Battlefield 6 is preparing for the launch of its Season 2 after experiencing a decline in player engagement, with fewer than 9% of its initial audience logging in daily. The release of Season 2 was delayed to ensure a polished experience, as its success could determine the game's future in a competitive market. Season 2 is expected to include enhanced gameplay mechanics, new maps and modes, and integration of community feedback.

AppWizard

February 13, 2026

Battlefield 6 Season 2 is well-packed with additions, but it’s missing the killer element to lure me back in

Battlefield Studios has announced the content for Battlefield 6 Season 2, which includes two new maps (Contaminated and Hagental Base), new weapons, vehicles, gadgets, and several limited-time modes. The season is structured in three phases, with the first map available at launch and the second map introduced in the second phase. A limited-time mode featuring hallucinogenic gas will be available on February 17, with additional modes planned for later phases. Despite the new content, player engagement has declined since the initial excitement, and there are concerns about the focus on the free-to-play spinoff, Battlefield Redsec, rather than enhancing Battlefield 6 itself. The overall impression of Season 2's offerings is seen as underwhelming, with hopes that upcoming patch notes may provide gameplay changes to rekindle player interest.

AppWizard

February 10, 2026

Newly Released Tactical RPG Is an Instant Hit on PC (And It Could Be a Game of the Year Contender)

Mewgenics, a tactical cat RPG created by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, launched on Steam on February 12th and quickly attracted over 58,900 concurrent players. The game has received overwhelmingly positive initial reviews, achieving a Metacritic score of 89, making it the highest-rated game of the year so far. Players engage in building a cat army and face strategic decisions through a tactical breeding system. The main campaign offers over 200 hours of gameplay with a roguelite progression system. Mewgenics is currently available exclusively on Steam for PC and Steam Deck, priced at .99 with a 10% introductory discount until February 24th.