player interactions Archives

AppWizard

December 2, 2025

The best PC games of all time in 2025

Since 1873, Rock Paper Shotgun has annually curated a selection of the finest PC games, beginning to document this list in 2021. The definition of the best PC games evolves each year, reflecting the current team's tastes. They aim to highlight personal favorites, intentionally leaving out other important titles. The team will unveil their selections for the RPS 100: 2025 Edition throughout the week. Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth features dual protagonists Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu, blending serious themes with surreal humor in a turn-based RPG format. Inscryption challenges players in a card game against a gremlin in a haunted forest, known for its creativity and unexpected twists. House Of The Dying Sun is a space combat game inspired by classics, offering exhilarating battles and intuitive controls. Dragon's Dogma II introduces the Unmaking Arrow, adding unpredictability to its gameplay. Devotion is recognized as a top horror game, exploring despair through a masterfully crafted narrative. DayZ is a survival mod for ArmA II that retains its core essence despite updates, emphasizing player interactions. Wreckfest is a driving game focused on chaos and enjoyment rather than just winning. Dyson Sphere Program immerses players in factory building across planets with smooth gameplay. BattleTech incorporates mercenary economics into tactical gameplay. Full Throttle is a classic adventure game with high production values and a gripping narrative. Deep Rock Galactic features procedurally generated environments and cooperative gameplay. Stray portrays a cat navigating a dystopian city, creating an immersive experience. Return Of The Obra Dinn involves investigating a maritime mystery through unique gameplay mechanics. Plants Vs Zombies is a charming tower defense game appealing to all ages. Pentiment explores 16th-century life through a monk's perspective, enhancing storytelling with its art style. Gorogoa offers a unique puzzle experience with hand-drawn art. Conquests of the Longbow blends historical authenticity with engaging gameplay in the Robin Hood saga. Into The Breach presents a tactical challenge with innovative mechanics prioritizing civilian safety. The Stanley Parable encourages exploration and choice, thriving on humor and inventive design. Peggle encapsulates randomness and joy through its simple premise. The next reveal of the 80th to 61st best PC games will occur tomorrow, with previous selections available from 2021 to 2024.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

I ranked Arc Raiders skins based on how likely I am to shoot them on sight, and I’ve become the thing I swore to destroy

Rory Norris shares his experiences in the game Arc Raiders, focusing on the significance of character skins in player interactions. He notes that different outfits convey various messages about trust and intent. - The Striker outfit resembles Norris's usual attire but makes him suspicious of the wearer's motives due to its aggressive design. - The Macrame outfit evokes danger, prompting Norris to act cautiously around players wearing it. - The Riposta skin, despite its fencing roots, appears threatening, leading Norris to take preemptive action against players in it. - Norris is skeptical of players in the default Origin skin, associating them with unexpected aggression. - The Cosmo outfit increases his distrust due to its unappealing design. - Although the Driftcoat is his favorite, it raises concerns about the wearer's potential threat. - The Leviathan skin's dark design creates an unsettling element of surprise. - The popular Torpedo outfit makes Norris question the intentions of its wearers. - Players in the Ryder skin are more trusted by Norris, though he remains cautious. - The Voyager skin's friendly appearance makes Norris feel at ease. - Norris finds the Astrolite outfit bemusing but holds no ill will towards its wearers. - The Chap skin elicits a neutral response from Norris. - The Cresta outfit is viewed with suspicion due to its unappealing design. - The Hawker outfit's unassuming nature could mask a dangerous player. - The Mirage skin offers a chance for trust, though Norris stays alert. - Ombra's vibrant design does not alleviate Norris's caution. - The Radio Renegade skin is appreciated for its practicality, but Norris remains skeptical. - The Velati outfit fosters a sense of trust if players engage positively. - The Voltedge outfit attracts friendly players, making Norris view them as allies. - Norris constantly negotiates for survival and collaboration in the game. - Players in the Patrol outfit signify skill and dedication, prompting Norris to consider teaming up. - Certain skins foster camaraderie, leading Norris to identify trusted allies in the game.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

There’s a difference between hard games and hardcore ones, and the distinction matters

The launch of Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has renewed interest in classic fighting games on PC, but players face challenges with the AI, which often uses ruthless tactics that create an unfair experience. This can lead to frustration and the development of bad habits that do not apply to real player interactions. In contrast, Virtua Fighter 5 offers a remastered mode with over a thousand CPU challengers that encourages strategic play. Games like Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3 allow for creative freedom in gameplay, enabling players to craft unique builds and strategies. Terraria provides a randomly generated world for players to explore or build in, while Tetris The Grand Master 4 offers varying levels of engagement based on player choice. The term "SNK boss" refers to unfair CPU opponents that disrupt gameplay balance, similar to the AI in Mortal Kombat. True hardcore games invite players to explore challenges and skill in diverse ways, emphasizing personal expression in gaming.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Wuxia MMO Where Winds Meet is full of AI chatbot NPCs, and people are doing all the standard obscene stuff to them: ‘I made him think that my character was pregnant with his child’

Where Winds Meet, a multiplayer ARPG, has achieved 190,000 concurrent players on Steam, partly due to its use of large language model chatbots for non-playable characters (NPCs). Players can interact with these NPCs through text or voice, leading to creative and humorous exchanges. For example, one player humorously claimed their character was pregnant with an NPC's child, while another asked about recipes involving ketchup and potatoes, prompting the NPC to reference the historical context of the Song dynasty. Reactions to the AI NPCs are mixed; some players enjoy the interactions, while others express dissatisfaction, with one user stating they reconsidered downloading the game because of the AI integration.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

One of the most ambitious MMORPGs is finally coming to Steam soon with a big price cut, but it’s still far from finished

Ashes of Creation, an MMORPG from Intrepid Studios, will debut on Steam on December 11 at a price of .99, with a 15% discount available for purchases made within the first two weeks. The game is currently in the Alpha Two phase, with plans to move to Beta One and Beta Two before full launch. The 'Alpha Two Third Wave Bundle' is available for , including access to both beta tests, a month of game time, and in-game currency. Existing playtesters will not receive a Steam key and must purchase the game on Steam or continue using the standalone client, which will be cross-compatible. Players who participated in testing before the Steam launch will receive two unique titles that alter their cloak's appearance.

AppWizard

November 7, 2025

Steam’s biggest survival game warns players must “pivot or die” as transformative new update unleashes an extreme wipe

Facepunch Studios released the November Rust update, emphasizing a "Pivot or die" approach. The update revamps the progression system by introducing a comprehensive wipe of all blueprints and reducing the costs for tech tree and research unlocks: Common from 20 to 15, Uncommon from 75 to 30, Rare from 125 to 60, and Very Rare from 500 to 120. Scrap crafting costs have been removed from workbenches. The update also introduces new features such as powered Storage Adaptors, a Mini Fridge with 18 slots, expanded CCTV integration, and the return of monument puzzles. Adjustments have been made to helicopters, including the inability to repair in-flight and restrictions on using healing foods while piloting. The painting menu has been revamped, and off-ground foliage now reacts to moving objects. Regular blueprint wipes may be considered based on player feedback.

AppWizard

November 3, 2025

In Arc Raiders solo queue, chat is the quickest route to survival

The author experienced solo queue gameplay in Arc Raiders, noting that player interactions often lead to peaceful resolutions rather than conflict, with two-thirds of encounters diffused through simple gestures or communication. The game fosters a sense of anticipation and connection among players, contrasting with the more reserved communication styles of British players compared to Americans and Europeans. The author emphasizes the importance of initiating conversations to build friendships and influence others, leading to positive experiences, including unexpected revives. The game's polished presentation attracts a more casual audience, contributing to a congenial atmosphere, while the dynamics of solo queue play encourage cooperation over conflict due to shared vulnerability. The author suggests that turning on a microphone and engaging in conversation can enhance the gaming experience.

AppWizard

November 2, 2025

PSA: Look out sweaty PvPers, Arc Raiders’ foliage looks a little different depending on your graphics settings

Adjusting graphics settings in Arc Raiders can significantly affect player visibility and survival, influencing competitive play. The presence or absence of foliage alters gameplay, with higher settings obscuring opponents and lower settings providing clearer sightlines. This disparity can impact gameplay, especially in visually complex environments. While the effects are less pronounced in third-person shooters compared to first-person shooters, concerns about fairness and competitive integrity persist. The gaming community has reacted with mixed feelings, often maintaining a friendly demeanor despite the implications for player-versus-player interactions. Players desire a level playing field where skill determines victory, rather than technical advantages.

AppWizard

November 2, 2025

A new Battlefield 6 “casual” mode aims to find middle ground as dev continues fightback against XP farming

Battlefield Studios has introduced a new Casual Breakthrough mode for Battlefield 6, designed to offer a relaxed gameplay experience by combining human players and AI-controlled bots. In this mode, two teams of 24 players each consist of eight human participants and 16 bots, allowing players to earn progression and complete challenges. Players receive full XP rewards for actions against human opponents, while interactions with AI yield reduced experience rates. The mode is currently available on two maps: Siege of Cairo and Empire State, but does not include dogtags, accolades, or career stat upgrades. The developers are seeking player feedback to make further adjustments if necessary. Additionally, temporary changes to XP rates in the Strikepoint mode have been implemented to ensure fair progression while investigating an exploit for rapid experience gains.

AppWizard

October 24, 2025

Battlefield 6’s XP farm crackdown is having all the right effects, and the dev just got even more ruthless

Battlefield Studios has implemented measures to reduce the influence of XP farm servers in Battlefield 6, responding to community feedback. They increased XP rewards in standard game modes and obscured XP farming-focused Portal experiences. This has led to a decline in Player versus Environment (PvE) servers and an increase in Player versus Player (PvP) server activity, indicating a preference for competitive gameplay. Verified Experiences with 'Bot Backfill' disabled continue to grant full progression and XP, while the studio advises server owners on maintaining 'full XP' status. EA is also working on updates to make in-game challenges more accessible, as the initial slow progression rate contributed to players seeking XP farms. Despite the crackdown on XP farms, some players feel frustrated by the challenges and the lengthy process to acquire top-tier weapons and attachments.