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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 19, 2025

The Best PC Games Right Now (2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features a mix of innovative remasters, indie titles, and new intellectual properties, providing a wide range of experiences for gamers. The most played games on Steam include Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Dota 2, with Counter-Strike 2 leading in player engagement due to its esports scene. Notable new releases include Blue Prince, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Promise Mascot Agency. Other popular games outside Steam are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Valorant. Genre-specific leaders include South of Midnight for action, Myst (Remastered) for adventure, and Street Fighter 6 for fighting. Upcoming anticipated titles include Grand Theft Auto 6 and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Trends in 2025 highlight esports engagement, indie innovation, purposeful remakes, and cinematic storytelling. Last Epoch's Season 2 update has revitalized player interest with new content and enhancements. The year 2019 was significant for PC gaming, with acclaimed titles like Resident Evil 2, Control, and Disco Elysium, and marked by the influence of digital distribution platforms.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

How Gaming Is Regulated On Android’s App Store

The Google Play Store offers millions of mobile games and enforces strict regulations to ensure user safety and legal compliance. These regulations cover content policies, monetization practices, data protection, technical requirements, and regional compliance. Games must adhere to content policies that prohibit hate speech, excessive violence, and misrepresentation, and must be rated by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC). Monetization strategies require developers to use Google’s payment system for in-app purchases and disclose pricing and refund policies. Gambling games must have the necessary licenses and disclose odds for loot boxes. Data privacy guidelines mandate clear communication about data collection and user consent. Technical standards require games to function well across devices and be free from security threats. Google employs automated and manual reviews to enforce compliance, with consequences for violations ranging from warnings to permanent bans. Regional compliance is necessary, particularly in areas with strict regulations like China and the EU.

AppWizard

February 25, 2025

Balatro finally escapes its silly 18+ age rating, PEGI promises ‘a more granular set of classification criteria’ for gambling-themed games in the future

The Pan European Game Information (PEGI) organization has reclassified the indie card game Balatro from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12 after an appeal by its publisher, Sold Out Sales and Marketing. The change was based on the game's fantastical elements that mitigate its connection to gambling. Initially, Balatro was scrutinized for teaching skills related to poker, but the developer LocalThunk criticized the inconsistency in ratings compared to other games with actual gambling mechanics. In addition to the new rating, Balatro has launched a free crossover pack called Friends of Jimbo and is now available on Xbox Game Pass without in-game purchases. LocalThunk expressed optimism about PEGI's decision, hoping it would lead to more nuanced ratings in the future.

AppWizard

February 7, 2025

Balatro 1.1 will include new jokers plus a revamp of a really confusing existing one

LocalThunk, the creator of the poker roguelike Balatro, discussed the upcoming gameplay update version 1.1, which is set to enhance the game in 2025. He was cautious about revealing details to allow for flexibility in development. The update will include a modification to the blue stake, reducing the number of discards by one. Balatro has been recognized with the overall game of the year award for 2024, surpassing other notable titles.

BetaBeacon

February 7, 2025

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – February 2025 round-up

- Sniper Elite 4 is available on iOS for free, but the full game costs £19.99 and has touchscreen control issues. - Archero 2 is a free game on iOS and Android that is similar to its predecessor with some new power-ups and events. - Letterlike is a word-based roguelite game available on iOS and Android for £4.99 with a score of 8/10. - Dungeons Of Dreadrock 2: The Dread King’s Secret is a puzzle game available on iOS and Android for £7.99 with challenging puzzles. - LOK Digital is a crossword-style puzzle game available on iOS and Android for free or £5.99 for the full game with a score of 8/10. - Skate City: New York is a minimalist skating game on iOS included with Apple Arcade subscription with a score of 6/10. - Super Farming Boy is a kinetic farm management game on iOS for £7.99 with a unique gameplay loop and a score of 8/10. - Turnip Boy Robs A Bank is a pixel art roguelite game available on iOS and Android for £4.99 with character-driven mechanics and a score of 7/10.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

If 2024 proves anything, it’s that mainstream success hasn’t made PC gaming any less weird—and thank God for that

PC gaming has transitioned from a niche hobby to a significant competitor against consoles, highlighted by the success of titles like Baldur's Gate 3. The Steam wishlist charts showcase a diverse range of games, including janky survival games, indie debuts, and obscure titles that gain unexpected popularity. Notable games this year include a survival game with 25 million players, a poker roguelike, and Stalker 2. Discussions around Game of the Year awards featured unconventional games, reflecting the eclectic nature of PC gaming. Despite the rise of console-first releases on PC, the platform continues to embrace a variety of genres and interests, maintaining its unique identity and charm.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Steam quietly drops 12 free games you can download and keep forever

Twelve free titles are available on Steam, including: 1. Ruins to Fortress - A post-apocalyptic survival adventure focused on crafting, building, and combat. 2. Night Project - A detective narrative with horror elements where players uncover clues to solve a mystery. 3. Dynasty Legends 2 - An action RPG for competitive gameplay against other players. 4. Poker Train - A game where poker skills influence the journey of a train. 5. The Permanent Residence: Souls Kept - A short horror adventure with a chilling atmosphere. 6. Sidereal - A quest where players cleanse darkness as a tall man in a hat. 7. Fruity Friendz Adventurez - A whimsical adventure to help Peter Pear escape with fruit friends. 8. Super Ricko’s Islands - A platformer featuring fun and exploration in vibrant locations. 9. Gripshot - A fast-paced shooter requiring quick reflexes. 10. Through - A hack-and-slash adventure reminiscent of classic arcade gaming. 11. Dungeon Crusher: Souls Hunters - An idle RPG with engaging stories and missions. 12. Angel Wings: Endless Night - A survival game set in a mansion where players seek an escape.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

The 15 best PC games of 2024: From Indy to Kratos, samurai to outlaws, and everything in between

In 2024, the PC gaming landscape thrived due to the resolution of component shortages, the popularity of cloud gaming, and the rise of PC gaming handhelds. A diverse range of games was released, including indie titles and AAA adventures, along with remakes and remasters of classics. The top PC games of 2024 included: 1. Thank Goodness You're Here! 2. Helldivers 2 3. Indiana Jones and The Great Circle 4. Red Dead Redemption 5. Star Wars: Outlaws 6. Balatro 7. Animal Well 8. Fallout: London 9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 10. Dragon Age: The Veilguard 11. Silent Hill 2 12. God of War: Ragnarok 13. Black Myth: Wukong 14. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree 15. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut The gaming rig used featured an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card, Intel Core i5-13600K CPU, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and an Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI motherboard.

AppWizard

December 19, 2024

8 great games for your Steam Deck

The Steam Deck remains a popular portable gaming device in 2024, enhanced by Valve's software updates. Notable games include: - Balatro: A card-based roguelike where players create poker hands to earn chips and shop for new cards. - Dragon Age: The Veilguard: A fantasy RPG with dialogue trees and character-building options, requiring some graphics adjustments for optimal performance. - Hades II: An early access action roguelike that expands on its predecessor with new weapons and characters. - Metaphor: ReFantazio: A turn-based game from Atlus with a quick battle system, suitable for short sessions. - Neva: A visually stunning game focused on platforming puzzles and storytelling, enhanced on the Steam Deck OLED. - The Rise of the Golden Idol: A mystery game with 20 point-and-click puzzles involving investigation and clue-solving. - Stardew Valley’s 1.6 Update: Introduces new festivals, a new farm type, and additional content to the beloved farming simulation. - Thank Goodness You’re Here!: A whimsical game set in an English village, featuring humorous interactions and a short completion time.