progression system Archives

AppWizard

March 3, 2026

The Marathon server slam consumed my weekend: 21 hours later, I’ve gone from ‘meh’ to believer

Last year, Embark and Bungie conducted playtests for their extraction shooters, with Bungie's Marathon being their first project outside the Destiny universe in over 15 years. Arc Raiders, developed by Embark, launched as the first mainstream title in the genre, while Marathon faced delays. The author initially felt indifferent towards Marathon but grew enthusiastic after playing for over four days. The game features a PvP experience with looting mechanics, weapon upgrades, and unique gun modifications. Critics compare Marathon to Call of Duty and Apex Legends, but the author finds its pacing more similar to Halo, emphasizing positioning and timing. The game includes movement shooter elements, allowing creative navigation techniques. Weapon designs are visually appealing and feature a variety of modifications. The game's progression system encourages experimentation with builds, and the vendor system aids in resource management. The upcoming full version will include a third map, Outpost, and additional content like the Cryo Archive.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Obsidian was ‘surprised’ that Avowed players bounced off one of the RPG’s most important systems: ‘That frustration came through loud and clear’

Avowed's crafting system initially faced criticism for making upgrades mandatory, requiring players to gather materials for weapons and armor, which hindered exploration. In response to player feedback, Obsidian Entertainment implemented changes in an anniversary update, refining the progression system to allow for a more gradual experience. Custom difficulty modifiers were introduced, enabling players to adjust game elements like merchant prices and upgrade material costs. Additionally, workbenches were added throughout the game world, allowing players to enhance equipment without returning to camp, making gear acquisition and upgrades more accessible.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

PlayStation’s underloved roguelite is cheaper than ever on PC, right before a sequel launches

Returnal is a game that combines elements from Binding of Isaac and Hades with the horror atmosphere of Alien, featuring narrative-driven third-person gameplay. It is available on PC with all post-launch updates, including an endless mode and cooperative play. The story follows Selene Vassos, a space pilot trapped on the alien planet Atropos, who experiences a time loop with each death. The game features a roguelite progression system, diverse biomes, and unique weapons that can be enhanced. It includes bullet hell mechanics that require players to stay agile. The Tower of Sisyphus mode offers continuous combat and reveals more of Selene's backstory, while cooperative mode allows players to team up as different iterations of Selene. Returnal is currently priced at .99 / £17.99 on Fanatical, reflecting a 64% discount.

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.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Terra Invicta Finally Enters Full Release, Day One On Game Pass And PC

Terra Invicta has officially launched on PC and is available on Game Pass. Developed by Pavonis Interactive and published by Hooded Horse, the game focuses on humanity's response to an impending alien invasion, featuring seven factions with distinct ideologies. The game includes political maneuvering, space colonization, and hard science fiction elements, emphasizing realistic mechanics in space combat and resource management. It is priced at £34.99 for standalone purchase and has received a "Very Positive" rating on Steam. Currently, there are no plans for an Xbox console version.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

10 Best RPG Minecraft Mods

RPG Minecraft mods enhance the gameplay experience by introducing new elements such as intricate progression systems, formidable bosses, and magic. The following are ten notable RPG Minecraft mods: 1. L_Ender’s Cataclysm: Features intense boss battles with handcrafted bosses like Ender Golems and Netherite Monstrosity, requiring strategic gameplay. 2. Myths and Legends: Inspired by folklore, it immerses players in a dark fantasy realm with mythical creatures, relics, and cursed items. 3. Warrior Rage: Introduces a kill-streak mechanic that enhances attack speed and damage as players defeat enemies. 4. When Dungeons Arise: Populates the world with crafted structures like warships and underground cities, offering unique loot and a risk-to-reward exploration system. 5. Ars Elixirum: Enhances potion brewing with random effects influenced by the world seed, allowing for customized potions. 6. Dark Souls Expansion: Offers a hardcore RPG experience with methodical combat and a new dimension filled with challenging enemies. 7. Born in Chaos: Introduces new aggressive mobs to enhance survival gameplay, especially during nighttime exploration. 8. The Aether: A sky-based dimension with new materials and powerful bosses, featuring a unique progression system. 9. Goety – The Dark Arts: Focuses on magic, allowing players to perform dark rituals and summon creatures through crafting a Totem of Roots. 10. Dungeon’s Delight: Adds cooking mechanics using monster drops, providing unique effects and new tools for gameplay. Most of these mods are beginner-friendly, with The Aether and Dungeon’s Delight recommended for newcomers. For combat and PvP, L_Ender’s Cataclysm and Dark Souls Expansion are top choices.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Designing a more magical survival game: a first look at Witchspire

Witchspire is a co-op open-world survival game developed by the Swedish team Envar, targeting Early Access in 2026. Players assume the roles of witches or wizards who reactivate an ancient monument, the Witchspire, and embark on a quest to return home. The game features an expansive environment with floating islands and diverse biomes, utilizing witchcraft as a gameplay mechanic. Players can build structures through astral projection, gather resources with magical tools, and use collectible familiars for combat and crafting. The game emphasizes a non-punitive progression system, allowing players to explore various biomes and engage in combat with spells and upgradeable gear. The world includes "corruption events" with darker elements, and the narrative unfolds through exploration of ruins and dungeons. Witchspire marks Envar's shift from outsourcing to developing original IPs, with plans to self-publish the game.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

10 Best Minecraft Servers for Pocket Edition

Minecraft Pocket Edition allows players to engage with their worlds on handheld devices and supports multiplayer servers. Notable Minecraft servers for Pocket Edition include: 1. Complex Gaming: Address: bee.mc-complex.com, Port: 19132. Offers various mini-games and modes like survival, skyblock, and lifesteal. 2. ManaCube: Address: join.manacube.net, Port: 25565. Known for PvP and game modes like Parkour, Skyblock, and Olympus RPG. 3. Vortex Network: Address: buzz.vortexnetwork.net, Port: 19132. Focuses on Skyblock and Prison modes with a progression system. 4. MellowCraft: Address: play.mellowcraft.org, Port: 19132. Enhances vanilla SMP gameplay with community support. 5. WildWood SMP: Address: join.wildwoodsmp.com, Port: 19132. Emphasizes SMP and Lifesteal modes with competitive gameplay. 6. Ace MC: Address: buzz.acemc.co, Port: 19132. Features economy-based gameplay with jobs and quests. 7. EcoCityCraft Economy: Address: buzz.ecc.eco, Port: 19132. Known for its complex economy and player-run cities. 8. Netherite: Address: connect.netherite.gg, Port: 19132. Focuses on trading and offers Lifesteal and Survival modes. 9. Pixelblock: Address: buzz.pixelblockmc.com, Port: 19132. Designed for beginners with a straightforward survival experience. 10. Jartex Network: Address: bedrock.jartex.fun, Port: 19132. A fast-growing prison server with various game modes. To join a server, players must open Minecraft, sign in to their Microsoft account, go to the Servers tab, add the server address and port, and click 'Add and Play'. Most servers support cross-platform play, allowing mobile, console, and Windows players to connect.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

A grittier take on post-apocalyptic MMOs like Fallout 76, new shooter finally lands on Steam to mixed reviews

Pioner, developed by GFA Games, is an MMO with shooter elements set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by Stalker. It features a 50km² island that players can explore, incorporating story-driven exploration, social spaces, and PvE and PvP zones. The game includes a faction-based progression system that allows players to build reputations and unlock better items. Players must manage hunger and rest while crafting tools for survival. Launched on Steam Early Access, Pioner has over 1,200 players but faces performance issues and bugs, resulting in a user score of 50%. A hotfix has been released to address these issues, and new story content is expected by January 2026, along with a roadmap for future developments.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

Six Xbox Game Pass titles to dive into during the holidays

The text describes a cozy holiday atmosphere enhanced by gaming, highlighting six games suitable for the festive season: 1. Fallout 4: An award-winning RPG set in a post-apocalyptic Boston where players can build settlements and explore a vast open world. 2. Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor: A game where players control a dwarf miner, gathering resources and battling aliens, featuring a unique path-carving mechanic and a rich progression system. 3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: The latest installment in the franchise, offering three game modes and over thirty multiplayer maps for co-op campaigns and competitive play. 4. Age of Mythology: Retold: A reimagining of the 2002 classic real-time strategy game, featuring mythological heroes and significant gameplay improvements. 5. Abiotic Factor: A survival game where players are stranded scientists dealing with a paranormal outbreak, focusing on resource scavenging and teamwork, nominated for PC Game of the Year. 6. Diablo 4: A loot-driven game with engaging mechanics, featuring roguelike events and character customization, set in demon-infested zones.