punishing Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Fantasy co-op roguelite action game LORT announced for PC

Big Distraction, a new studio formed by veterans of the AAA gaming industry, has announced its first project, LORT, a cooperative roguelite action game for up to eight players set in a cursed fantasy realm. The game is scheduled for release on PC via Steam in the fourth quarter of 2025. LORT allows players to engage in battles, loot treasures, and accumulate power-ups while working together or playing solo. Key features include customizable weapons, over 100 unique power-ups, challenging bosses, and the ability to shape gameplay experiences through selected ingredients and quests. An announcement trailer and screenshots are available for viewing.

AppWizard

May 4, 2025

Steam Has a New Free Game (And It Has Great Reviews)

Steam has released a new free game called Wuthering Waves, available to anyone with a Steam account. The game can be downloaded, played, and kept at no cost. Compatibility issues may arise for Steam Deck users, as the game's compatibility status is currently listed as "Unknown," but developers are working to resolve these issues. Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play open-world action RPG developed by Kuro Games, which debuted on PC and mobile before launching on PS5 on January 2 and on Steam on April 28. The game is inspired by titles like Death Stranding, Pokemon, and Genshin Impact, and has received mixed reviews on Metacritic but holds an 89 percent positive rating from Steam users, earning a "Very Positive" designation. The game offers approximately 20 hours of main content, with side content extending playtime to 60-70 hours, and completionists may spend around 215 hours to uncover all details.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review

Clair Obscur is a JRPG set in a dark version of Belle Époque France, featuring a countdown marked by a figure called the Paintress that signals doom for certain individuals. The gameplay combines traditional turn-based mechanics with real-time challenges, requiring players to develop characters into powerful allies to prevent an apocalypse. The battle system includes quick-time events and real-time shooting, which can lead to frustration due to its demand for precision. Character diversity is a highlight, with each member of Expedition 33 offering unique abilities, but the game often lacks meaningful feedback on strategies. Exploration is streamlined, allowing players to avoid excessive grinding, with a total playtime of around 20 hours. Inventory management is simplified, focusing on combat and storytelling. The game features strong voice acting and vibrant visuals, though its combat mechanics can overshadow the narrative.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

My biggest pleasant surprise of 2025 so far has been the free prequel to one of my favorite indie RPGs, made with FromSoft’s 25-year-old game making toolset

Lunacid, a first-person RPG inspired by the King's Field series, was released in 2023 by Kira LLC. A prequel titled Lunacid: Tears of the Moon is set thousands of years before the original game and was developed using the Sword of Moonlight toolset. The game features user-generated dungeon crawlers and has drawn comparisons to atmospheric exploration titles like Thief and System Shock. Players engage in melee combat without blocking or dodging options, and character progression occurs automatically upon leveling up. Mana regenerates through successful melee attacks, and health is fully restored at the home base. The game lacks a tutorial, prompting players to refer to a classic-style manual. Players must locate five shards of a legendary sword while navigating a world filled with secrets, including hidden doors and challenging enemies.

AppWizard

March 10, 2025

At least it’s not NFTs this time: The new Wizardry RPG is a gacha game

The original Wizardry, released in 1981, was a pioneering title in party-based computer role-playing games (CRPGs) and inspired an anime adaptation. The franchise has seen a revival, including a faithful remake and unconventional offerings like a blockchain-based game and a gacha game. Wizardry Variants Daphne, available on mobile and Steam, features first-person dungeon-crawling and grid-based movement. Players can collect treasures, including bones of fallen adventurers, which can be revived with a randomized selection system. The game includes a complex economy with various currencies and season passes, and players can engage without spending, although there is an energy mechanic called Fortitude. Reviving characters with low Fortitude carries risks, but is less punishing than in the original game. The original anime adaptation reflects the game's themes and elements, and Wizardry has significantly influenced both CRPGs and JRPGs, inspiring contemporary titles.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Avowed’s huge 66GB update includes major improvements for the game’s whole progression system, along with key bug fixes and buffs for companions

A recent patch for Avowed, version 1.2.2, has reworked the tier system, making it more dynamic and less punishing for players using lower-tier weapons against higher-tier enemies. The update allows for smoother transitions between tiers, reducing significant disadvantages unless there is a large upgrade gap. Players can now engage effectively with lower-tier weapons, relying on skill and strategy rather than solely on high-tier equipment. Companions have received health boosts and improved recovery, enhancing their combat viability. The patch also addresses various bugs, particularly in quest progression, and improves visual and audio feedback for abilities. While some issues remain, the developers at Obsidian have shown commitment to refining the game.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

DeathSprint 66 combines one of my favourite mods with one of my favourite movies

DeathSprint 66 is a game inspired by Stephen King's The Running Man and its '80s film adaptation. It features a neon-drenched future where players navigate deadly obstacles in a race for survival. The game incorporates elements from surfing mods and transforms them into a fast-paced challenge with PvE courses for practice. Players face numerous deaths and respawns as they navigate through traps. The PvP mode allows up to eight players to compete in chaotic races without weapons, focusing on strategy and speed. Players can deploy traps to eliminate competitors, adding depth to the gameplay. The game emphasizes precision and control, creating moments of triumph and failure in a competitive environment.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

FBI Warns Americans to Start Using Encrypted Messaging Apps

America's leading cybersecurity and law enforcement officials convened to address cyber threats, particularly following the Salt Typhoon intrusion attributed to Chinese government hackers, described by Senator Mark Warner as “the worst hack in our nation’s history.” The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI advised Americans to use encrypted messaging applications like Signal to protect against foreign infiltration. Encryption was emphasized as a vital defense, with officials noting that the hackers could not access encrypted communications, although they did gain access to metadata related to messages and phone calls. The Five Eyes alliance issued guidelines to fortify systems against the Salt Typhoon attack. Concerns remain about the implications of potential shifts in governance and the protection of civil liberties in an increasingly volatile political climate.

BetaBeacon

December 1, 2024

Top 25 best puzzle games for Android phones and tablets in 2024

Monument Valley 2 is a visually stunning puzzle game available on iOS and Android.

AppWizard

November 20, 2024

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review

Stalker 2 is a first-person shooter set in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, developed and published by GSC Game World, priced at £50. Players control Skif, an ex-military man from Ukraine, who becomes involved in factional conflicts after encountering a disruptive artifact. The game features a dynamic world with unique NPCs and emergent storytelling, where player choices impact the narrative. Players may face challenges such as bugs and difficult encounters with mutants and factions. The game maintains the franchise's challenging nature while delivering a visually impressive experience.