puzzler Archives

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

PC Gaming Show 2025: How to watch and what to expect

The PC Gaming Show is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BST. It will feature over 70 games from various publishers and can be viewed on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, X, Facebook, PC Gamer, GamesRadar+, GOG.com, Ginx.tv, Steam, and Bilibili. An on-demand version will be available for later viewing. Confirmed titles include: - Win ‘The Rig’: A chance to win a custom-built gaming PC. - Kaizen: A Factory Story: A sandbox automation puzzler. - All Systems Dance: A rhythm-driven narrative adventure. - Mycopunk: A customizable co-op shooter. - Ultrakill: The world premiere of Layer 8, a retro FPS. - Paralives: A life simulation game for designing homes and characters. - Pigface: A fast-paced FPS. - Lost Rift: A survival and extraction first-person shooter. - Poncle’s next surprise: Not Vampire Survivors, details to be revealed during the show.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

This gravity-defying dungeon crawler is basically Legend of Grimrock meets Portal, and while the trailer had me dizzy, the demo made me feel like a genius

This week's Thinky Direct showcased a variety of new puzzle games, including a mystery game by a creator of Case of the Golden Idol and a time-loop adventure called "Metroidbrainia." The highlight was "He Who Watches," a dungeon puzzler that combines elements of Legend of Grimrock and Portal. Players navigate an underground labyrinth using a bow and arrow to interact with the environment instead of engaging in combat. The game features mechanics such as sticky boots for object manipulation and offers a demo version to reduce motion sickness. A trailer suggests a potential release in the autumn, although a specific date is not yet announced.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Over 25 Years Ago, This Lemmings-Esque Puzzler Was Sent Out To Die – Its Fans Had Other Plans

Monolith Productions announced its closure earlier this year, prompting tributes to its 30-year legacy. One notable title from the studio is Gruntz, a puzzle strategy game released for PCs in 1999, which has maintained an active community despite its initial rocky launch. The game was designed by Nick Newhard, who aimed to create a game that his wife would enjoy, blending real-time strategy elements with puzzles. After Newhard's departure from the project due to internal disagreements, Kevin Lambert took over development, infusing humor and personality into the characters. Gruntz received mixed reviews upon release, but found a favorable reception in Europe. The game's inclusion of level editing tools led to a dedicated fan community, with ongoing projects like Dizgruntled and Gruntz Unityverse. The community currently has over 368 accounts, showcasing the game's lasting appeal.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

Cozy Food Puzzler Game Umami Announced For PC

Indie game developer Mimmox is set to release a cozy food-themed puzzle game titled Umami for PC in 2025. Players will engage in culinary creation by assembling meals from various food items in a timer-free environment. The game features 15 hand-painted dioramas, whimsical characters like Chef Bumblebake and Chef Sushiba, and opportunities to uncover hidden treasures. Umami promotes exploration and enjoyment without penalties for mistakes, aiming to provide a relaxing gaming experience. A trailer showcasing the game's mechanics and visuals is available for players.

BetaBeacon

April 14, 2025

You can now claim two free mobile game drops from Epic’s store

Epic Games Store is offering two free mobile games this week: Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms loot pack. The downloads are available on Android worldwide and iOS in the European Union until April 17.

BetaBeacon

April 11, 2025

You can now claim two free mobile game drops on Epic’s store

Epic Games Store is offering two free mobile giveaways this week: Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms loot pack. The downloads are available on Android worldwide and iOS in the European Union until April 17.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in April

The PC gaming landscape remains active in April, with notable releases scheduled. Key titles include: - April 1: Koira - Cute puppy adventure - April 2: Bugaboo Pocket - Entomology life-sim - April 3: Sand - Extraction shooter with giant walkers - April 8: South of Midnight - Action-adventure southern folktale - April 8: Burden of Command - Tactical leadership RPG - April 9: Descenders Next - Downhill snowboarding - April 9: Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days (early access) - April 10: Crashlands 2 - Open world crafting RPG - April 10: Hollywood Animal - Hollywood studio management - April 10: Steel Seed - Sci-fi stealth action adventure - April 10: The Talos Principle: Reawakened - Unreal 5 remake - April 10: Monaco 2 - Co-op heist sequel - April 14: Repose - Black and white adventure - April 14: Stygian: Outer Gods - Survival horror RPG - April 17: Mandragora - Side-scrolling, dark fantasy RPG - April 17: Phantom Breaker - Pixel art beat'em up - April 17: Tempopo - Rhythmic garden puzzler - April 18: Lunar Remastered Collection - '90s RPG classics - April 22: War Rats: The Rat em Up - April 23: Sunderfolk - Couch co-op RPG - April 23: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy - April 24: Detective Dotson - Crime-solving as a Bollywood hopeful - April 24: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves - April 24: Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero - April 28: Badlands Crew - Offroad battles Additionally, various gaming events are scheduled throughout the month.

BetaBeacon

March 23, 2025

Goodbye, Ridiculous Fishing: How Android’s 32-bit purge erased my favorite classic games

Google and high-end chipmakers decided to kill 32-bit support entirely in Android 14, leading to benefits such as freeing up system resources, better security, and improved performance. This change means that many 32-bit-only games, including classics like the Metal Slug series and King of Fighters franchise, can no longer be played on newer devices. Options to continue playing these games include using a phone with Android 13 or Xiaomi's flagship phones with a framework to run 32-bit apps, although the latter is limited to the Chinese market. Other suggestions include using a virtual machine running an older version of Android, but this may not work due to hardware limitations.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

After launching as an Epic Store exclusive, World of Goo 2 dribbles onto Steam this spring: ‘We’re grateful to Epic for funding development of the game’

World of Goo 2 is set to launch on Steam in Spring 2025 after a year of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store. Developers 2DBoy and Tomorrow Corporation confirmed the release date on their website. Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, discussed the mixed results of exclusivity deals in the gaming industry and noted the success of their strategy to offer free games weekly. PC Gamer's reviewer, Kerry Brunskill, praised World of Goo 2 for its engaging puzzles and humor, despite some concerns about the novelty of in-game physics.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (March 17, 2025)

Steam releases approximately a dozen new games daily, making it challenging for gamers to find hidden gems. A selection of engaging PC games currently available includes: - Midnight Murder Club: A job simulator where players act as a doorman in a 1950s dystopia, distinguishing real residents from their doppelgangers. - Outlawed: An urban extraction shooter where three teams of three players dismantle gangs in a crime-ridden city, featuring vehicles, zip lines, and weapon customization. - Aneurism IV: A multiplayer FPS set in a gritty urban dystopia, allowing players to engage in shooting or alternative activities, influencing the city as a Spirit. - Lingo 2: A first-person puzzler focused on geometrical trickery and spatial reasoning, featuring new puzzle mechanics and enhanced exploration through jumping.