radiation Archives

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Rust’s ‘Pivot or Die’ update was meant to shake up the meta, but it’s a nightmare for solo survivors that leaves me no choice but to die

Facepunch has released an update for Rust, urging players to adapt to significant changes in the game's progression system, particularly affecting solo players and smaller groups. The update introduced a "soft progression gate" to encourage early confrontations and reduce clan dominance. Changes include the addition of Basic and Advanced Blueprint Fragments to workbench recipes, making resource accumulation more challenging and incentivizing combat. New loot refresh times at monuments have led to players camping these locations, causing further scarcity of resources. The November update adjusted puzzle timers to prevent pausing due to player proximity and introduced lethal radiation before loot resets. This has made it harder for solo players and small groups to compete, as they remain limited to lower-tier workbenches while larger clans advance more rapidly. The gameplay has shifted towards a more combat-focused experience, resembling a battle royale format, which some players find less appealing. Unofficial servers may provide a more balanced experience.

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

September 28, 2025

This survival game is like Subnautica in space, and you can grab it and eight other games for just $12

Breathedge is a survival game set in space where players must manage oxygen and resources after becoming embroiled in a cosmic conspiracy. The game features a character named Man, who constructs a space station while navigating his predicament. Chernobylite is another survival game set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where players control Igor, searching for his missing fiancée amidst radiation threats. Both games are part of the Lone Survivor bundle available for £10.68 at Humble Bundle, which includes other titles like Conan Exiles and State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, offering a total value of £183.32.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Atari’s reboot of Mad Max-style racer Fatal Run is coming later this year, and its new trailer shows a hefty dose of Burnout in its irradiated DNA

Atari has announced the revival of Fatal Run with a new iteration titled Fatal Run 2089, developed by MNSTR Studio. The game shifts its narrative focus to delivering a clean energy solution known as ARCs and features a variety of environments, including deserts, cyberpunk cityscapes, and gothic castles. Gameplay includes dynamic events and vehicular boss battles, with a visual style reminiscent of classic racing games. While static-character cutscenes may appear budget-conscious, Atari's new management has shown a commitment to legacy titles. The game is expected to launch later this year, although a specific release date has not been announced.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

The Alters review

Players navigate a treacherous alien planet in "The Alters," a game by 11 bit studios that combines survival mechanics with a sci-fi narrative. The protagonist, Jan, is the sole survivor of a failed intergalactic mining operation and must repair his base, manage resources, and make strategic decisions to survive. The game introduces a unique element called rapidium, allowing players to create altered versions of Jan with different skills and personalities. Interactions with these Alters and other characters can lead to cooperation or conflict, impacting morale and mission success. Exploration involves gathering resources and managing environmental hazards, with a fast travel system facilitating navigation. The game emphasizes the importance of player choices, creating a deeply personal and immersive experience.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

This game about being trapped on a spaceship overgrown with a jungle that wants to eat you is basically Project Zomboid in space, and it looks absolutely terrifying

Dandelion Void is a video game set aboard a derelict generation ship that has become overgrown with alien flora and fauna since its departure from Earth in the late 20th century. The ship's ecosystem is hostile, with life forms attacking creatures with fewer than seven legs. The game, developed by Manzanita Interactive, features survival elements such as repairing spacesuits and navigating radiation-filled corridors. The creature designs are influenced by the remains of the ship's deceased crew. The game has been in development for a couple of years, but no release date has been announced. Additional information is available on its Steam page.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

‘It’s about to get even darker, more disturbed, and violent’: Barotrauma’s Calm Before the Storm update introduces new PVP outpost and alien ruins

The "Calm Before the Storm" update for the 2D co-op horror game Barotrauma introduces several new features, including a mission to explore alien ruins, a themed outpost for player-versus-player encounters, additional modules for abandoned outposts, updated level backgrounds, and a reserve bench option for bots. The update also improves AI for bots and rebalances the radiation mechanic while introducing new creatures that thrive in radioactive environments. The new modules were created by a fan of the game, NotWendy. Barotrauma is currently available at a 50% discount on Steam until April 26.

AppWizard

November 22, 2024

Stalker 2’s survival systems haven’t changed since the last game 15 years ago, and I’m not sure if I’m happy or disappointed

In 2007, Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl introduced a survival game experience that emphasized vulnerability and realism, contrasting with the power fantasies of its time. Players faced dangers like bleeding, radiation, and hunger, with no fast travel, requiring careful planning for resource management. Stalker 2, set for release in 2024, appears to maintain a simpler approach to survival mechanics, offering familiar gameplay elements such as a straightforward food system and easy weapon maintenance through NPCs. While this simplicity is comforting for many players, some survival enthusiasts express a desire for more depth, such as crafting systems and enhanced resource management, which could enrich the gameplay experience.

AppWizard

November 21, 2024

The first bug I saw in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the same bug I saw in Stalker: Call of Pripyat 14 years ago, and I find that downright heartwarming

A video titled "Radiation Side Effects in STALKER," posted in 2010, features a character in the game Stalker: Call of Pripyat displaying an unusual gait and experiencing glitches, such as clipping through a bunk bed and levitating above a mattress. In the present, players of Stalker 2 report various amusing glitches, including bodies hanging in mid-air and characters becoming embedded in the ground. The user interface has issues, with quest markers failing and players losing their HUD, requiring reloads. One mission involved searching for an elusive artifact, which only appeared after multiple deaths and a return to an earlier save. Despite these frustrations, the charm of the Stalker universe and the nostalgia of past gaming experiences continue to attract players.

AppWizard

October 4, 2024

Solo dev says he’s bucking against the survival ‘formula’ that makes them stale, and if you want to actually make an axe from scratch does he have the game for you

The author expresses a newfound appreciation for survival games despite initial hesitance due to their formulaic nature. Sergei Bezborodko, the developer of The Last Plague: Blight, aims to innovate within the genre by avoiding common tropes such as simplistic crafting systems and the presence of zombies. Instead, he incorporates a detailed crafting process that reflects real-life labor. The game draws inspiration from non-survival games, particularly in its mechanics. A demo of The Last Plague is available on Steam for players to experience.