ranks Archives

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Heartopia (PC) Review

Heartopia is a life-simulation game that blends cozy simulation elements with MMO features, allowing players to cultivate a town and interact with locals. However, the MMO aspects dilute the individuality typically found in cozy games, as multiple players receive the same accolades for completing quests. Gameplay involves repetitive fetch quests to unlock activities like home decoration and fishing, which can feel tedious. The game features a community aspect, but players may find their neighbors' homes replaced or their own home relocated between sessions, undermining familiarity. Character design is uninspired, and the user interface resembles a mobile game, lacking polish. As a free-to-play title, it includes multiple currencies that create confusion, with microtransactions for premium items. Despite these issues, the game offers engaging home-building mechanics and unique hobbies like Birdwatching and Pet Care. Overall, Heartopia struggles to effectively merge MMO elements with cozy simulation, making it a less appealing option compared to established titles like Animal Crossing.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Riot moves to stamp out League of Legends duo queue abuse as “a few bad actors ruin things for everyone”

Riot Games has introduced new duo queue restrictions in League of Legends, disallowing duo play up to Grandmaster rank, even for players with Grandmaster MMR. The company has increased the duo penalty to reflect the advantages of playing in pairs. The current season has seen an increase in exploitative behavior, prompting these changes. Riot plans to implement an indicator to show when a player's actual MMR exceeds their displayed rank. Additionally, there is a delay in improvements to the autofill matching system, which aims to reduce mismatched roles for players.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

2023 PC Game Now 100% Free on Steam for 48 Hours

RewindApp's Initial Drift Online is available for free on Steam for approximately 48 hours until January 18. Players can claim the game during this period, and it will be theirs to keep after downloading. The game features street racing in Japan and has received 792 user reviews with an overall approval rating of 79%, though it currently sits at 58% during the promotional period. Some users have reported server issues due to an influx of new players, while others have had a smooth experience.

AppWizard

January 14, 2026

Ultrakill is one of Steam’s highest-rated indies, and it’s 93% off in this bundle

Ultrakill is a first-person shooter (FPS) game that combines stylish combat mechanics similar to Devil May Cry with retro aesthetics reminiscent of classic Doom. Players control V1, a machine navigating a post-apocalyptic world where they battle demons for survival. The game features a variety of mechanics, including parrying and executing precise shots, and encourages players to achieve high ranks for replayability. Ultrakill is currently available for under , with a 93% discount, as part of the Decked Out Collection on Humble Bundle, which includes seven games for £10.71. The collection offers each title for less than £2, and all games come as Steam keys.

AppWizard

January 6, 2026

Grab Dead Island 2, this underrated Fear-style FPS, and six other games for under $2 each

The latest Carnage Collection from Humble Bundle features eight titles priced under , including Dead Island 2 and Trepang2, available at lower prices than during recent Steam sales. Dead Island 2 is set in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles where players fight zombies, while Trepang2 combines horror elements with first-person shooter gameplay. Other titles in the collection include Hellboy Web of Wyrd, Maneater, Laika: Aged through Blood, Warstride Challenges, Easy Red 2, and Death in the Water 2. The entire collection is valued at 4.73 but is offered for just .50, representing a significant discount.

Tech Optimizer

January 4, 2026

The Best Antivirus Software for Mobile Security in 2026

TraceX Guard is an AI-powered Android security application developed by TraceX Labs, specifically designed for the mobile threat landscape in India. It focuses on regional threats such as scam applications, malicious APK installers, QR code fraud, and hidden malware. The app features AI-driven malware detection, APK installation protection, QR and URL security, network security, identity and account protection, and a multilingual interface to enhance accessibility for users in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Bitdefender Mobile Security is a premium antivirus solution for Android that offers on-demand and on-install scanning, web protection, a built-in VPN, and an account privacy checker, known for its accurate threat detection and minimal system impact. Norton Mobile Security provides real-time malware protection, app advisor and pre-download scanning, Wi-Fi security alerts, web protection, and an optional VPN, making it suitable for users of all experience levels. McAfee Mobile Security includes antivirus and threat scanning, an unlimited secure VPN, identity monitoring, safe browsing features, and multi-device support, catering to users seeking comprehensive protection and privacy tools. When choosing a mobile security app, TraceX Guard is ideal for India-focused protection, Bitdefender for strong paid protection, Norton for a well-rounded suite, and McAfee for broad protection with VPN and identity monitoring.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

MrBeast’s Minecraft Video Spark Backlash Amid Infiltration Rumors

MrBeast's latest YouTube video features a 1,000-player Minecraft competition titled “1000 Players Simulate Civilization: Boys vs Girls,” where 500 boys compete against 500 girls. Allegations of infiltration arose, with claims that boys used fake profiles and AI-generated images to infiltrate the girls' team, leading to accusations of unfair play and scrutiny over early eliminations of female players. The monitoring team struggled to maintain order, and reports indicated that some boys posed as girls, resulting in systematic eliminations of female participants. VTuber Zavyy and streamer Phoefi expressed concerns about the integrity of the competition and the final video edit. Unverified reports suggested some female players may have sold their accounts to male participants. Despite the controversy, the boys' team won the ,000 prize, and the debate surrounding the event continues on social media.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

GOG crawls out from under CD Projekt Red with a new owner and teases ‘ambitious’ plans for classic game ‘rescue missions’ starting next year

GOG, a digital storefront known for classic and DRM-free gaming, has transitioned to the ownership of Michal Kicinski, a co-founder of GOG, which launched in 2008. Under Kicinski's leadership, GOG aims to expand its library of classic titles and enhance the gaming experience, although specific initiatives have yet to be detailed. CD Projekt Red will continue to support GOG, ensuring that both existing and upcoming titles from the studio remain available on the platform. GOG may also serve as a refuge for unconventional titles, as demonstrated by the psychological horror game Horses, which was banned from other platforms but found success on GOG.

Tech Optimizer

December 30, 2025

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ ranks third in an independent anti-phishing test

AV-Comparatives conducted the 2025 Anti-Phishing Comparative Test, evaluating the phishing detection capabilities of various antivirus products, browsers, and VPNs using 1,000 phishing URLs. NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro™ achieved a 90% detection rate of phishing websites, ranking third in the evaluation. To qualify for AV-Comparatives’ Anti-Phishing Protection approval, products must detect and block at least 85% of phishing URLs without generating false positives. NordVPN is the only VPN provider to receive this recognition.

AppWizard

December 30, 2025

xAI Hires Android Engineers to Build Mobile Apps for Grok AI Chatbot

Elon Musk's xAI is hiring Android engineers in London, New York, Palo Alto, and San Francisco to enhance mobile experiences for its Grok AI chatbot and the X platform. Candidates should have expertise in Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and reactive programming. Applications can be submitted by messaging Attila on X or visiting xAI's jobs portal, with a focus on practical experience. The hiring process includes a 15-minute phone interview, two technical rounds involving live coding and hands-on exercises, and a final meeting with the xAI team. The positions offer competitive salaries, equity compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package. Musk aims for xAI to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) within two years, with Grok 5 expected in early 2026 having a 10 percent chance of reaching AGI. The roles aim to integrate AI capabilities into mobile devices for widespread use.