reception Archives

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Marathon review

Bungie's upcoming title, Marathon, is set to release on March 5, 2026, as an extraction shooter for up to 16 players, priced at £30. The game features a fast-paced multiplayer experience with matches lasting around 15 minutes, emphasizing player-versus-player interactions and strategic gameplay. It showcases a visually original design set in Tau Ceti, with unique environments and weapon aesthetics. The narrative is enriched by a codex with hundreds of entries, allowing for non-linear storytelling. Map designs encourage tactical engagement, and future player engagement may be affected by a seasonal wipe scheduled for June. Overall, the game has received positive feedback for its gameplay, visuals, and narrative depth.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

There’s a new Payday game coming later this year, and it’s VR

Starbreeze is launching a virtual reality game titled Payday: Aces High, part of the Payday franchise, developed by Fast Travel Games. The game features co-op multiplayer for up to four players and allows for solo play. Players assume the roles of elite bank robbers in chaotic heists, maintaining the series' elements of planning and teamwork. Payday: Aces High is set to release in the third quarter of 2026, specifically between July 1 and September 30, and will be available exclusively for Meta Quest and SteamVR headsets. Starbreeze's CEO stated that this game is part of a strategy to expand the Payday franchise through new formats. The studio is currently facing challenges, including issues with Payday 3 and layoffs, while the success of Aces High remains uncertain amid a reevaluation of VR investments in the industry.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Minecraft Dungeons 2 announced with 2026 release date

Mojang has announced Minecraft Dungeons 2, set for release later this year, available on PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. The game will feature a new enemy force and aims to engage both new and returning players. The original Minecraft Dungeons, released in 2020, attracted 25 million players in its first three years. Minecraft Dungeons 2 will be included in the Game Pass lineup, likely requiring a Game Pass Ultimate subscription for day-one access. A teaser trailer has been released, but no exact release date has been provided.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Cat Parents amasses over 100,000 wishlists in just 3 days, leaving its indie devs speechless: ‘We never imagined that our little dream would spark interest in so many people’

An indie game titled Cat Parents allows players to collect and care for stray cats, including activities like cleaning, feeding, and modifying their homes. The game's announcement by Solvita Zacha, CEO of Gaze In Games, generated significant excitement, achieving 100,000 wishlists within three days. The specific launch date for the game has not yet been announced.

AppWizard

March 23, 2026

Mega Crit responds to the panic over Slay the Spire 2’s 1st balance pass, saying these changes are ‘the first of many’: ‘No change is necessarily permanent’

Slay the Spire 2 has experienced financial success and positive player feedback, but recent balance changes led to negative reviews on Steam. The controversy centered around the card Prepared, which was changed to Prepare in a beta patch, altering its cost and functionality. Mega Crit acknowledged community concerns and emphasized the importance of player feedback in their patching process. They stated that the beta branch is for testing experimental changes and that adjustments are based on player input, metrics, and design philosophies. The studio remains optimistic about future changes, indicating that nothing is permanent at this stage of development.

AppWizard

March 22, 2026

Minecraft’s Diablo-inspired spinoff is getting a surprise sequel this year

Mojang is set to release a sequel to Minecraft Dungeons, announced during the Minecraft Live showcase with a teaser trailer. The sequel will continue the voxel-based fantasy narrative, featuring monster-slaying and loot collection. The original game has been described as "baby's first Diablo" and has attracted a dedicated fan base despite mixed reviews. Minecraft Dungeons 2 is expected to launch later this year, with fans eager for more details.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Xbox Game Pass Adds One of the Great RPGs of All Time With 50 Hours of Content

Xbox Game Pass has added Disco Elysium – The Final Cut to its Ultimate, Premium, and PC tiers. The game has a Metacritic rating of 91 and won four awards at The Game Awards 2019, including Best Role-Playing Game and Best Narrative. It offers approximately 20 to 25 hours of main storyline gameplay, with an additional 10 hours of side quests, and around 50 hours for completionists. The version available is The Final Cut, released in 2021, featuring new content and full voice acting. Disco Elysium has an 88% approval rating on Steam and a near-perfect score on the Xbox Store. Subscribers can access the game without purchasing it, and a 20% discount is available for outright purchases while it remains part of the subscription service.

AppWizard

March 20, 2026

Kristen Dunst Manifests Starring Role in A Minecraft Movie Sequel

Kirsten Dunst has been cast in Minecraft 2, where she will portray the character Alex. The film will feature a star-studded cast, including Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Matt Berry, and Jennifer Coolidge, and will be directed by Jared Hess. The sequel is expected to perform well at the box office due to its established fanbase and the success of the original film.

AppWizard

March 15, 2026

New Free Steam Game Is Proving Popular With PC Gamers

Steam has introduced a new game called SnowBot, developed by Inoutofit, which has received a "Very Positive" rating with 91% of over 100 reviews recommending it. Despite being free, it has defied the trend of declining review scores typically seen with premium games offered for free. Some players have noted clunky controls, but the game's charm, visuals, and atmosphere have been praised. Since its launch, there has been one update, and further updates may be limited due to its free status.

AppWizard

March 14, 2026

Starfield’s composer says the game will become ‘legendary’, Todd Howard’s a ‘visionary’, and maybe you ‘were just not ready for it’

Composer Inon Zur has worked in the gaming industry for nearly three decades, contributing to numerous titles, including Bethesda's Fallout series and Starfield. In an interview, he praised Todd Howard for his creativity and vision, despite mixed reviews for Starfield, which received a 75% score from PC Gamer. Zur described the score for Starfield as a standout feature, emphasizing the duality of vastness and motion in space. He used unconventional orchestration techniques, with woodwinds creating rapid patterns and brass and strings providing a stable backdrop. Zur aimed to capture the relationship between individuals and the enormity of space, which influenced his compositional process.