retro aesthetic Archives

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Diablo 2 is coming back with its first expansion in 25 years, featuring a new class, and finally, decent inventory management

Blizzard Entertainment announced a second expansion for Diablo 2, titled Reign of the Warlock, during the Diablo 30th anniversary Spotlight video. The last expansion, Lord of Destruction, was released 25 years ago. The new expansion introduces a warlock class that allows players to summon three different demons and bind one enemy demon for powerful buffs. Quality-of-life improvements include stash tabs that allow item stacking, unique tabs for specific categories, loot filters for item visibility, and a comprehensive item collection list. Diablo 2: Reign of the Warlock is now available on Battle.net.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Could a video game help combat antisemitism on college campuses?

Julia Sebastien's forthcoming PC game, StrangeLand, explores the complexities of Jewish life at an Ivy League college, aiming to serve as both entertainment and an educational tool about antisemitism. The game targets current and former Jewish students in North America, helping them articulate their experiences. Sebastien, who has a background in Jewish education and media psychology, draws from her own experiences and those of other Jewish students. Gameplay involves navigating challenges such as balancing academic commitments with Jewish holidays and addressing antisemitism. The game intentionally avoids discussions of Zionism and Israel to focus on educating players about antisemitism. It features a retro aesthetic inspired by classic Game Boy graphics, designed to create a comfortable environment for players. Sebastien hopes the game will enhance understanding of the Jewish collegiate experience for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences.

AppWizard

December 6, 2025

Upcoming retro-inspired RPG channels Elder Scrolls and Dark Souls predecessor King’s Field with a demo you can try today

Queen's Domain is a modern-retro action RPG inspired by FromSoftware's King's Field, developed by the creators of Armored Core. The game features brutal combat and exploration in a PS1-inspired universe, where players seek a missing father on an isle with a stirring sleeping Queen. Players primarily use a wooden club against various foes, including insects and skeletons, while upgrading a Holy Sword for limited aerial maneuvering. A demo is available, offering an hour of gameplay that includes area exploration and a boss fight. The full game is expected to release in the first half of 2026.

AppWizard

November 26, 2025

Get Mouthwashing, Buckshot Roulette, and 11 other indie horrors for just $1 each

Buckshot Roulette is an indie horror game that transforms Russian roulette into a chilling experience using a 12-gauge shotgun. It is part of the Indie Fears Humble Bundle, which features 13 games for a price of £11.67. Other notable games in the bundle include Mouthwashing, which has a 95% rating on Steam and is set on a shipwrecked space freighter, and Arctis Eggs, where players prepare food for Antarctic residents while appeasing a deity. The Indie Fears Bundle will be available until November 28, 2025, at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET. The complete list of games in the bundle includes: - Mouthwashing - Buckshot Roulette - Arctic Eggs - Who's Lila - THRESHOLD - ORDER 13 - NO-SKIN - Kiosk - Adios - The Boba Teashop - Daemonologie - Massacre at the Mirage - Terror at Oakheart

AppWizard

September 22, 2025

Five new Steam games you probably missed (September 22, 2025)

Steam introduces approximately a dozen new games daily. Megabonk - Release: September 19 - Developer: vedinad - Genre: Cyberpunk roguelike shooter with ASCII-inspired art and a surreal sci-fi narrative. Henry Halfhead - Release: September 16 - Developers: Lululu Entertainment - Follows a character with half a head who can inhabit objects to solve puzzles. Town to City - Release: September 17 - Developer: Galaxy Grove - A city-building game with voxel-based settlements inspired by 19th-century Mediterranean architecture, currently in early access with nearly a thousand "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews. Pigface - Release: September 19 - Developer: titolovesyou - An early access game about a woman with a bomb in her head, combining tactical shooting with a retro aesthetic.

AppWizard

September 17, 2025

New fan-made Fallout New Vegas remaster is the game I wish Bethesda would make

Dragon Age: Origins is a classic BioWare fantasy role-playing game that could benefit from a remaster to attract new players. Fallout New Vegas, known for its rich atmosphere and gameplay, lacks an official remaster from Obsidian or Bethesda, but the gaming community has developed a mod that enhances its graphics. This mod, called the FNV Texture Upscale Project, improves the game's textures to 4K resolution while also offering a 2K alternative for better performance on the original engine. The mod highlights limitations of the original models but allows for collaborative enhancements. The original mod creator has retired, leaving future updates to the community. The Fallout New Vegas 4K remaster mod is available on Nexus Mods.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

This strategy roguelike is like trying to fight off an alien invasion with a bunch of PCs from the late 1970s

Xenopurge is a roguelike strategy game set in the late 1970s aesthetic, where players guide galactic marines through derelict starships battling an alien infestation. The game features vintage-looking PCs and minimalistic visuals, creating a suspenseful atmosphere reminiscent of classic sci-fi narratives. A demo of Xenopurge is available for free on Steam.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

Steam Users Can Get 3 Games for Free for a Limited Time

Three Steam titles are being offered for free for a limited time. 1. Asterix & Obelix XXL: Romastered - A remastered action-adventure game from 2003, typically priced at .99, is available for free through Fanatical with a newsletter subscription until May 15 or while supplies last. It has a 78% approval rating from 581 user reviews. 2. Furi Demake – The Chain - This game has been free since November 30, 2023, but will require a purchase starting June 23, with pricing yet to be determined. It has a 92% approval rating from 331 user reviews. 3. The Flayed Man - This narrative-driven horror game has been free since its release on April 17, but will change to a paid model on May 17, with future pricing uncertain. It holds a 90% approval rating from 128 user reviews. Furi Demake – The Chain is verified for play on Steam Deck, while Asterix & Obelix XXL: Romastered is marked as playable. The status of The Flayed Man on the Steam Deck is uncertain.

AppWizard

March 10, 2025

Terror At Oakheart (PC) Review – Video Game News & Reviews

Terror at Oakheart is the latest game from Tainted Pact, diverging from their previous title, Suffer the Night, by focusing on a classic side-scrolling adventure with a retro aesthetic. The game is structured into several chapters and pays homage to slasher films, featuring a storyline where players control a killer named Teddy, who is manipulated by a Lovecraftian creature into committing gruesome acts. Tainted Pact aims to revive the essence of 1990s and early 2000s gaming, emphasizing authenticity and creativity in a market dominated by modern trends. Minimum system requirements include: - OS: Microsoft Windows 7 - Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz / AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHz - Memory: 4 MB RAM - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 760 - Storage: 2 GB available space Recommended system requirements include: - Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system - OS: Microsoft Windows 10 - Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-9600K CPU @ 3.70GHz - Memory: 6 MB RAM - Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 - Storage: 4 GB available space The game received a score of 8.5.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog captures the spirit, as well as the sprites, of the past

Gun-Dog is a sci-fi adventure game inspired by the PC-98 era, featuring pixel art and nostalgic design elements such as chunky save points and CRT-style monitors. The gameplay includes basic verb commands and a limited inventory, reminiscent of classic gaming experiences. The narrative follows a rookie security officer on a chaotic mission aboard a ship with diverse characters, where player choices influence the story. The game combines retro aesthetics with modern gameplay, offering an engaging experience that honors the depth and quality of past adventures while remaining accessible to new players.