role-playing Archives

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

I’ve been obsessed with a single dialogue choice in an underappreciated Obsidian game for 10 years, so I tracked down the guy who wrote it to learn everything about my favorite joke in RPG history

In Pillars of Eternity's expansion, The White March: Part One, players encounter a character named Zahua, a martial artist hiding in a barrel of fish as part of his quest for self-debasement. Upon meeting the player, Zahua asks, "Are you real?" This interaction offers various dialogue choices, including responses like "Yes," "[Lie] Yes," and "There is no way to be certain." The character's introduction was designed by Eric Fenstermaker to convey Zahua's detachment from reality and to allow players to explore their interpretations of reality. Fenstermaker emphasizes the importance of player agency in RPGs, suggesting that if an NPC can reject reality, so can the player. He also reflects on the need for dialogue to facilitate self-expression and discovery for players, recognizing the diverse motivations they bring to the genre.

AppWizard

July 13, 2025

The Expanse RPG’s developers are ‘humbled’ by comparisons to BioWare’s heyday, but don’t expect it to be a straight Mass Effect clone: ‘We make our story a little bit differently’

Owlcat is developing a role-playing game titled The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, inspired by the narrative depth and character-driven gameplay of BioWare's Mass Effect series. Creative director Alexander Mishulin acknowledged the influence of Mass Effect on their project, stating that many team members grew up playing it and that it has significantly impacted them as game developers. The game aims to blend intricate storytelling with engaging combat mechanics, appealing to both new players and fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

AppWizard

July 13, 2025

Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader just received another ‘massive’ update, this time directed at its expansion

Owlcat Games has released a substantial update, version 1.4.1, for Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader alongside the expansion Lex Imperialis. The update introduces the new party character, Arbites officer Solomorne Anthar, earlier in the narrative to enhance gameplay and player engagement. Despite these improvements, the studio faces challenges in meeting audience expectations, as reflected in mixed reviews on Steam. The hope is that future releases will be more polished, allowing the studio's creativity to shine without issues like bugs and imbalances.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

Lords of the Fallen hits 5.5m players

Lords of the Fallen has attracted over 5.5 million players since its launch in 2023. This figure does not equate to sales, as the game is also available via Xbox Game Pass. The game sold one million copies within the first ten days of its release.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Can you guess the PC game based only on the health bar?

Health bars are essential informational tools in gaming, experiencing a resurgence in RPGs while declining in popularity among big-budget shooters. Recent years have seen the creation of aesthetically pleasing and uniquely designed health bars. Players often spend significant time looking at these indicators, raising questions about their memorability. A quiz is available to test players' ability to identify games by their health bars, featuring a mix of classic and contemporary titles. Some iconic health bars, like Isaac's from Dead Space, may not be included in the quiz.

BetaBeacon

July 7, 2025

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android

No Way Home is a twin stick shooter game with role-playing elements that involves exploration and shooting with upgrades for your ship.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Deus Ex was a hard sell because, among other things, the Thief devs thought ‘if you give players a gun, they won’t sneak’

Deus Ex is a significant title in the immersive simulation genre, allowing players to approach challenges from various perspectives and breaking away from traditional linear gameplay in CRPGs and FPS games. Warren Spector, the game's creator, expressed frustration with conventional RPGs and FPS games before developing Deus Ex. The game has influenced many others, including Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, Avowed, Prey, and Baldur's Gate 3, showcasing its impact on player freedom and game design. An interview with Spector will be featured in the upcoming issue of PC Gamer, releasing on July 15.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

‘They told me to destroy’ my backups, Fallout creator Tim Cain says: ‘People high up at companies take authority but no responsibility’ for game preservation

The evolution of RPG visuals began in the late '90s with titles like Fallout, which featured clay heads and marked a shift from sprites to 3D models. Tim Cain, co-creator of Fallout, discussed the creation of these visuals, noting that while the game used sprites, the graphics were made with advanced 3D modeling software. He expressed concern over the fate of the original source art files, which were backed up on DAT tape but may have been lost due to the tape's limited lifespan. Cain also highlighted challenges in preserving historic games like Fallout due to corporate ownership, emphasizing the broader issue of gaming history preservation. He voiced frustration over companies losing important assets and the responsibility they have to maintain these cultural artifacts.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

Great moments in PC gaming: When the party in a tactics RPG start to really feel like your guys

Turn-based combat in RPGs is characterized by strategic depth, particularly in managing character positioning on the battlefield. This gameplay element allows for tactical maneuvers such as flanking bonuses and area-of-effect attacks, enhancing the experience beyond mere actions. Real-time-with-pause mechanics do not replicate the satisfaction of physically moving pieces, reminiscent of tabletop games. A strong sense of ownership over characters is also crucial, with customization options fostering a deeper connection. Games like Divinity: Original Sin 2 allow for character respec and renaming, further personalizing the player's experience. The relationship between the player and their party is complex, combining affection with a sense of control.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Republic Games hires Chris Avellone for new RPG project

Chris Avellone has officially joined Republic Games as a narrative designer. The studio is developing a new RPG featuring a rich story with meaningful choices and multiple endings. Studio founder Adam Williams expressed enthusiasm for Avellone's involvement, highlighting his significant contributions to the RPG genre. The game aims to create a dark fantasy experience with immersive gameplay and an interactive narrative. Avellone faced allegations of sexual harassment in 2020, which he has denied.