RPG Archives

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

The great RPG debate: Do RPGs really need romanceable companions?

RPG developers have faced challenges in incorporating romance into video games, leading to a noticeable absence of romance in many titles. BioWare popularized romanceable companions with games like Baldur's Gate 2, influencing even non-RPG titles. While romance is not strictly necessary in RPGs, some games, like Baldur's Gate 3, integrate it into the narrative to enhance character development. However, the portrayal of characters as universally available for romance raises questions about authenticity. Other games, such as Fable, approach romance humorously, allowing multiple marriages without emotional depth. Harvey Randall argues that romance is vital for character development and exploring themes of intimacy and trust, suggesting it enriches RPG narratives.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

The voice of Lady D and Orin the Red will be back for the next D&D videogame

Baldur's Gate 3 showcases the successful adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons principles into a video game RPG. Wizards of the Coast is developing a new title called Warlock, a third-person action-adventure game inspired by God of War, through its internal studio, Invoke. Maggie Robertson will voice the protagonist's patron, Tasha, who is an archfey and will grant players eldritch abilities. Tricia Helfer is also involved in the game. Gameplay is expected to be revealed at Gamescom, scheduled for August 26–30 in Cologne.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

Next Week on XBOX: New Games for August 3 to 7

Next week, several games are set to launch for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC: - Beast of Reincarnation: Releases on August 3, available on Game Pass and optimized for Xbox Series X|S. Players explore a post-apocalyptic Japan as Emma and her dog Koo, with customization options and exclusive pre-order rewards. - Kynseed: Releases on August 4, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. A life simulation sandbox RPG from the creators of Fable, focusing on farming, family, and community interactions. - Detective Holmes: Hidden Objects: Releases on August 3, optimized for Xbox Series X|S, featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in a hidden object game with various gameplay modes. - Space Tail: Definitive Edition: Releases on August 3, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. Players follow Bea, a dog in space, engaging in observation-based gameplay. - Fading Clouds: Releases on August 4, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. A puzzle adventure game with 30 levels set in the skies, focusing on creative problem-solving. - Five Hearts Under One Roof: Releases on August 5, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. An interactive FMV romance game centered on complex relationships. - Mate’Morphosis: Releases on August 5, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. A chess-inspired puzzle game where players become the pieces they capture. - Aery – Surreal World: Releases on August 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. A flight exploration game through dreamlike landscapes. - Herd Dispatch: Releases on August 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. A puzzle game where players guide sheep home through strategic planning. - Montabi: Releases on August 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. A creature-collector roguelike deckbuilding game. - Sokogem: Releases on August 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. A minimalist puzzle game focused on logical movement. - Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint: Releases on August 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. A side-scrolling beat-’em-up game featuring a detective seeking vengeance. - Yellowcreek Stories – The Cabin Watcher: Releases on August 6, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. A first-person stealth slasher game. - INK ENIGMA 2: Hidden Object Challenges: Releases on August 7, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. A hidden object game with upgraded gameplay. - John Fox: Releases on August 7, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. An action-adventure game featuring an elite warrior. - Limbot: Releases on August 7, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. A multiplayer game with a cardboard robot navigating a destructible city. - The Relic: First Guardian: Releases on August 7, optimized for Xbox Series X|S. An action RPG set in a devastated world with fast-paced combat. - Tailbreak: Releases on August 7, optimized for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Play Anywhere. An arcade shooter featuring dinosaurs and a voiced story mode.

AppWizard

July 31, 2026

GOG Is Permanently Removing 6 PC Games on July 31

GOG is removing six titles from its catalog on July 31. The titles being delisted are: 1. A Long Journey to an Uncertain End - A sci-fi adventure RPG released in 2023, with a 75% approval rating on Steam and a score of 2.3/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 2. Outerverse - A crafting automation adventure game released in 2022, with a 51% approval rating on Steam and a score of 2.3/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 3. PLAGUN – The Plague Goes On - A roguelike scroller shooter released in 2025, with an 81% rating on Steam and a score of 3.3/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 4. Clouzy - An adventure simulation game released in 2022, with a 53% approval rating on Steam and a score of 3.6/5 on GOG, priced at .99. 5. Tavernacle - A co-op tower defense game released in 2023, with a 60% rating on Steam and no user reviews on GOG, priced at .99. 6. Airborne Kingdom - A sky city builder released in 2022, with a 76 rating on Metacritic, an 87% rating on Steam, and a 4.3/5 rating on GOG, priced at .99.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Today’s best Android app deals and freebies: Dead Cells, Actraiser, Chrono Trigger, Thronefall, more

An enticing selection of Android game and app deals includes popular titles such as Dead Cells, Actraiser Renaissance, Chrono Trigger, Thronefall, Summer Catchers, and SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake. Pre-order deals for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8 are also available, along with enhanced trade-in rates at Amazon that include a 0 gift card. Today’s highlighted Android app price drops feature Dead Cells, Actraiser Renaissance, Chrono Trigger, Thronefall, Summer Catchers, and SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake. Additional Android app price drops are still available.

AppWizard

July 30, 2026

Mistfall Hunter Arrives On Game Pass, Xbox, PC, PS5 – Enter The Gyldenmist At Your Own Risk

Mistfall Hunter has launched on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and is available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Developed by Bellring Games and published by Skystone Games, the game is priced at £22.49 for the Standard Edition and £35.75 for the Deluxe Edition. It combines extraction gameplay with dark fantasy action RPG mechanics, set in a world called Gyldenmist, where players recover Gyldenblood with the help of a character named Dew. The game features third-person combat, six distinct classes, and a free-aim system. Players can embark on solo hunts or form squads of up to three hunters. Future updates will introduce new content, and the game will not include paid stat boosts or pay-to-win mechanics. The Deluxe Edition offers exclusive content, including outfits, backgrounds, earrings, poses, emotes, an avatar, an avatar frame, and Fate Coins.

AppWizard

July 29, 2026

Capcom expects 95% of its game sales to be digital in the next year, and it’s pretty much already there thanks largely to PC gaming

Capcom's financial report indicates that over 93% of its game sales are now digital, with expectations for this figure to increase. In the period from April to June 2026, Capcom sold 1.6 million physical games and 22.2 million digital games. The company classifies sales of game-key cards for the Switch 2 as digital transactions. The trend toward digital sales is evident, with industry analysts suggesting that physical media is becoming less relevant.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: PARANORMASIGHT, Klocki, Maneater, more

Android users can find a variety of app deals today, including price drops on titles such as PARANORMASIGHT: TMC, Hexologic, Klocki, Roundguard, Ailment: Dead Standoff Premium, Maneater, and Can You Escape: The Collection. There are also ongoing pre-order promotions for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, and Flip 8, offering bonuses like FREE 0 credits and discounts up to 0 with trade-ins. Additionally, Microsoft’s 2026 touchscreen Surface Pro 2-in-1s are available at savings of up to 0, and there is a deal on the ASUS 16GB/256GB ExpertBook.

AppWizard

July 28, 2026

EA is ‘a hedge fund with a videogame hobby,’ former Dragon Age boss says, and that’s why he reckons the series is probably dead and buried

Electronic Arts (EA) has decided to stop development of the Dragon Age RPG series due to the poor sales performance of the latest installment, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This decision puts BioWare in a difficult position, and former executive producer Mark Darrah believes it may signify the end of the series. Darrah described EA's approach to game development as challenging, likening it to a "hedge fund with a videogame hobby." EA is facing financial pressures, including a potential takeover by Saudi Arabia, which raises concerns about the future of its game titles. While Dragon Age's future is uncertain, a new Mass Effect installment is in development. Former BioWare writer David Gaider noted that EA has historically struggled to understand the Dragon Age series, often dismissing its successes.

AppWizard

July 27, 2026

This week in PC games: a battle royale detective game, a broken Y2K metaverse, a laptop tycoon sim, and a new Company of Heroes RTS

- Endacopia: A point-and-click horror game inspired by 90s edutainment software. - Broken Reality 2000: A first-person puzzle-platforming adventure set in a Y2K-themed metaverse. - Plum Road Tea Dream: A semi-autobiographical journey of a queer POC developer through seven distinct graphical worlds. - Moon Crashers: A game where players gather resources to build an escape rocket after crash-landing on the moon. - Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call: A third-person fantasy adventure set in a beleaguered city. - Kinny and the Cosmic Cauldron: A roguelike deckbuilder where players create soups for eldritch clientele. - Dissolution of the Silent Union: A narrative with gloomy anime aesthetics and themes of decay. - Orbital Hell: A hallucinatory score-attacker game battling geometric boglins. - Désorienté: A narrative-driven experience set in a violent world with intestines as currency. - CipherMind: A battle royale detective game for eight players in a concrete labyrinth. - Lunarium: An action-RPG featuring a knight and a floating sorceress. - Company of Heroes 3: Final Stand: A strategic spin-off involving tactical gameplay against waves of enemies. - Joy Malignant: A dice-based RPG set in a city filled with despair. - Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?!: A humorous isekai game featuring a truck driver. - Outfield: An exploration of agricultural growth and its implications. - Olga: A cozy adventure game without combat. - Legacy of Sail: A nostalgic real-time naval tactics game. - Culdcept The First: A modern adaptation of a board/card game fusion. - Mistfall Hunter: A PvPvE extraction RPG. - Turnip Mountain: A 2D climbing simulator in a whimsical world. - Signy & Mino: Against All Gods: A side-scrolling RPG featuring a girl and her dog. - Devil's Hand: A card game where players form poker hands on a grid. - Parkside: Decayed Soul Manipulation: A sim shooter set in a dystopian California. - Cloud Sculptor: A 3D puzzle-platformer where players create sculptures for ghosts.