sandbox experience Archives

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

A Game About Penguins Set to Waddle Onto PC on 10 August 2026

A Game About Penguins is set to launch on PC on August 10, 2026, developed by Turkish indie studio CO’s Entertainment and published by Ultimate Games S.A. A free prologue, A Game About Penguins: First Catch, has been available on Steam since July 22, showcasing core mechanics and mini-games. The game supports solo play and online co-op for up to 12 players, featuring activities such as fishing, ice skating, snowball fights, swimming, climbing, and playing chess. Players can customize their penguins with various outfits and accessories. The prologue allows progression up to level 3, while the full release will introduce more NPCs, items, and content. The game will also be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in the future.

AppWizard

July 13, 2026

“Child of Minecraft and Sim City”: Creator of Ori and No Rest for the Wicked Showed a New Game

Thomas Mahler has unveiled a new build of his game, Luma, developed during a recent GameJam. Luma is a culmination of prototypes he has been working on for the past decade and combines elements of Minecraft and SimCity. Mahler shared screenshots of a vibrant city he built in Luma and highlighted the game's dynamic experience with both daytime and nighttime settings. He expressed excitement about the game's aesthetics and the potential for players to build a space station and colonize the Moon or Mars. A demonstration of Luma's gameplay is available through a provided link.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

This week in PC games: synthpunk platforming, haunted house hoovering, and a game about growing a black hole

Temperatures in southern Britain are predicted to reach 38 degrees Celsius. The British population is generally unaccustomed to such extreme heat. The author, a games journalist, is focused on curating a list of new PC games instead of dealing with the heat. Notable game releases include: - Desolation Seed (early access): An immersive open-air combat prison experience. - Dark Scrolls: A roguelite platformer with whimsical characters. - Idle Chapel: An idle game involving converting cultists. - Relief: A game combining Chinese mythology with anime aesthetics. - Dimhaven: A photography puzzler set in a misty resort. - Deer & Boy: An emotive platforming experience in a frozen landscape. - Heavydelic (early access): A visually striking Slavic Synthpunk game. - Rift Wizard 3 (early access): A sandbox game focused on spell-crafting. - Empulse: A 6v6 shooter reminiscent of Titanfall 3. - S.A.N.D.Y. - Beach Cleaner: A post-apocalyptic beach game. - 7 Nights with Vroombi: A robot vacuum cleaning a haunted house. - nophenia: An exploration game featuring a wolfgirl. - Omen Exitio: Hunger: A Lovecraftian mystery set in 1927 New York. - Eyes of the ElderWood (early access): A horror and folklore adventure game. The editorial team is focused on finding ways to stay cool during the heatwave while remaining committed to uncovering new PC gaming titles.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Do you recognize these survival crafting games? Prove you’re a real master of roughin’ it with our latest quiz on base-building sandboxes

Many gaming enthusiasts have specific genre preferences, often favoring narrative-driven RPGs, but their gaming history may show a variety of titles, particularly in the survival crafting genre. Survival crafting games combine creativity and adventure, offering social interaction and collaborative play. A new survival crafting quiz challenges players to identify 20 games through pixelated screenshots, allowing participants 12 minutes to complete it. This quiz aims to evoke nostalgia and encourage sharing results among gamers, reinforcing social connections within the gaming community.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies vet tells me the theme park ‘assembly line’ MMO just isn’t viable anymore, especially as dev costs spike: ‘We hit the wall’

Raph Koster, known for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, is developing a new MMO called Stars Reach, which aims to recapture the sandbox experience of earlier games. Koster believes the current MMO industry is stagnating, with many players feeling bored and frustrated due to a lack of innovation and over-monetization. He acknowledges the challenge of revitalizing the genre but hopes that Stars Reach will offer a fresh and novel experience for players. The game is set to enter early access this summer.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

Halo: Campaign Evolved Hands-On Demo – It’s The Halo You Love, But Even Better

The remake of the level "Assault on the Control Room" from Halo: Combat Evolved is featured in the upcoming release of Halo: Campaign Evolved. This level, known as the fifth and longest in the original campaign, has been redesigned to enhance gameplay while preserving its original essence. Creative Director Max Szlagor emphasized the level's importance and its core sandbox experience, highlighting improvements in pacing, navigation, and visual detail. The remake includes enhanced AI for Covenant forces, vehicle hijacking, and a cooperative play option for up to four players. The game is set to launch globally on July 28, 2026, with early access for Premium Edition owners starting July 23, and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5.

AppWizard

June 8, 2026

Minecraft’s next big adventure launches in September

Minecraft Dungeons, released in 2020, has attracted over 25 million players by 2023 and has received updates that include new biomes and endgame activities. The original Minecraft continues to thrive as it approaches its 15th anniversary, supported by regular updates and spin-offs like Minecraft: Story Mode and Minecraft Legends. A Minecraft Movie has grossed over 1 million globally. The franchise has collaborated with other franchises, such as Dragon Ball Z, and has a presence in games like Super Smash Bros.

AppWizard

June 2, 2026

Cozy god game Ornelia announced for PC

Gameleon Studio has announced Ornelia, a village builder and god game set to enter Early Access on Steam for PC, with a release date yet to be revealed. In Ornelia, players act as guardians nurturing the Kinous, creatures that thrive under the Kiskanu tree, emphasizing kindness over destruction. The game features a Create Mode for personalized village building and will later introduce an Adventure Mode focused on reviving the Kiskanu tree while facing the threat of the "Black Mass." Key features include complete freedom in village design, real-time interactions with the Kinous, and two gameplay modes: Endless Mode and Adventure Mode.

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Will you like Outbound if you like crafting games?

Outbound is a game that combines crafting and exploration, allowing players to travel the countryside in a camper while focusing on camping and building a mobile base. The game features a building system that encourages players to find ideal camping spots and decorate their space, although the crafting system is simplistic and lacks depth. Players may find the resource gathering and crafting aspects tedious, especially due to slow movement speed and stamina constraints. The game imposes a structured pace through blueprint unlocks and objectives, which can limit the sense of freedom. While base building is enjoyable, it may not provide enough depth for long-term engagement. The multiplayer experience is limited, as players do not have their own vans and progression is not character-specific, leading to a less engaging experience for those not actively driving.

AppWizard

May 11, 2026

How to breed Armadillos in Minecraft

Armadillos in Minecraft are found in Savanna biomes and are the primary source of Armadillo Scutes, which are used to craft Wolf Armor. To breed Armadillos, players need at least two adults that are not curled up in a defensive shell. Players attract them using Spider Eyes, and once both are in love mode, they will produce a baby Armadillo. Baby Armadillos take about 20 minutes to mature, and feeding them Spider Eyes can speed up their growth. Once mature, Armadillos drop Armadillo Scutes, which can be collected using a Brush.