sandbox game Archives

BetaBeacon

April 24, 2025

VR brought out the kid in me again

Plastic Battlegrounds is a sandbox toy-based battle simulator game that allows players to embody a plastic soldier and engage in battles and scenarios in different parts of a house. The game focuses on creativity and imagination rather than advanced AI or cutting-edge graphics.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Jason Momoa performs humiliation ritual in the form of “A Minecraft Movie”

“A Minecraft Movie” is directed by Jared Hess and features an eclectic cast including Jack Black as Steve, Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film blends nostalgia with absurdity, showcasing a perplexing narrative that leaves viewers amused yet bewildered. While it attempts to evoke memories of the popular game, many fans found the execution lacking and disconnected from the game’s core principles, particularly in character decision-making. Despite its shortcomings, the film incorporates humor and exaggerated performances, creating a unique viewing experience that some may find enjoyable.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

The Best PC Games Right Now (2025)

PC gaming in 2025 features a mix of innovative remasters, indie titles, and new intellectual properties, providing a wide range of experiences for gamers. The most played games on Steam include Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Dota 2, with Counter-Strike 2 leading in player engagement due to its esports scene. Notable new releases include Blue Prince, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Promise Mascot Agency. Other popular games outside Steam are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Valorant. Genre-specific leaders include South of Midnight for action, Myst (Remastered) for adventure, and Street Fighter 6 for fighting. Upcoming anticipated titles include Grand Theft Auto 6 and Elden Ring: Nightreign. Trends in 2025 highlight esports engagement, indie innovation, purposeful remakes, and cinematic storytelling. Last Epoch's Season 2 update has revitalized player interest with new content and enhancements. The year 2019 was significant for PC gaming, with acclaimed titles like Resident Evil 2, Control, and Disco Elysium, and marked by the influence of digital distribution platforms.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Review: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is unimaginative with an absurdist tone

“A Minecraft Movie” has received a review score of ★½. Critics have noted that the visual effects do not honor the original game's simplicity and instead adopt a disjointed half-realistic aesthetic. The dialogue is described as incoherent, and performances struggle to resonate. The film attempts to include recognizable elements from the game but feels like a collection of hastily assembled references. It features rapid-fire pop culture references and humor that quickly fades from memory, with poorly timed jokes. However, performances by Jack Black and Jason Momoa are enjoyable, and the animation includes well-choreographed action sequences. Overall, the film lacks depth and originality, failing to capture the essence of “Minecraft.”

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

The history of the video game that inspired ‘A Minecraft Movie’

On April 4, "A Minecraft Movie" will be released, featuring a cast that includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film follows four misfits who are transported to a block-based realm and must unite with Steve, played by Black, to protect their world. "Minecraft" is a sandbox game that allows players to explore and create in a limitless environment, rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. It has two main modes: Creative, which offers unlimited resources and immortality, and Survival, which involves resource gathering and managing health. Markus "Notch" Persson created "Minecraft" in 2009, launching it officially in November 2011 after successful testing. He sold the game to Microsoft in 2014 for .5 billion, after which Jens "Jeb" Bergensten took over as lead designer. As of 2023, "Minecraft" is the second highest-selling video game, behind Tetris, and has received numerous updates, with the latest being the "Trials and Tales Update."

BetaBeacon

March 31, 2025

Eight of the best Android games available to play on your cellphone

Among Us is a game set aboard an abandoned spaceship where players are part of a crew with some impostors among them. The goal is for the crew to successfully eject the impostors.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

Minecraft – Official ‘A Minecraft Movie’ DLC Trailer

Mojang has released a trailer for the 'A Minecraft Movie' DLC, which allows players to engage in new adventures inspired by cinematic moments. The DLC includes activities such as Elytra Races, Survival Challenges, and a Woodland Mansion Heist. It is available for free download from the Minecraft Marketplace.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Kings under the Mountain! 33 Enshrouded players spent 10,000 hours to recreate this iconic location from The Lord of the Rings

Players of the early access survival sandbox game Enshrouded have recreated the dwarven city of Erebor from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This project involved 33 players who dedicated 10,000 hours over 74 days, placing over 15 million blocks and mining 220 million blocks. Erebor, located beneath the Lonely Mountain, is a key setting in The Hobbit, known for its history and the dragon Smaug. The recreation features intricately carved canyons, walkways, and illuminated staircases, showcasing a detailed environment reminiscent of Smaug's treasure hoard.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

Minecraft is getting a visual overhaul you probably don’t need because of all of those mods you’ve got installed

Mojang announced a significant update for Minecraft called Vibrant Visuals, which will enhance the game's lighting while maintaining its blocky aesthetic. The update will introduce volumetric lighting, allowing sunlight to interact more naturally with the environment, and will feature glowing mobs and items. It will initially be available for the Bedrock Edition, with plans to extend it to the Java Edition in the future, although no specific release date has been provided. Additionally, players will soon be able to fly on friendly ghasts, and a live event from March 25 to April 7 will feature mini-games with Jack Black's character, offering a unique cape as a reward for successful participants.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

A high schooler built a website that lets you challenge AI models to a Minecraft build-off

Developers are exploring new methods to benchmark generative AI models, with one initiative being the Minecraft Benchmark (MC-Bench), a platform for head-to-head competitions among AI models that generate unique Minecraft creations. Users vote on the performances without knowing which AI created each entry. The project, created by 12th-grade student Adi Singh, leverages Minecraft's universal recognition to evaluate AI capabilities. MC-Bench currently has eight volunteer contributors and has received support from major AI companies like Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and Alibaba. The focus is on simple builds, with plans to scale to more complex tasks. MC-Bench requires models to write code for requested builds, making it easier for users to assess the quality of creations visually. Singh believes the scores from MC-Bench provide meaningful insights into AI performance compared to traditional text-based benchmarks.