sandbox game Archives

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Doom: The Dark Ages helms a week of GTA-style cop games, sweaty animal spas and feudal strategy

- Chambers is a new Weird West shooter from the creators of Golden Light. - Labyrinth Of The Demon King is a first-person dungeon-crawler set in feudal Japan. - The Precinct is a top-down 1980s urban sandbox game where players are policemen battling gangs. - Animal Spa is a resort for chibi creatures that allows players to enjoy their bathing rituals while managing tasks. - Doom: The Dark Ages features "gratifying and chunky violence" but has been criticized for restrictive combat and tedious exploration. - Into The Restless Ruins allows players to build dungeons as they explore them. - House Of Legacy is an isometric strategy management game inspired by imperial China. - Kulebra And The Souls Of Limbo is a whimsical adventure game based on Latin American myths, focusing on helping shades find closure. - The editorial team is working on longer-form pieces about survival games and nihilism, with Nic and James collaborating on a review of Doom: The Dark Ages. - Brendy missed the morning meeting but provided information about Take Two Interactive's financials, which may relate to the anticipated delay of GTA 6.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Minecraft officially kills support for VR

Microsoft has discontinued support for virtual reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) in Minecraft with the release of Bedrock Edition version 1.21.80. This decision is part of a broader strategy to phase out its MR technology. Players can still use the Vivecraft mod to play Minecraft on Oculus or Windows MR devices, but this requires the original PC Java version of the game. Microsoft announced that VR/MR support would end after March 2025 and assured players that updates for the non-VR version would continue, along with access to Marketplace purchases.

AppWizard

May 4, 2025

Star-trekking sandbox roguelike Approaching Infinity launches after more than 12 years in development

Approaching Infinity is a turn-based sandbox game developed by the micro-indie team at Ibology, which has been in development for over twelve years and has recently launched out of early access. The game allows players to assume the role of a customizable captain managing a modular starship, with the ability to assemble a crew of specialists. Players can engage in various activities such as surveying uncharted planets, solving problems, exploring shipwrecks, and interacting with alien species. Approaching Infinity is available on Steam for £15.

AppWizard

May 4, 2025

Minecraft has not gotten worse, you were happier

Minecraft is a sandbox game that has evolved significantly since its initial release over fourteen years ago, receiving regular updates that introduce new blocks, mobs, and mechanics. While some players prefer the simplicity of earlier versions, others appreciate the innovations and complexities of newer updates. Critics argue that recent iterations have diminished the game's quality, but this perspective overlooks the fact that the newer versions are simply different, not inferior. The game encourages creativity and allows players to engage with any version they prefer, fostering a diverse community. Significant changes, such as the revamping of the Nether and the expansion of caves, have added new layers of difficulty. The fondness for earlier versions is often rooted in nostalgia rather than a decline in quality, and Minecraft's ongoing evolution is essential to its longevity and appeal.

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.